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Winter 2010 Volume 61
JOIN THE TEAM: If you are interested in participating on the Los Angeles County Solid Waste Management Public Education Subcommitteeor if you would like to submit an article for Inside Solid Waste, please contact Vanessa Lopez at 626-458-6563, or [email protected] meetings are held at the County of LosAngeles Department of Public Works Headquarters to discuss and review upcoming newsletters.If you want to be involved or to contribute, please join the Subcommittee!
Created by the California Legislature in 1989 with thepassage of AB 939, the California Integrated WasteManagement Board (CIWMB) was appointed the task ofreducing the waste stream generated by the state,encouraging recycling, and overseeing California landfillsand other solid waste facilities. AB 939 also mandated thatCalifornia cities, counties, and regional agencies achieve awaste diversion rate of 25 percent by 1995 and 50 percent by2000. At the time, California diverted only about 10 percentof solid waste out of landfills and into recycling and/or reuseprojects. Over the years, the CIWMB worked with cities andcounties to implement the waste reduction mandates of AB939. It also allocated grants and loans to businesses, non-profits, and public agencies related to a variety of solid andhazardous waste management issues.
On July 28, 2009, as part of the massive budgetcompromise, SB 63 (Strickland) was chaptered into laweliminating the CIWMB effective January 1, 2010. All
CIWMB duties and responsibilities along with the Divisionof Recycling of the Department of Conservation have beentransferred to the new Department of Resources Recyclingand Recovery (CalRecycle), which will be housed within theNatural Resources Agency. The CIWMB was previously oneof six agencies under the umbrella of the CaliforniaEnvironmental Protection Agency.
CalRecycle will be headed by a director who will have all ofthe authority of the CIWMB, including the ability to delegatedecision-making authority down to staff. State lawscompelled the CIWMB to conduct its meetings and decisionmaking processes in a public manner, however these laws donot apply to CalRecycle. The Task Force will continue toadvocate for transparency wherever possible.
For more information, please contact Mike Mohajer of theTask Force at (909) 592-1147.
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Page 2, Inside Solid Waste,Winter 2010
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A parent’s group at Middleton Elementary School inHuntington Park discovered a creative new way to reduce,reuse, and recycle.
The group transformed plastic shopping bags into purses.Used plastic bags collected by parents, teachers, and childrenare knitted together to make a purse. Each purse is made up ofapproximately 40 plastic bags and takes a few hours to a fewdays to make depending on the size of the purse. The group isexpanding their collection to include purses made out of usedpotato chip and cookie bags.
The group decided to get involved after learning thatdiscarded plastic bags are a nuisance to the City andenvironment.
“This is a win, win for the community because it encouragesreuse and litter prevention,” says Mario Rivas, the City’sRecycling Coordinator. “When I started community outreachin this City, few people knew that plastic bags were a problem,but now there is a real acknowledgement that the environmentaffects us all.”
The group’s leader, Teresa Rosas, says that by creating thesepurses they are helping the environment and teaching othersto recycle.
“These plastic bags were going to the landfill and now theyare works of art,” said Rosas.
For additional information, contact Mario Rivas, City ofHuntington Park Recycling Coordinator, at (323) 584-6322 orat [email protected].
Winter 2010, Inside Solid Waste, Page 3
For many years, jurisdictions in Los Angeles County haverelied on Puente Hills Landfill’s (PHL) 13,200 tons per day ofpermitted disposal capacity and additional 33,000 tons perweek of beneficial use material capacity to meet their solidwaste management needs. In 2002, this matter wasextensively considered by the County of Los Angeles ingranting a 10-year extension of the PHL’s operation whichwould allow the County Sanitation Districts of Los AngelesCounty (Districts) to develop a Waste-by-Rail (WBR) systemto meet the needs of cities and the County after the closure ofPHL in November 2013. As such, the County-issuedConditional Use Permit (CUP) for PHL, which among otherthings, established a number of deadlines for developingvarious elements of the WBR system as well as requires theDistricts to assist the County in the enactment of legislativeand regulatory activities which would promote developmentof alternative technology (i.e. conversion technology)facilities. To monitor the progress of the WBR system, theCUP sets three milestone deadlines, of which the first twowere met by the Districts. The third milestone setsDecember 31, 2009, to be the date by which the system is to
be fully operational; otherwise a 2,000 ton-per-day reductionin the permitted daily disposal tonnage at PHL will be applied.No reduction in daily tonnage will be required, however, if theDistricts can demonstrate their best-faith efforts in developingthe system.
On November 20, 2009, the Districts’ disseminated a draftprogress report on the development of the system tostakeholders for comments. The draft report indicates thatmajor accomplishments have been achieved, such as openingPuente Hills Material Recycling Facility; completingconstruction of all necessary infrastructure for the operationof Mesquite Regional Landfill in Imperial County; andentering into a 15-year Rail Transportation Contract withUnion Pacific Railroad for the operation of two trains, eachcarrying approximately 4,000 tons per day of municipal solidwaste from Puente Hills Intermodal Facility to MesquiteRegional Landfill. Despite these achievements, the draftreport states that the WBR system is not anticipated to becompleted until 2012.
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continued on page 5
Page 4, Inside Solid Waste,Winter 2010
TASK FORCEMEETINGS
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For information,
call Benjamin
Cortez at 626-
458-2536,
M -Th, 7 a.m. -
5:30 p.m.
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HHW ROUNDUPS are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. unlessotherwise indicated. For more information, call the County ofLos Angeles Department of Public Works at 1 (888) CLEAN-LA(253-2652). For information about City of Los Angeles events,call 1 (800) 98-TOXIC (988-6942).
Jan. 16 Bell - Bell City Yard, 5320 Gage Ave.
Jan. 23 Hermosa Beach - Clark Stadium, Valley Drive between 8th & 11th Streets
Jan. 30 Santa Fe Springs - Rio Hondo College Fire Training Academy, 11400 Greenstone Ave.
Feb. 6 Claremont - Claremont Corporate Yard,1616 Monte Vista Ave
Feb. 13 Gardena - Hitco Carbon Composites,1551 West 139th St.
Feb. 20 Diamond Bar - City Streets Gateway Corporate Center,1300 block of Bridge Gate Drive
Feb. 27 Marina Del Rey - Dock 52 Parking Lot, Fiji Way
Mar. 6 Monrovia - Myrtle Avenue Park and Ride Lot,Corner of North Myrtle Ave. and Pomona Ave.
Mar. 6 Hawthorne - Betty Ainsworth Sports Center,El Segundo Blvd. & Doty Ave.
Mar. 13 Pico Rivera - Southern California Gas Company,8101 Rosemead Blvd.
April 10 Lynwood - Lynwood City Streets,Butler Ave. & Bellinger St.
April 24 South Gate - South Gate Park,Tweedy Blvd. & Hildreth Ave.
Household Hazardous Waste can be taken to any of theselocations. Electronic waste is also accepted. Call 1-800-98-TOXIC or 1 (888) CLEAN-LA for more information.
Gaffey Street Collection Center1400 N. Gaffey St.San Pedro, CA 90021Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Hyperion Treatment Plant7660 W. Imperial Highway, Gate BPlaya Del Rey, CA 90293Open Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Washington Boulevard Collection Center2649 E. Washington Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90023Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Randall Street S.A.F.E. Center11025 Randall St.Sun Valley, CA 91352Open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
UCLA Location550 Charles E. Young Dr. West Los Angeles, CA 90095Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Los Angeles/Glendale Collection Center4600 Colorado Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90039Open Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Antelope Valley Environmental Collection CenterAntelope Valley Public Landfill1200 West City Ranch Rd.Palmdale, CA 93551Open 1st and 3rd Saturday each month 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Visit www.lacountyiswmtf.org where youcan find agendas, meeting minutes, andcopies of the Inside Solid Waste newsletter.
Looking for up-to-date information about the Task Force?
ANNOUNCEMENT
WHAT’S UP?
Winter 2010, Inside Solid Waste, Page 5
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The City of Huntington Park and the Metropolitan WaterDistrict hosted water conservation workshops at theHuntington Park Community Center on September 17, 2009and November 21, 2009 to inform Huntington Park residentsand the general public about the need to conserve water andnatural resources.
Topics discussed included water saving landscaping practices,watering times for specific types of soil, the benefits of usingnative plants, and organic recycling. Future workshops areanticipated in Spring 2010.
For additional information, contact Mario Rivas, City ofHuntington Park Recycling Coordinator, at (323) 584-6322 orat [email protected].
The Districts presented the progress report to the Task Forceon December 17, 2009, after which the Task Force voted tosend comments to the Districts and the County Department ofPublic Works (Public Works). In summary, the Task Forceacknowledged the Districts’ best-faith efforts and commentedthat the Districts should assist Public Works and the TaskForce in developing additional solid waste managementalternatives such as proactively lobbying the Legislature andother stakeholders to remove regulatory obstacles to thedevelopment of conversion technologies; facilitatingpresentations by Public Works on conversion technology tothe Districts’ Board of Directors; and collaborating with theTask Force, Public Works, and jurisdictions to developalternatives to managing beneficial use material currentlygoing to PHL.
Upon addressing stakeholders’ concerns, the Districtssubmitted their 2009 final progress report to the CountyDepartment of Public Works on December 23, 2009. Based onPublic Works’ review and consideration of key stakeholder
comments including those of the Task Force, the Director ofPublic Works made a finding that the Districts demonstratedbest-faith efforts to date towards developing the WBR system,and thereby waived the daily disposal tonnage reductionthough December 31, 2010. Public Works will reevaluate theDistricts’ best-faith efforts annually, taking into considerationthe Districts’ efforts to expedite the development of theMesquite Regional Landfill rail spur and Puente HillsIntermodal Facility; and efforts to obtain approvals fortransporting waste by truck to Mesquite Regional Landfill.Public Works also requested the Districts to further assist theCounty in pursuing statewide legislation to establish a clearpermitting pathway for the development of conversiontechnologies, and proactively work with jurisdictions andstakeholders who currently take beneficial use materials toPuente Hills Landfill to develop additional solid wastemanagement alternatives for these materials. For moreinformation, please contact Linda Lee, County of Los AngelesDepartment of Public Works, at (626) 458-6973, M-Th.,7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or [email protected].
WWAASSTTEE--BBYY--RRAAIILL SSYYSSTTEEMMcontinued from page 3
Page 6, Inside Solid Waste,Winter 2010
SSUUNNSSHHIINNEE CCAANNYYOONN LLAANNDDFFIILLLL FFRREEEE DDUUMMPP DDAAYY
for free disposal. Residents can also drop off up to four tiresand one bulky item per residence per year at no charge. Firedebris was also accepted to assist residents with cleanupefforts in the aftermath of the recent wildfires.
For more information, please [email protected]. To receive notificationregarding future events, please register athttp://dpw.lacounty.gov/general/enotify/userPages/Registration.aspxor call (800) 320-1771.
Sunshine Canyon Landfill held its first Free Dump Day forresidents of the neighboring communities on Saturday,October 24, 2009.
The event was one of two Free Dump Days that will beconducted at the landfill annually as part of the landfill’scompliance with Los Angeles County’s land use permit.
Residents can bring up to one ton of household discards, suchas furniture, appliances, and other bulky items, to the landfill
Winter 2010, Inside Solid Waste, Page 7
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cleaning, painting, and disinfecting.
Public Works requested and received emergency waivers fromthe Regional Water Quality Control Board for local landfills,allowing them to receive the burned debris. Public Works alsocoordinated with disposal companies to assist Los AngelesCounty residents with the disposal of post-fire debris. AlliedWaste/Consolidated Disposal and Waste Managementprovided assistance to fire victims in the form of vouchersand/or free/discounted roll-off bins (on a limited basis) toassist community cleanup efforts in the fire-affected areas. Inaddition, the waste management companies offered reducedtipping fees for post-fire debris at Sunshine Canyon andLancaster Landfills.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works(Public Works) worked with the Los Angeles County FireDepartment, Health Hazardous Materials Division, USDAForest Services, and the California Department of ToxicSubstances Control (DTSC) to provide free cleanup servicesto residents affected by the Station Fire in Los AngelesCounty.
DTSC funded the cleanup of household hazardous waste for34 affected Station Fire properties, of which, 23 also receivedfree asbestos cleanup services. Hundreds of pounds ofhazardous waste was safely collected and properly disposed.Household hazardous waste collection included small propanetanks, household chemicals, and other products used for
Page 8, Inside Solid Waste,Winter 2010
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At its final meeting on December 15, 2009, the CaliforniaIntegrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) directed staffto continue their efforts to implement statewide mandatorycommercial recycling in concert with the California AirResources Board. A formal rulemaking process for theimposition of mandatory commercial recycling statewide willcommence in January 2010 and is expected to be finalized inlate 2010 or early 2011.
The proposed regulation was intended to reduce greenhousegas (GHG) emissions. Under the current draft regulatorylanguage, jurisdictions that do not already have a preexistingcommercial recycling program will be required to implementa program by July 1, 2012, regardless of having achieved theexisting 50 percent mandatory diversion rate or higher. Allbusinesses and multifamily residential dwellings of five ormore units that generate four cubic yards or more ofcommercial solid waste and recyclables per week would besubject to this regulation.
The Task Force remains active in the stakeholder process andhas several concerns with the proposed regulation, including,but not limited to, the following:
• Local governments would be required to implement andenforce this measure within their jurisdiction – an unfundedState mandate during a time of economic downturn.
• This new regulation would require the collection of
additional materials without addressing the need for localmarkets that make use of the recyclables collected.
• Materials taken to a transformation facility, including twoexisting waste-to-energy facilities in Los Angeles County,would not be given diversion credit under this regulation.
• CalRecycle, formerly CIWMB, estimates 5 million metrictons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GHG) can be reducedthrough a statewide mandatory commercial recyclingmeasure. This estimate is based on the assumption thatfacilities in the Pacific Rim countries (which receive mostof the materials collected in California) meet the sameenvironmental standards as facilities in California. TheTask Force questions the validity of this assumption.
The Task Force also expressed concerns regarding the processleading to the State’s decision to impose this mandate. TheTask Force urges cities and other interested stakeholders toactively participate in the rulemaking process since theregulations are expected to have a significant impact on theirsolid waste management operations.
For more information, visit CalRecycle’s website:http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov//climate/Recycling/. RecentTask Force correspondence to CalRecycle on this topic can beviewed at http://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/tf/Corresp.cfm. Foradditional information, please contact Mike Mohajer of theTask Force at (909) 592-1147.
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After years of effort from Southern California localgovernments, in 2001, the California Integrated WasteManagement Board (CIWMB) adopted policy that providedcompetitive grants to be awarded based on the geographicdistribution of the State’s population, ensuring an equitabledistribution of grants to Southern California jurisdictions.
Unfortunately, this past November, CIWMB eliminated thepolicy prior to their dissolution, despite the Task Force’scompelling arguments against the proposal.
The Task Force’s arguments against elimination of the policystemmed from inequitable distribution of funds to Northern
California jurisdictions compared to those in SouthernCalifornia. The CIWMB’s analysis of the policy did notaddress the inherent differences between jurisdictions inSouthern California.
The Task Force will continue to argue for the reinstatement ofthe policy with the new State Department of RecoursesRecycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), which replaced theCIWMB effective January 1, 2010.
For additional information, contact Mike Mohajer of the TaskForce at (909) 592-1147.
Winter 2010, Inside Solid Waste, Page 9
It is with great sorrow that we report the passing of Mr. JohnMcTaggart. John passed away peacefully at his home inRancho Palos Verdes, California, on Wednesday, November 4,2009.
A long time resident of the South Bay, John touched the lives ofso many people. He served as founder,planning commissioner, councilmember,and mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes. He wasalso active in many civic organizationsearning the moniker “Mr. RPV.” Among hismany attributes, John helped found theSouth Bay Cities Council of Governmentsand was Chair for the first two years. Healso served on the Board of Directors of theInland Empire Regional CompostingAuthority; served as Vice Chair of theMetro South Bay Governance Council;served on the Los Angeles County WestVector Control Board for ten years; was amember of the South Coast Air QualityManagement District’s Advisory Council;
and was chairman and member of the Board of the CaliforniaMarine Affairs and Navigation Conference.
For the past sixteen years, John served on the Los AngelesCounty Integrated Waste Management Task Force and anumber of its subcommittees, including the Alternative
Technology Advisory Subcommittee forthe last six years. He was excited to see theSubcommittee advance the development ofconversion technologies. Being adedicated proponent of emergingtechnologies, one of his last acts was tomake the supreme effort, despite his failinghealth, to attend the State Waste Board tourof the conversion technology facilities inSouthern California on October 19, 2009.His warm demeanor and quick wit werealways appreciated. John will be missed.
The Task Force adjourned its meeting onThursday, November 19, 2009, inMcTaggart’s honor.
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California Integrated Waste Management Board’s(CIWMB’s) regulation to strengthen the financial assurancedemonstration was approved by consent on December 15,2009.
The regulation, which incorporates comments by the TaskForce and other stakeholders, provides:
• Clarification on the proactive monitoring program that anoperator must perform for CIWMB to determine whetherthe level of post-closure maintenance financial assurancemay be reduced.
• Clarification on the requirements for a non-water releaseCorrective Action (CA) plan to be based on reasonablyforeseeable causal events, such as earthquakes, flooding,or degradation of environmental control systems, whichcould result in a non-water release CA.
The Task Force believes that the proposed regulations are astep forward in protecting the State, local governments, thepublic, and the environment. A formal regulatory packagewill be filed with the Office of Administrative Law byFebruary 2010.
For a copy of the regulations, visithttp://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Laws/Rulemaking/postclosure/default.htm.
For more information, please contact Linda Lee, County ofLos Angeles Department of Public Works, at (626) 458-6973,Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,[email protected], or Mike Mohajer of the Task Force at(909) 592-1147.
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Residents will receive a free oil filter in exchange for theirused motor oil. In addition, free oil filter containers will begiven to those who bring in their used oil filter. Each eventwill accept up to five gallons of uncontaminated used motoroil.
Used oil and oil filters can also be disposed of at weekendHousehold Hazardous Waste/Electronic Waste (HHW/E-Waste) collection events or at local Certified CollectionCenters (CCC’s). These centers typically accept up to fivegallons of uncontaminated used motor oil, and some will alsoaccept used oil filters for recycling – all free of charge.
To find out more information about upcoming weekendHHW/E-Waste events and CCC’s, please call 1(888) CLEAN LAor visit www.CleanLA.com.
Page 10, Inside Solid Waste, Winter 2010
The City of Santa Monica launched an innovative restaurantrecycling program.
The program, a collaborative effort by GeoGreen Biofuel andthe City, collects fats, oil, and grease (FOG) from cityrestaurants and converts them into biofuel, a renewable fuel,in an effort to reduce air pollution and dependence on fossilfuels.Restaurants deposit their FOG in containers locateddowntown in Parking Structures 2 through 6 and maintainedin the refuse collection area for free. Residents can recycletheir FOG at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Facilityat 2500 Michigan Avenue. The hazardous waste contactnumbers are: main office at (310) 458-2213 and drop-off-center at (310) 458-8255.
Santa Monica restaurants can request a container bycontacting Wes Thompson, Recycling Coordinator, at(310) 458-8546 or by email at [email protected].
For additional information, contact Wes Thompson or MyeshaJones at (310) 458-2201, Extension 5706. You may alsocontact GeoGreen Biofuels for your city’s grease recyclingprogram at www.geogreen.com.
Santa Monica’s Solid Waste Management Division Offers Oil and Grease Recycling Service for Santa Monica Restaurants
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The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Workscollected approximately 119 used oil filters and 141 gallons ofused motor oil at two filter exchange events in Fall 2009.
Public Works is hosting three additional filter exchange eventsat the following Kragen locations:
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January 23, 2010San Gabriel965 E. Las Tunas Drive(626) 451-9853
February 27, 2010Hacienda Heights15840 E. Gale Avenue(626) 961-2128
April 17, 2010Rowland Heights19705 E. Colima Road, Suite B(909) 595-9744
Winter 2010, Inside Solid Waste, Page 11
The City of Los Angeles takestheir MultifamilyResidential RecyclingProgram (Program)viral withFacebook andTwitter. TheCity has foundthat Socialnetworking sitescan be a helpfultool to invigoratea solid wastemarketing program.
Social networking sites arenot intended to fully replacethe benefits associated withadvertising with traditionalmedia outlets like print, television, and radio. However, it cancompliment traditional marketing approaches by reachingaudiences that prefer to receive information digitally. Moreimportantly, it shows that municipalities are using the sameviral marketing techniques that private industry has alreadyfound extremely successful.
The City’s Facebook page currently has over 450 fansreceiving weeklystatus updates onsolid wastep r o g r a m ssuch asm o b i l ehazardousw a s t ed r op - o f fe v e n t s ,compostinge d u c a t i o n
workshops, andclarification onacceptable blue bin materials.
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When a fan logs on to their Facebook account, they can viewa list of status updates from friends and fan sites, includingthe Program’s Facebook status. When a Facebookmember requests to be a fan of the Program’s Facebookpage, their friends are notified about the connection,further expanding the Programs reach.
Fans are encouraged to leave comments andsuggestions. City staff answer questions, which canthen be viewed by the public on Facebook. TheProgram’s current fan base includes union
representatives, local and state elected officials, and mediareporters.
The City also posts short messages called “Tweets” viaTwitter. Followers can also “retweet” or “RT” what wasposted by City staff for their own followers. This allows atweet to be viewed by potentially twice as many peoplethrough RT’s. Followers can also submit tweeted questions tothe City by starting their tweet with “@larecycles.”
For additional information, contact Cathie Chavez-Morris,Project Manager, at (213) 485-3752 or by email [email protected].
Viral marketing is any marketingtechnique that allows users to passon a marketing message to otherusers, creating a potentiallyexponential growth in themessage’s visibility and effect.
Status updates are a form ofmultimedia blogging that allowsusers to send brief text updates,photos or audio clips. These are published to beviewed by fans of a program.
A tweet is similar to a blog posting,but cannot be longer than 140characters. Tweets provide otherusers with quick information. When you publish a tweet, it will show up on the Twitter home pages of all users following your program.
Los Angeles CountySolid Waste Management Committee/Integrated Waste Management Task ForceP.O. Box 1460Alhambra, CA 91802-1460
The tour concluded with presentations by the City and Countyof Los Angeles and visits to Hyperion Wastewater TreatmentPlant and Southeast Resource Recovery Facility. The City ofLos Angeles Public Works Board recently authorized theBureau of Sanitation to move forward with their alternativetechnology project by entering into negotiations with CR&R,Incorporated for an anaerobic digestion project and ispreparing recommendations for a commercial alternativetechnology facility. Similarly, the County of Los AngelesDepartment of Public Works expects to submit conversiontechnology demonstration project recommendations to theCounty Board of Supervisors in the first quarter of 2010.
If you would like to learn more about conversiontechnologies, please visit www.SoCalConversion.org orcontact Tobie Mitchell, Los Angeles County Department ofPublic Works, at [email protected] or (626)458-4946 M-Th, 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)staff conducted a tour of conversion technology facilitieslocated in Orange and Riverside Counties on October 19-20, 2009. The tour was to update local and stategovernment technical staff on the deployment of conversiontechnologies in the region. Several members of theAlternative Technology Advisory Subcommittee participatedin this tour that included representatives from the CIWMB,Air Resources Board, the Energy Commission, the City ofSan Jose, UC Davis Biomass Collaborative, the City andCounty of Los Angeles, and the Sacramento MunicipalUtilities District.
It included visits to Bluefire Ethanol, a green waste-to-ethanolpilot facility; Enertech, a biosolids-to-fuel facility;International Environmental Solutions, a demonstrationfacility that converts post-recycled solid waste into carbonchar and syngas; and Rentech, a company proposing a facilitythat would convert urban green wood waste throughgasification into synthetic fuel.
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