2000 Annual Report: Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste Topics

Collection Infrastructure Collection Volumes New Initiatives

Local governments are required to keep household hazardous wastes (HHW) out of the solid waste stream pursuant to PRC section 47100. They do this by providing their residents with HHW collection events; collection facilities; and public education on source reduction, reuse, or recycling. Since 1988, the IWMB has provided educational resources and technical assistance to local governments, provided guidelines for establishing permanent HHW collection facilities, and participated in HHW Information Exchange meetings. The IWMB works with the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to support local collection program development and to resolve barriers that local governments may face.

Since 1991, the CIWMB has awarded HHW grants to local governments with monies from the Integrated Waste Management Fund. Up to $3 million in HHW grants is awarded annually on a competitive basis to cities, counties, and local agencies responsible for waste management. These grants are focused on providing HHW collection to underserved areas and establishing permanent collection solutions. State funds are not available for ongoing costs of operating HHW collection operations. In February 2000, 25 grants were funded for start-up or expansion of HHW collection programs.

Collection Infrastructure

A review of the level of HHW collection services statewide revealed that a significant infrastructure is in place. In fiscal year 1998-99, 85 permanent HHW collection facilities, 245 temporary facilities/one-day events, and 107 recycle-only facilities were operated. About 50 percent of the state’s population has access to permanent facilities (where every HHW material type is accepted). Temporary facilities (accepting all types of HHW) and recycle-only facilities (where only recyclable HHW materials are accepted, such as motor oil, latex paint, and batteries) serve about 40 percent of the state’s population. Approximately 10 percent of the state’s population does not have access to collection opportunities.

While a majority of the public has access to HHW collection options, many facilities are not convenient due to location. It is also important to note that because recycle-only facilities do not collect all HHW material types, there is a gap in service for a significant segment of the public. Many local governments must limit their advertising and outreach and the amount of time that facilities are open for collection because of the high ongoing costs to operate facilities and pay for HHW disposal. The total ongoing local government expenditure for HHW collection programs exceeds $25 million annually.

Collection Volumes

The table below presents the total collected HHW as reported by local governments (data from annual Form 303 reports). HHW includes latex and oil-base paints, used oils, pesticides, household chemicals, and a variety of other materials. On average, the total collected amounts of HHW have increased 16 percent (4 million pounds) each year since fiscal year 1994-95.

Waste paints (latex and oil based) constitute over 40 percent of the total HHW collected and over 30 percent of local HHW program costs. Rapid growth in the volumes of waste paint collected (20 percent annual growth) has impaired the ability of local programs to address the overall HHW waste stream. At the request of local program operators, the IWMB initiated a study on problems associated with waste paint management during 2000. Staff met with local government, industry, and environmental representatives and provided options to the IWMB for consideration. The IWMB directed staff to develop a legislative proposal that includes a funding mechanism and program components that would support the local collection infrastructure as well as bolster the procurement of recycled latex paints.

New Initiatives

The IWMB is tracking product stewardship and extended producer responsibility initiatives applied to HHW in other states and countries. Addressing waste management problems holistically, such as those associated with HHW, is more efficient than addressing waste types one by one.

Two emerging HHW areas for the IWMB are universal wastes and electronic wastes. IWMB staff met regularly with DTSC as they developed draft regulations to implement the Universal Waste Rule. Universal waste is any hazardous waste that is widely generated and is present in the solid waste stream. DTSC has designated certain thermostats, batteries, and lamps-including fluorescent tubes-as universal waste. The IWMB recognizes the significant impact that the universal waste rule will have on HHW collection programs and the need to coordinate with HHW collectors and DTSC staff on an implementation plan to provide greater collection opportunities. As a first step, the IWMB will consider awarding a contract in 2001 to study the scale of the problem and identify options that the IWMB could employ for addressing universal wastes.

Electronic waste or “e-waste” includes computers, televisions, and other electronic equipment that has been discarded. Electronic products may contain a variety of toxic materials including lead and mercury. The e-waste recycling infrastructure is just beginning to emerge in California and the U.S.; however, it appears to be insufficient to handle the expected surge of e-waste. To better understand the problem, IWMB staff has been participating in State and local conferences and workshops to share information and learn more about e-waste. Staff is preparing a contract concept for consideration by the IWMB that would determine the amount and types of electronic equipment waste currently (and projected to be) generated in California. Staff is also examining the condition of the infrastructure for recovery, reuse, and recycling of e-waste.