HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12031991 - H.6 Contra
TO: BOARD. OF SUPERVISORS Costa
,�.
FROM: HARVEY E. BRAGDON ,
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT °Osr.. ... " Count
DATE: December 3, 1991
SUBJECT: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PRELIMINARY DRAFT SOURCE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING
ELEMENT (SRRE) AND HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE ELEMENT (HHWE) OF THE
COUNTY INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Accept the Preliminary Draft Source Reduction and Recycling
- Element and Household Hazardous Waste Element of the County
Integrated Waste Management Plan.
2 . Declare the Board's intent to consider adoption of the Source
Reduction and Recycling Element and Household Hazardous Waste
Element at a public hearing . to be held .in January 1992.
FISCAL IMPACT
The programs proposed in the Source .Reduction and Recycling Element
and Household Hazardous Waste Element, at this time, fall within
the funding levels of the 939 Tipping Fee and Resource Recovery Fee
during the short term planning period.
BACKGROUND/REASONS -FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
AB 939 (Chapter 1095, Statues of 1989) mandates that local
jurisdictions reduce the amount of solid waste disposed in
landfills by 25-0. by the year 1995 and by 50% by the year 2000. In
order to achieve these reduction goals Chapter 1095 requires that
each jurisdiction prepare and adopt a Source Reduction and
-Recycling Element and, a Household Hazardous Waste Element. The
County Preliminary Draft Source Reduction and Recycling Element and
.Household Hazardous Waste Element was circulated for 45 day review
on November 1,, 1991. The Introduction of the Source Reduction and
Recycling Element and Executive Summary of the'Source Reduction and
Recycling Element and Household Hazardous Waste Element are
4 attached. Additional staff comments will be presented at h Board
meeting.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATU
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMM D T NO OARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) :
ACTION OF BOARD ON 3 /9,5;i APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X
See Appendix A attached
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS .
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS. A ' .
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT 12T- TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Orig: Community. Development Department ATTESTED December 3 , 1991
cc: County Administrator' PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
. BY , DEPUTY
BS: se
939y: \bo\srrehhwe.bo
APPENDIX A
DECEMBER 3 , 1991 , ITEM H.6
This was the time for hearing on the County Source Reduction and
Recycling Element and Household Hazardous Waste Element.
Louise Aiello introduced Robin Bedell-Waite from Environmental
Health who reviewed the Household Hazardous Waste Element draft.
Louise Aiello, reviewed the Source Reduction and Recycling
Component draft, and advised that this preliminary draft has been
submitted to the State; public comments under the 45-day period can be
received up until December 16, 1991 at 5:00 p.m. ; that the Department
has to date received only one set of comments, that being from
Richmond Sanitary District; that a reciprocal arrangement has been
worked out with Santa Clara County whereby Contra Costa will review
their element and they have reviewed Contra Costa' s; Santa Clara' s
comments have been received and that the State' s comments are not
expected back back until the end of December; and those comments will
be finalized and put into final form and be back before the Board
hopefully by late January with a final document.
Supervisor McPeak commented on the Household Hazardous Waste
Element, and underscored the need for coordinating the education and
implementation program, but questioned the curbside collection of oil
and paint, noting that would be the last priority she would set; and
emphasized the importance of the three drop-off places to collect the
hazardous household waste, and the need for public education.
Supervisor Powers suggested that curbside collection of oil and
paint be put in the element as an option as opposed to being
mandatory, particularly in view of the fact that there will be
transfer stations. He noted that drop-off stations have been very
good and the cost effectiveness of curbside collections is
questionable.
Robin Bedell-Waite suggested that one of the things that could be
done in the element is to add curbside collection as one of the
sub-tasks, to make a decision to either .do it or not do it.
Supervisor Powers requested the Board to appoint him, as a
committee of one, to meet with the Erickson Hazardous Waste Transfer/
Treatment facility people, and report back to the Board on the
possibility of a cooperative venture. He suggested this be added to
the recommendations before the Board.
Supervisor Powers suggested that the County participate, through
its employment program, in the training for people going into the
recycle/disposal business. He suggested exploring use of the facility
in Pittsburg and the one in Richmond, as well as involving the
Community Colleges, and the Private Industry Council. He suggested
that this be added as a recommendation to refer as an option for part
of the employment program.
Supervisor McPeak moved the recommendations of staff to accept
the draft, as the Board has commented and amended, and to circulate to
the appropriate entities, during the specified time period.
Supervisor Torlakson seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously, with Supervisor Schroder absent.
Contra Costa County
Pr' eliminaryDrat
Source Reduction and
Recclin Element
Y9
a ,
coUl`Z'
October 1991
INTRODUCTION
Prior to 1989, 'California counties were responsible, accountable, and liable for solid waste
management., Recognizing that no one entity can any longer address the major problems
resulting from decreasing landfill space and increasing solid waste.generation, AB 939--The
California Integrated Waste Management Act (AB 939) proposed a partnership approach on the
part of the State, counties, cities, the solid waste and recycling industries, and consumers to
resolve solid waste issues. AB 939 established shared responsibility and accountability for solid
waste management between counties and cities. Each county and city must prepare and
implement its own Source Reduction and Recycling Element (SRRE) and Household Hazardous
Waste Element (HHWE). Each county additionally must prepare .the Countywide
Comprehensive Integrated Waste Management Plan, based upon each jurisdiction's SRRE, and
the Countywide Solid Waste Facilities Siting Element.
AB 939 requires each county and city, as part of the SRREs, to identify methods which will be
used to reduce the amount of solid waste disposed in landfills by 25% by the year 1995 and by
50% by the.year 2000:
AB 939 specifies a priority order for solid waste reduction aimed at conserving natural resources
and changing both individual and.business consumer purchasing practices. Specifically, AB 939
requires thatlocal governments identify programs.to attain the mandated solid waste reductions
giving first priority to source reduction programs, second priority to recycling programs, and
last priority to environmentally safe transformation (burning or combustion) and landfill disposal
programs.
In adopting AB 939, the State legislature noted that California generates more solid waste than
any industrial nation in the world other than the United States, but has a shortage of landfill
October 1991 t Contra Costa County
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction and Recycling Element
capacity for disposal of this vast amount of generated waste. With the imminent closure of our
three existing landfills, Contra Costa County and our 18 cities fully understand the statewide
dilemma related to landfill capacity. In March and July, 1990, the County Board of Supervisors
approved two new landfills--Marsh Canyon Landfill with a projected minimum of 75 years
capacity with diversion programs and Keller Canyon Sanitary Landfill with a projected minimum
of 30 years capacity. To conserve landfill capacity for Contra Costa County in the future, the
Board of Supervisors imposed Land Use Permit Conditions of Approval on each newly approved
landfill requiring local solid waste diversion of 25% by 1995 and 50% by the year 2000.
Additionally, the Conditions of Approval.restrict access thereby encouraging most disposal via
transfer stations where further material recovery operations can reduce solid waste disposal.
With these two new landfills proceeding through the State permitting processes, and with the
near closure of existing landfills and our own locally imposed diversion requirements, the
County and the 18 cities implemented recycling programs as an immediate priority to divert
solid waste from disposal in our own landfills and in those of the counties with .which we have
negotiated interim export agreements.
To demonstrate commitment'-t6 its own diversion mandates, the Board of Supervisors initiated
recycling activities which involved diversion of materials within cities as well as within the
unincorporated areas of the County (County). Specifically, the County
• launched an Airport Service Carrier Recycling Program later used as a model for State
legislation
• established a Plastics Task Force comprised of representatives from cities, business recycling
organizations and the solid waste industry, and environmental organizations to address the
feasibility and methodology of recycling and reducing plastics in the wastestream
• established a Compost Task Force to review and recommend effective composting systems
and yard waste management programs
Contra Costa County ii October 1991
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
• initiated a Schools Recyling Pilot Program which included 18 schools during 1990
• implemented a County Government Multi-materials Recycling. Program which includes a
collection, sorting, baling, and marketing effort for all County Government facilities many
of which are located within cities
• initiated a county-city-special district Procurement Policies Task Force
• , declared intent to ban from disposal at the new landfills specific waste types including
plastics, newspapers, white ledger and mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, yard waste,
metals, white goods, wood waste, and construction/demolition debris
While the County and 18 cities have given immediate priority to recycling programs which focus
consumer awareness on the need to reduce solid waste, the County looks to source reduction
programs as, ultimately, the most effective means to assure conservation of natural resources .
and landfill capacity.
The Waste Characterization Study conducted in September, 1990, for the County showed that
the County had reached an actual diversion rate of 18:6%. Under AB 939, 9.1% of this
diversion is disallowed until after 1995 because it is the result of transformation (burning). The
remaining 9.5% diversion rate was attained by the County, primarily, through recycling
programs and actions by the Board of Supervisors which included requiring the ACME Interim
Transfer Station operator to remove from disposal miscellaneous metals, white goods (i.e.,
refrigerators), wood waste, and construction/demolition debris.
These County diversion rates were obtained prior to adoption of a franchising ordinance by the
Board of Supervisors and prior to implementation of franchise agreements for two sections of
the unincorporated areas of the County. Until the Board adopted the franchising ordinance, the
County had no legal authority to direct residential,or commercial recycling programs in the
unincorporated areas. Additional materials such as tin and plastic containers were included for
October 1991 iii Contra Costa County
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction and Recycling Element
diversion as part of the initial two franchise agreements. However, data regarding increases in
County diversion rates resulting.from the initial two franchise agreements is not yet available.
Consequently, the programs selected in this County's
SRRE are aimed at attaining the additional 15.990
diversion necessary to reach the. 25% diversion
,�_,,.,,��,�• �y; '
mandated by 1995 and the 40.9% needed for the o
diversion required by the year 2000: Based upon both raper 39%1
the Waste Characterization Study for the County and
policies adopted by the Board of Supervisors, the y� Yard waste 9.1%1
programs. selected for implementation in this SRRE a Food 4,tpo`
�d,•Waste 6.9°dd 4 .
target specific materials (waste types): white ledger
Glass 4.9%
paper, corrugated cardboard, newspaper, tin, Metal s.o
aluminum, laD stics, yard waste, and glass. To meet the Plash°
Other 29.8%11
.25% State.,and local mandated diversions, short-term �--'
programs in this SRRE concentrate on the
implementation of recycling, composting, and public County Waste Generation
information and education programs; while some source
reduction programs will be implemented, in the short-term emphasis is placed on the
development of source reduction programs which can effect changes in consumer practices and
be effectively measured. Full implementation of most source reduction programs will take place
in,the medium term to attain the 50% diversion required by the year 2000.
The selected programs in this SRRE are projected to attain a 27% diversion of solid waste by
1995 and 52.7% diversion by 2000.
Within both the short and medium terms, this SRRE emphasizes programs which develop and
support individuals as.well as existing and new businesses involved in recycling, re-reuse, and/or
re-manufacturing activities. In addition, a market development program is already underway
to foster the financial stability of such businesses.
Contra Costa County iv October 1991
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
Both short and medium term programs selected in this SRRE seek to balance the urgent need
to divert solid waste from our landfills with the cost to individual and business consumers--the
rate payers. For this purpose, where possible programs selected in this SRRE will be
coordinated with cities within sub-regional geographic areas of the County.
This SRRE views public information and education activities as both integral to the attainment
of the short-term diversion goals and critical in establishing awareness and support for source
reduction programs among individual and business consumers, State and local governments, and
the solid waste industry. For in the end, it is the effectiveness of the partnership between
:individual and business consumers, government, and the solid waste and recycling industries that
will assure the conservation of our natural resources and our landfill capacity.
Use and Format
State law, specifically California Government Code Sections 65300 through.65403, mandates
that all. cities .and counties prepare and adopt a comprehensive, long-term and internally
consistent General Plan. Stafe law further requires that once a local government has adopted
its General Plan, local- officials must implement it. Under State planning law standards,
implementation programs must follow logically from the General Plan's goals and policies.
In addition to complying with AB 939, the SRRE is an implementation document for the General
Plan and, therefore, should reflect and follow logically from the solid waste management
diversion goals and policies in the County General Plan and from any additional actions taken
by the Board of Supervisors on these matters. The initial chapter of this SRRE presents solid
waste diversion goals and policies contained in the.County General Plan along with other related
actions by the Board of Supervisors. Taken together, these County goals, policies, and actions
serve to guide and direct the solid waste diversion programs selected for implementation.
October 1991 v Contra Costa Counry
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction and Recycling Element
AB 939 requires that each jurisdiction's SRRE cover nine specific areas or components: waste
characterization, facilities capacity, source reduction programs, recycling programs, composting
programs, special waste programs, public information and education programs, funding of all
programs, and a summary (integration) of all programs selected.
AB 939 requires that SRREs be adopted by the local jurisdiction and submitted to-the California
Integrated Waste�Management Board (CIWMB) by July 1, 1991. Legislation enacted subsequent
to the Act modified the original requirements thereby causing delays in the promulgation of final
CIWMB regulation& for.; the SRREs and in local jurisdictions' abilities to submit SRREs.
Introduction of AB 2092 during the 1991 legislative session was intended to extend the
submission deadline to January, 1991. Because AB 2092 was not acted upon by the Legislature,
the CIWMB has. suggested that local jurisdictions complete SRREs as soon as possible using
current re ulations._
The format of the nine components in this SRRE complies with the current CIWMB regulations
and follows the CIWMB model component outline. Specifically, the program components on
source reduction, recycling, composting, and special waste follow the model component format
which covers:
Objectives - a section listing- the .diversion goals and objectives for the. programs being
considered and selected
Existing Conditions - a section describing current programs
Evaluation of the Alternatives (Programs) - a section describing both criteria used to select
programs for implementation and the variety of programs considered prior to selection
Selection of Programs - a section identifying the programs which will be implemented
Program Implementation - a section covering actual dates for program implementation,
responsible agencies, and costs for each selected program
Contra Costa County vi October 1991
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
Monitoring and Evaluation - a section describing methods to monitor the effectiveness of the
selected programs in attaining the goals and objectives,and identifying steps which will be taken
if the selected programs do not meet the goals and objectives '
To facilitate use of this SRRE by individual and business consumers as well as by public
agencies and.the solid waste industry, information and programs are presented in this SRRE in
a sequential order covering
• SRRE Executive Summary .
• Chapter 1 - County solid waste management goals and policies
• Chapters 2 and 3 - County Waste .Characterization information used to identify
material types to be targeted for diversion programs followed by Facilities Capacity
information describing both landfill solid waste capacity and the waste management
facilities system set forth in the 1989 County Solid Waste Management Plan
(CoSWMP) which was approved by the County and a majority of our 18 cities
• Chapters 4 through 7 - Components covering the diversion programs for source
reduction, recycling, composting, and special waste
• Chapter 8 Component describing the public information and educ tion programs
which will be implemented with the selected diversion programs to assure public
awareness and foster participation and support
October 1991 vii Contra Costa County
Preliminary Draf3 SRRE
Source Reduction and Recycling Element
• Chapters 9 and 10 -Summary components providing information on funding.for all
diversion and public information programs selected and an integration of the
implementation for all selected programs
Contra Costa County viii October 1991
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
REVIEW OF THE COMPONENTS
This section presents an overview of the components which comprise this SRRE.
WASTE GENERATION ANALYSIS
Existing Diversion
As of September, 1990, the County had reached a 9.5% diversion rate of its total wastestream.
This diversion rate was based on a calculation of materials currently being source reduced,
recycled or composted. The:sources of information for-the calculation of the diversion rate were
provided by the County's Waste Characterization Study including a survey of source reduction
and recycling businesses which could quantify material by type and jurisdiction of generation.
A summary of the amount of waste in tons per year (TPY) for 1990, diverted through reuse and
recycling by generator type is listed in Table 1-1.
TABLE.1-1 .
TOTAL:WASTE DIVERSION.ESTIMATES;BY DIVERSION ACTIVITY AND GENERATOR TYPE
Residential Commercial Industrial Total '
Percent TPY Percent TPY Percent TPY Percent TPY
Source Reduction 1.33% 2,724 0.16% 332 --- - 1.49% 3,056
Recycling 3.57% 7,310 2.32% 4,757 1.54% 3,155 7.43% 15,222
Composting <0.01 1 0.59% 1,21T.02% 50 0.61% 1,264 .
%
-' TOTAL 4.90% 10,035 3.08% 1 6,302 1 1.56% 3,205 1 9.53% 19,542
October 1991 ix Contra Costa County
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction do Recycling Element
Existing_Disposal
The unincorporated areas of the County disposed of 166,700'tons in 1990, utilizing the West
Contra Costa Sanitary Landfill (WCCSL), Contra .Costa Sanitary Landfill (CCSL), Altamont
Landfill in Alameda County and Potrero Hills Landfill in Solano County. A summary of the
amount of waste in tons per year disposed of by generator type is listed in Table 1-2.
>>> <> orRT �a ► Tox: ..G NrRA. . r x
Generator Percentage 1990 Total Annual Per Capita
Tonnage Disposal Rate
Residential 52% 86,684 .56 tons
Commercial 15% 25,005 .16 tons
Industrial(including construction and .
demolition) 33% 55,011 .36 tons
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11
Oo os o
FACILITIES CAPACITY COMPONENT
is
The Facilities.Capacity Component identifies the amount of disposal capacity needed for the
unincorporated areas of the county for a fifteen year period commencing in 1991.
There are currently three solid waste landfills within the County. Until December 1989 all
County municipal solid waste was disposed within the County excepting approximately 50 tons
per day from San Ramon which was sent to the Altamont Landfill. Proposed facilities include
two new landfills and the ACME Transfer Station/Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) which
have received local land use approvals, and two additional Transfer Stations/MRF for West
County and East County. Interim export agreements with Solano and Alameda Counties
currently exist.
Contra Costa County x October 1991
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
SOURCE REDUCTION COMPONENT
Source reduction is anyaction that reduces the.amount of material that enters the wastestream,
including reducing the amount of materialthat requires disposal, recycling, and composting.
Since the types and amounts of waste produced.are closely associated with the materials and
designs used for consumer and capital goods, source reduction programs require the change of
industrial, commercial, and consumer practices and behavior.
Short-term Objectives:
Through source reduction measures and programs, the County will reduce its amount of waste
generated by 2% by the year 1995.
Medium-term Objective:
Through source reduction measures and programs, the County will reduce.its amount of waste
generated by 7-8% by the year 2000.
Source Reduction Program Selected: y
• Variable can rates; pilot study on weight-based disposal collection
• County Government Procurement Program
• County sponsored city-county-special district Procurement Policies Task Force
• Disposable diapers source reduction information program
• Organic waste reduction (backyard composting - yard waste management)
• Explore feasibility of differential tipping fee structure
October 1991 xi Contra Costa Count,
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
• Provide for re-usable pick-up days through franchise agreements
• Encourage restaurants and fast food operators to modify services to use
re-usable/recyclable materials
• Consider differential Business License Fees for businesses with source reduction
programs
• Countywide Source Reduction and Recycling Hotline
• Assist-businesses with waste audits and procurement policy development
• Develop vocational training program with community colleges to support source
reduction businesses
• Assist with "development of secondary materials markets-and businesses
Source Reduction Programs Rejected:
• Grant program for source reduction businesses
• Salvaging at landfills
• Model community
• Pre-disposal fees, product bans, labelling requirements
• Taxes or fees on disposable or single-use products
Contra Costa County xii October 1991
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
Monitoring and Evaluation:
The source reduction programs will be monitored and evaluated both qualitatively and
quantitatively to determine the effectiveness of each program.
The measures of program effectiveness will focus.on participation of residences and businesses,
degree of awareness of programs by consumers, the amount of source reduction achieved
balanced against the.economics of the program.
RECYCLING COMPONENT
Recycling refers to the use of secondary materials in the production of new items. The County
already has a wide array of recycling programs, with more proposed in this SRRE. A relatively
high recycling rate can- be achieved for the unincorporated areas simply by maximizing
participation.
Contra Costa County is fortunate in being located in an area with excellent access to both foreign
and domestic markets for secondary materials. Market development is a crucial link to assure
the future of recycling programs. To support markets for the recycling .programs being
implemented, the County has already undertaken a secondary materials market development
program and will be applying for Market Development Zone status with the State.
Short-term Objectives:
a
The County will divert 22% of its wastestream through recycling programs by the year 1995.
Medium-term Objectives:
The County will divert 39% of its wastestream through recycling programs by the year 2000.
October 1991 xiii Contra Costa County
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
Existing Conditions:
The County has implemented or initiated a number of recycling programs:
• Airport service carrier recycling program
• Curbside collection of tin, cardboard, aluminum, PET, HDPE
• Schools Recycling Program
• County Government Office Recycling Program.
• County Annual Recycling Awards Program
• LDPE bags Return-to-Source Collection Program
• Secondary Materials Market Development Study
Recycling Programs Selected:
o
The County will continue to operate all existing programs listed. In addition, the following
changes will be made to the existing programs, and new programs or facilities.
• Expand franchise agreements/Memoranda of Understanding for curbside collection to all
areas of the County
• Establish drop-off and buy-back facilities in appropriate areas of the County
• Develop a mobile buy-back program
• Assist commercial businesses in developing recycling programs
Contra Costa County xiv October 1991
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
• Require recycling as part of Land Use Permits and Building Codes and inspection process
• Require source separation of construction/demolition debris as part of Land Use
permitting and Building Inspection processes
• Establish database, through Hotline, for direct linkage of industrial and commercial users
•'""='=' EkpandReturn=to-Source LDPE Bag,Collection Program
• Assist community groups with Recycling Programs
Recycling Program Alternatives Rejected:
• Manual or-mechanical material recovery
Monitoring and Evaluation:
The County will monitor the effectiveness and recovery rates for recycling programs and
activities in three ways:
• continue to maintain accurate data for programs;
• require reporting from Transfer Stations/Material Recovery Facilities; and
• request data on recycling from businesses through the Business License process.
Assessment of market circumstances will also be used to evaluate materials targeted in programs.
October 1991 xv Contra Costa County
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction do Recycling Element
COMPOSTING COMPONENT
Developing composting programs will play an important role .for Contra Costa County in
meeting the diversion mandates of.AB 939. The recovery of organic wastes for composting
represents both an opportunity and a challenge.. The opportunity is to divert a significant
percentage of the waste stream from landfills back into productive use, returning nutrients and
organic matter back to the soil. The.challenge is to overcome siting and financial constraints
to move the management of organic wastes from theory to implementation. From public
education efforts.designed to generate a supply of uncontaminated materials, to the marketing
of the finished product, Contra Costa County will need to invest staff time, foster creativity, and
solicit community involvement to develop successful programs.
Composting is defined by the CIWMB as the controlled biological decomposition of wastes. The
wastes are organic and include yard waste, food waste, and wood waste. Making mulch is
considered a recycling activity because the material does not fully decompose before it is used.
However, mulch is described in this component because the materials are the same as materials
which are composted, and the collection and processing systems are the same.
Backyard composting is considered a source reduction activity and is addressed in the Source
Reduction Component.
Short-term Objectives:
Through composting programs, the County will reduce its amount of organic material disposed
of in.a landfill by 6.8% by the year 1995.
Medium-term Objectives:
Through composting programs, the County will reduce its amount of organic material disposed
of in a landfill by 13.7% by the year 2000.
Contra Costa County zvi October 1991
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
Existing_Conditions: .
• Christmas.trees, chipping and mulching
• Commercial Composting Activity
Composting Programs Selected:
• Review/Approve Pilot Composting Demonstration project at the ACME Fill Transfer
Station (Condition of Approval LUP 2122-86)
• Review/Approve West County Yard Waste Composting Facility (Draft EIR circulated on
September 6, 1991)
• Review/Approve East County,Yard Waste Composting Facility (Request for Proposal
[RFP] issued September 1991)
• Establish Yard,Waste Collection Programs
• Residential and Commercial Public Education
• Food Waste Collection and Composting
Composting Program Alternatives Rejected:
• Co-composting mixed solid waste composting '
• Low technology windrow process
• Food waste high technology windrow process
• In-vessel composting of mixed solid waste
October 1991 xvii Contra Costa County
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
O
Monitoring and Evaluation:
The County will require composting collectors/haulers to submit quantity reports on the
percentage of generators participating and the quantity collected by residential, commercial,
industrial sectors as well as on the tonnages received from each jurisdiction in the County. The
County will conduct a waste characterization study at he end of the short-term period (1995)
related to compostables and yard waste. Additionally, the County will track procurement of
compost products by public agencies within Contra.Costa.County.
SPECIAL WASTE COMPONENT
The. CIWMB has defined special wastes as those which require collection, processing, and
disposal procedures different from those normally used for municipal solid wastes. AB 939
requires counties and cities to prepare and implement a special waste management program as
part of their Source Reduction and Recycling Element: Although special,wastes comprise a
relatively small proportion of the wastes entering our county landfills, some pose significant
risks (e.g., medical wastes), and others present excellent opportunities for reuse or recycling
(e.g., tires), and composting (e.g., agricultural wastes).
Contra Costa County's overall special waste goals are:
1. Reduce'the amount and hazardousness of special waste generated;
2. Maximize recycling, reuse and composting of special waste generated in the county
through pubic education, legislation incentives;
3. Monitor and ensure environmentally safe disposal of the special waste generated which
cannot be recycled, reused, or composted.
Objectives to achieve these goals are specific to each waste type discussed in this component.
.Objectives apply to both the short- and medium-term planning periods.
Contra Costa County xviii October 1991
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
Existing Conditions:
• Abandoned vehicle collection and salvage
• White goods removal from transfer station
• Proper disposal of asbestos medical waste, septic tank pumpings, shipboard and port
waste=.;.
• Proper disposal and use of agricultural wastes, dead animals, incinerator ash, Park and
Recreation Area wastes, sewage sludge, street sweeping and catch-basin debris, tires.
Special Waste Programs Selected:
• All of the programs listed under Existing Conditions will be continued or expanded
0 Park and Recreation Area program
• Sludge reuse
• Tires
Monitoring and Evaluation:
The amount of diversion through special waste programs is not significant to the diversion goals
of the County: The reduction and proper disposal are critical to the health and safety of the
residents, and this will be the predominant criteria for evaluation of special waste programs.
October 1991 xix Contra Costa County
Preliminary Draft SRRE
Source Reduction & Recycling Element
v
PUBLIC INFORMATION AND EDUCATION COMPONENT
Public information and education are critical in establishing the understanding and support for
the programs selected to attain the diversion goals. Additionally, public information and
education are essential in building the effective partnership between consumers, government,
and solid waste and recycling industries.required for the success of AB 939 in conserving natural
resources and landfill capacity.
The public information and education program, outlined in this SRRE, provides flexibility in
targeting different diversion programs, segments of the population, and/or specific materials.
Public information and education activities supporting diversion programs will be grouped into
three programmatic themes:
• .Contra Costa Recycling
• Green Teams
• 3R Partnership Program - Reduce, Re-use, Recycle
Short-term Objectives:
• Expand existing public education and information programs to address source reduction,
composting and recycling tailored to the residential and commercial and industrial
sectors;
• Create public involvement opportunities through recycling promotions and events;
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• Provide residents with detailed information for participation in local collection programs;
•. Educate the public about the uses of recycled and composted materials
• Cultivate support by publicizing and encouraging involvement of the business community;
and
• Participate in countywide public education efforts.
Medium-term Objectives:
Medium-term objectives build upon short-term objectives and will focus upon:
• Expand existing programs; ,
0 Revise and improve. current efforts based on feedback obtained from evaluation of
short-term activities; and
• Develop new programs to target specific sub-populations or wastestreams.
0
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Source Reduction & Recycling Element
Monitoring and Evaluation:
The monitoring necessary to evaluate the various programs will be accomplished by using one
or more of the.following approaches:
Number of schools and students exposed to various programs;
• Number of businesses taking part in programs;
• Number and size of community events and activities;
• Number and frequency of coverage in media;
• Surveys conducted to determine awareness and;,,participation levels for the various
components;
• Complaints and requests for information received by the County's Hotline and/or the
contractors providing the various services;
• Qualitative feedback from waste generators about the information program;
• The quantity of waste diverted by programs publicized through public information and
education activities;
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• Costs per generator, per ton or.pre "impression" for public information programs; or
• The progress of the overall program toward diversion goals.
Evaluation of Program Effectiveness:
Evaluation will occur at various stages of the public education and public information process
depending on the�objective to be measure." The criteria used to evaluate the effectiveness of the
education and public information efforts will be determined in advance and will be appropriate
to the monitoring methods that have been chosen.
FUNDING COMPONENT ,
The funding component discusses the costs for plannin&and implementing source reduction,
recycling, composting, special waste, and public information and education programs selected
by the County.
Program costs specifically identified, at this time, total $969,750.00 which include program
development, start-up, operations, and monitoring. Revenue sources to fund programs include
the AB 939 Tipping Fee and the Resource Recovery Fees levied on the ACME Transfer Station,
and the Marsh Canyon and Keller Canyon Landfills as part of their Land Use Permit Conditions
of Approval.
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Source Reduction h Recycling Element
4
Two potential additional revenue sources are identified. A Yardwaste Collection Fee is
suggested. The County's market development program will include efforts to obtain grants and
establish public-private funding partnerships which will assist with program implementation and
operating costs.
Programs.-which:provide.curbside..collection. are: expected to be funded directly by curbside .
collection fees.
A number of the selected programs involve existing or proposed transfer/material recovery
facilities.which will be operated by private secor businesses or other public agencies. In these
cases, program costs and. funding are considered part of the facilities application,
implementation, and operating costs and eventual rate structure and, therefore, not discussed in
this SRRE. ,
a,o:
INTEGRATION COMPONENT
The Integration_Component describes the implementation of all programs to attain the projected
diversions-of 27% by 1995 and 52.7% by the year 2000. Additionally, this component identifies
methods.of integrating the implementation of various programs to create economies of scale
which will benefit consumers and rate payers. Specifically, the component discusses
coordination of services, programs, and facilities on a subregional geographic basis. The
County's market development program is considered critical in stimulating diversion programs
countywide.
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Source Reduction & Recycling Element
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE ELEMENT
FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
1. EXISTING CONDITIONS
0.85% of the solid wastestream in the unincorporated areas of the county are household
hazardous wastes (HHW). This amounts td an annual 1742 tons of HHW. There are
57,311 households in the unincorporated areas.
The County Hazardous Waste Management Plan for Contra Costa County calls for
permanent HHW collection facilities in the three regions of the county (east, central and
west); public education; and legislative advocacy to encourage proper labeling, smaller
container sizes and recycling of products at retail outlets.
A major effort to collect the recyclable HHW was undertaken on June 9, 1990. .4,000
participants brought to seven sites in the county 2400 car.batteries, 16,000 gallons of
used oil and 7,700 gallons of latex paint. No other on-going collection'of the full,range
of HHW currently exists.
2. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Short-term objectives, to be implemented by 1995, include:
Collection
♦ Work with cities, transfer, stations and commercial hazardous waste management
- -facilities to establish permanent, on-going and accessible HHW programs (Actions
1 through 4).
Conduct interim collection days (two times per year) prior to the establishment of
permanent facilities (Action 5).
♦ Promote the reuse/recycling of HHW at point of sale, in -waste exchanges or in
collection programs (Actions 6 through 9).
Education/Advocacy
♦ Educate the public regarding HHW issues and programs, promoting the responsible
handling and disposal of household hazardous materials (Action 11).
♦ Encourage the public to use less hazardous or non-hazardous alternatives to products
which create HHW (Action 12).
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Household Hazardous Waste Element
♦ Advocate for changes in product development, labeling, packaging and handling to
reduce the amount of household hazardous waste generated (Action 13).
♦ Advocate for use of less toxic or non-toxic products within Contra Costa County
government,.and,for adoption of the principles of integrated pest management(Action
14),
Medium-term objectives, to be implemented by 2000, include:
♦ Continue implementing permanent collection programs, redesigning program as
necessary based on evaluation feedback.
♦ Continue educating the public about proper handling, storage and disposal of HHW,
and about alternatives to HHW products, redesigning program as necessary based on
evaluation feedback.
Consider collecting small quantity generator wastes in permanent HHW collection
programs (Action 15).
3. RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
The following actions have been chosen to implement the above objectives:
Action 1:
The Erickson Hazardous Waste Transfer/Treatment Facility is required to"establish a
program to accept HHW from residents in the unincorporated area of west County. The
Facility's program should be available to residents of the unincorporated areas of central
and-east county until permanent facilities are established in those two regions.
Action 2:
The Acme Fill Transfer Facility is currently required, as part of the conditions of
approval for the transfer station land use permit, to'=establish a program to accept HHW
from residents of the unincorporated area of central County. The program should also
be available to residents of the unincorporated area of east County until a permanent
facility for household hazardous waste is established in that region.
Action
The County should require as a condition of approval for a solid waste transfer station
in east County the establishment of a program for the acceptance of HHW from residents
of the unincorporated area of east County. The alternative collection program for east
County residents would be to require Acme.Fill Transfer Facility in Martinez to accept
HHW from those residents.
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Household Hazardous Waste Element
Action 4
A mobile HHW collection system should be implemented countywide or regionally. This
could be done before or after the establishment of permanent HHW collection facilities.
This recommendation is necessary to provide sufficient access for all County residents.
Actin
The County should implement, in conjunction with other affected agencies, one-day
HHW collection events. These collection events should be held at least two times per
year in each of the three regions of the County (west, central and east) for which there
is no permanent HHW collection facility.
Action
Wastes collected in HHW collection programs should be recycled to the maximum extent
feasible. Product exchanges should be added if they can be proven safe and effective.
Action.7:. .
The County should assist and encourage. marina operators to provide for used oil
collection,at their facilities.
Action
The .County should promote the recycling of paipt by ensuring that paint collected at
permanent facilities is recycled to the extent feasible. The activities of the statewide
Paint Task Force should be followed, advocating paint recycling when appropriate and
necessary.
Action 9:
Used motor oil, and perhaps latex paint, should be collected curbside in unincorporated
areas which.are served by curbside collection of other recyclables.
Action 10: .
Load checking programs should .be required at all solid waste transfer and disposal
facilities located within the unincorporated area of the County to insure that HHW are
not-entering the landfills.
Action 11:
An effective public education campaign should be implemented which would educate
residents about the proper handling, storage and disposal of HHW. The County supports
countywide implementation of public education campaigns.
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Household Hazardous Waste Element
Action 12:
A public education campaign should be implemented to encourage the use of less
hazardous or non-hazardous household products.
Action 1
Staff should work'with the State and Federal governments and the private sector to
advocate for changes in product design, labeling, packaging and handling in order to
reduce the amount of HHW generated.
Action 14:
Purchasing less toxic or non-toxic products and adopting principles of integrated pest
management should be advocated for within the departmental operations of Contra Costa
County government.
Action l
Upon establishment of permanent HHW collection programs, consideration should be
given to accepting wastes from small quantity generators (businesses).
Actin 1
HHW collection and education should be evaluated. by monitoring records for load
checking and emergency response incidents; futurq waste characterization studies; records
kept at HHW collection programs; and consumer behavior surveys.
Action 17:
HHW collection and education programs should be implemented and'financed multi-
jurisdictionally to achieve the greatest cost savings.
4. IMPLEMENTATION
See the "Household Hazardous Waste Implementation" schedule for projected
implementation dates, program costs and revenue sources for the above actions.
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Household Hazardous Waste Element
5. MONITORING & EVALUATION
Program effectiveness will be evaluated using the following methods:
• Load checking program
• Monitoring of emergency response incidents
• Future waste characterization studies
• Records kept in HHW collection programs
• Consumer behavior surveys
SECTION I: EXISTING CONDITIONS
A. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATION & DISPOSAL:
Household hazardous wastes are generated by residents, and are then either (1) stored
in their homes(usually garages); (2)landfilled by residents putting HHW in their garbage
cans; or (3) disposed-of in the sewer system (sinks and toilets), down the stormdrains or
in soil.
1. HHW Generated
The California Department of- Health Services estimates that households generate
7.516 pounds of HHW annually in California. The Association of Bay Area
Governments has further refined that figure to an annual 6.63 pounds per household
for the San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, it has been estimated that at any one time
there are between 50 and 100 pounds of HHW in an individual household (50 pounds
Js approximately equivalent to six one-gallon cans of paint). This translates to
between 1400 and 2800 tons of HHW in the unincorporated area, and between 7,000
and 21,000 tons in the county as a whole. Waste characterization studies currently
being done throughout the state are, for the first time, providing documentation'on
the amount of HHW actually being disposed of in landfills. We believe that with this
new disposal information, the average HHW generation figures will be revised
upwards.
2. HHW Landfilled
According to the 1990 Waste Generation Study conducted at the landfills by R.W.
Beck & Associates for the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County, 0.73% of
the solid waste stream is HHW. This totals 1,487 tons for the unincorporated areas
of the county in 1990 (there are 57,311 households in the unincorporated areas).
None of. the HHW were assumed to be diverted from the landfill and recycled or
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Household Hazardous Waste Element