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Strategic Directives

SD-3: Minimize Waste

This page provides information on the CIWMB's Strategic Directive 3 (SD-3). Each of the seven subdirectives links to further explanation including baseline measurement, metrics or performance criteria, annual targets, and key activities.

Directive
It is a core value of the CIWMB that all materials be properly managed in order to minimize the generation of waste (source reduction,) maximize the diversion of materials from landfills, and manage all materials to their heights and best use, in accordance with the waste management hierarchy and in support of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The Board conducts these activities in accordance with all mandates directing programs relative to special wastes, such as waste tires, used oil, and household hazardous wastes, etc.

Specifically, the CIWMB will:

  1. Provide vigorous oversight of local jurisdictions to ensure that 50 percent diversion is maintained among those that have already attained it.
  2. Increase the number of local jurisdictions that reach the 50 percent level.
  3. Continually increase the statewide annual diversion rate beyond 50 percent.
  4. Increase the annual waste tire diversion rate to 90 percent by 2015.
  5. Work with other State agencies to minimize litter and the uncontrolled release of materials harmful to the environment.
  6. Seek statutory authority by September 2008 to develop a timely and accurate compliance measurement system.
  7. Develop a full-cost accounting analysis to compare the costs and benefits of recycling, composting, technology, and landfills.

3.1--Provide vigorous oversight of local jurisdictions to ensure that 50 percent diversion is maintained among those that have already attained it

This subdirective addresses the original core goal of AB 939, local government achievement of 50 percent diversion. Many jurisdictions have reached 50 percent, but the Board must monitor them to ensure they maintain it. Waste stream changes, budget issues impacting diversion programs, or decreased decision-maker interest may lead jurisdictions to falter, so the Board must be vigilant.

Baseline
The baseline is number of jurisdictions at or above 50 percent diversion in calendar year 2006.

Preliminary data for 2006 will not be available until later this year, while final Board approved diversion rates will not be available until after the next biennial review. Using 2004 biennial review data, 255 local jurisdictions out of 424 were at or over 50 percent diversion (this includes only those jurisdictions that have Board approved diversion rates of 50 percent or more). This does not include 44 with approved good faith efforts or approved reduced diversion requirements, or an additional 106 with approved time extensions and hence delayed biennial review status.

Metrics or Performance Criteria
The Board will measure the number of jurisdictions at or above 50 percent diversion, based on electronic annual reports submitted by jurisdictions and subsequent Board review.

Annual Targets
The annual target is to maintain the number of jurisdictions at or above 50 percent diversion and to ensure that jurisdictions currently at 50 percent do not slip below this threshold. Legislative proposals to switch to county-level measurement could simplify the system.

Key Activities
Board staff will oversee jurisdiction progress and achievement of the 50 percent diversion rate by reviewing annual reports and conducting site visits to assess diversion programs and identify diversion program gaps. This will include monitoring changes in population growth and construction and demolition activity, assessing new market opportunities, and assisting jurisdictions to ensure that they do not decrease diversion below 50 percent.

Board staff will provide technical assistance to increase diversion program implementation and if necessary, initiate the compliance order process for jurisdictions failing to implement programs, achieve 50 percent diversion, or make good faith efforts.

3.2--Increase the number of local jurisdictions that reach the 50 percent level

This subdirective addresses the need for all local governments to reach 50 percent diversion.  While most jurisdictions are in compliance, many still need to implement additional diversion programs that effectively target the right materials in the right ways. 

Baseline
The baseline is the number of jurisdictions in compliance with the Board's diversion goals in calendar year 2006.

As with Strategic Directive 3.1, preliminary data for 2006 will not be available until later this year, while final Board approved diversion rates will not be available until after the next biennial review. Using 2004 biennial review data, 300 local jurisdictions out of 424 were found to be in compliance and were either at or over 50 percent diversion (this includes those jurisdictions that have Board approved levels of program implementation and diversion rates of 50 percent or more) or had approved good faith efforts or approved reduced diversion requirements.

Metrics or Performance Criteria
The Board will measure increases in the number of jurisdictions at or above 50 percent diversion, based on electronic annual reports submitted by jurisdictions and subsequent Board review.

Annual Targets
The annual target will be to bring all jurisdictions into compliance. Of the 106 jurisdictions with approved time extensions and hence delayed biennial review status, preliminary review of annual reports and staff site visits indicates that 90 or more are likely to be recommended by staff as being in compliance. Staff therefore would target the 10 or so remaining jurisdictions to bring them into compliance. Legislative proposals to switch to county-level measurement could simplify the system.

Key Activities

  • The Board will provide targeted technical assistance to jurisdictions not yet at 50 percent diversion in order to increase diversion program implementation, and achievement of the goal. The Board has reorganized to increase coordination and collaboration of Board programs for improved technical assistance to jurisdictions.  By combining local government assistance and market development, the Board will provide greater targeted assistance to jurisdictions while also focusing on regional diversion opportunities and market development.  New regional Market Assessment Action Plans (for jurisdictions not meeting the 50 percent diversion requirement) will match targeted waste types within jurisdictions to diversion and business opportunities.
  • The Board will continue to monitor jurisdiction progress and initiate the compliance order process for jurisdictions failing to implement programs, achieve 50 percent diversion, or make good faith efforts.

3.3--Continually increase the statewide annual diversion rate beyond 50 percent

This subdirective addresses the highest measure of success in California. Looking at the statewide diversion rate from year to year lets us judge our overall progress and gauge our effectiveness. At this level, all the Board's activities contribute to the result.

Baseline
The baseline is the statewide diversion rate of 54 percent for fiscal year 2006 (as calculated in 2007). 

Metrics or Performance Criteria
The board will annually measure the statewide diversion rate.

Annual Targets
The overall target will be a statewide diversion rate of 75 percent by fiscal year 2020. Staff will monitor progress towards that level on a yearly basis. Current legislation could change the goals, while legislative proposals to switch to county-level measurement could simplify the system.

Key Activities
The statewide diversion rate is the culmination of all Board activities. Continually increasing the rate will require aggressive implementation of the Strategic Directives, including maximizing jurisdiction diversion, pursuing producer responsibility, developing markets and infrastructure, and pioneering new technologies and strategies to divert waste.

3.4--Increase the annual tire diversion rate to 90 percent by 2015

This subdirective addresses the Board's mandate to regulate and manage waste tires. California is faced with the significant challenge of diverting or safely managing more than 40.2 million reusable and waste tires generated each year. The CIWMB Waste Tire Recycling Management Program (Tire Program) has been at the forefront of expanding research and development of waste tire technologies and programs and continues to improve and build on its successes. However, the ultimate measure of success will be how well these program activities divert waste tires to the highest and best use.

Baseline
The baseline is the 75 percent statewide tire diversion rate in 2005.

Metrics or Performance Criteria
The board will annually measure the statewide tire diversion rate.

Annual Targets
The first annual target will be to reach 80 percent tire diversion by the end of 2008 (an increase of 5 percentage points from the current level).

Key Activities

  • Implementation of the Board's Five-Year Plan for the Waste Tire Recycling Management Program (Five-Year Plan) approved in June 2007. Creating expanded and new markets for recycled tire material is also crucial for the advancement of waste tire diversion. Through implementation of the Board's Five-Year Plan, sound science, and measurable results, the Board is developing the tools necessary to aggressively address California's waste tire needs. A contract is underway to assess and improve the accuracy of tire diversion metric.
  • Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) report due July 10, 2008; including analysis of effectiveness and success of the Board's programmatic activities upon the development of markets for additional waste tires and analysis of activities to increase waste tire diversion rates. As part of the 2007/08 Budget analysis, the LAO recommended that the board identify and report to the legislature activities that would result in an increase in the number of waste tires diverted from the state's landfills, as well as to advise the Legislature of the policy implications that would allow appropriate legislative evaluation.

3.5--Work with other State agencies to minimize litter and the uncontrolled release of materials harmful to the environment

This subdirective addresses the problem of litter and contamination of the environment, particularly the marine environment. Marine debris is a global pollution problem that impacts human health and safety, endangers wildlife and aquatic habitats, and costs local and national economies millions in wasted resources and lost revenues. Marine debris from land-based sources must be reduced through tighter controls on solid waste, with plastic packaging being a key material of concern to be addressed.

Baseline
The California Coastal Commission database, which reflects total pounds and types of debris collected since 1998 during Coastal Cleanup Events, could serve as a baseline to reflect the success of programs implemented to reduce litter. Data on the number of plastic film bags recycled pursuant to AB 2449 would provide another baseline.

Metrics or Performance Criteria
As a starting point until an overall approach is further developed, the following could serve as interim metrics:

  • California Coastal Commission data.
  • Reports from school districts who receive funding for containers from the Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI) will contain baseline data and tonnages of material collected once containers are in place.
  • Cities and counties that apply Used Oil funds for storm water pollution prevention activities are required to track the number of storm drain inserts installed to reduce amount of oil pollution entering storm drains.
  • Board waste characterization studies will identify the amount of plastic carryout bags in landfills and transfer facilities and in bales of plastic from grocery stores.

Annual Targets
The annual targets for this subdirective must still be determined.

Key Activities
The Board is working collaboratively with the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to support its Marine Debris Resolution and with other agencies (Caltrans, DOC, etc.) to reduce marine debris. In addition, under Chapter 845, Statutes of 2006 (Levine, AB 2449), which became effective on July 1, 2007, the Board must implement a statewide plastic bag recycling program, which will address a major component of both litter on land and of marine debris. Key activities:

  • Completing the Chico State studies on degradable and compostable plastics, and developing a fact sheet about them for interested parties.
  • Providing technical assistance to school districts that apply for funding from the EEI project to be used for purchase of recycling containers, signs, and posters for collecting recyclables.
  • Providing technical outreach regarding availability of funds from the Used Oil Grant program for stormwater pollution prevention.
  • Providing local governments with assistance in implementing the Plastic Bag Recycling Program.
  • Waste characterization studies with components regarding plastic carryout bags.

3.6--Introduce legislation by September 2008 to develop a timely and accurate compliance measurement system

Measuring local government progress is a cornerstone for AB 939. However, the current jurisdiction-level, diversion-based goals are too complex and costly to use for both the Board and local governments. The number games, delays, and inaccuracies make the current system unworkable and leave decision-makers without hard, clear numbers on which to base their decisions. Under the current system, the diversion rate and disposal amounts can increase simultaneously. To reduce disposal a different set of goals and a better measurement system are needed.

Baseline
The baseline is the current jurisdiction-level, diversion-based measured system.

Metrics or Performance Criteria
The performance criteria for this subdirective will be the Board's success in pursuing legislative changes to enact a set of simplified, county-level, disposal reduction goals, and measurement system.

Annual Targets
The first target is enactment of legislation requiring a set of simplified, county-level, disposal reduction goals, and measurement system.

Key Activities
Legislation is needed to accomplish this subdirective. The first steps are to develop a proposal that addresses our needs, ensure that Board language is incorporated into an appropriate bill such as SB 1016 (Wiggins) and then to secure passage of that bill. The Board's Legislative and External Affairs Office will work with the author's office, provide technical assistance, and assist in the legislative process and with the enrolled bill report.

3.7--Develop a full-cost accounting analysis to compare the costs and benefits of recycling, composting, technology, and landfills

Full-cost accounting tracks all of the costs (including long-term and environmental costs) associated with a waste management option, not just the current cash outlays. Full-cost accounting can help decision-makers make cost-effective and informed decisions about the disposition of solid waste. At the local level it can be used when selecting programs to determine what disposal and diversion options will really cost, while at the statewide level it could be used to compare alternatives or even help set disposal fees. Full-cost accounting requires access to a broad spectrum of information which some consider proprietary and may not voluntarily share.

Baseline
There is abundant anecdotal information on the need for, and problems associated with, determining the full range of waste prevention, disposal, and diversion costs.  The baseline for this subdirective is a compilation of existing studies on disposal and diversion costs.

Metrics or Performance Criteria
The performance criteria for this subdirective will be the Board's progress in obtaining a full-cost accounting analysis of disposal and diversion activities.

Annual Targets
The first target is to conduct workshops to scope out the project needs and strategies, then to develop a scope of work.

Key Activities
The Board should conduct a series of workshops to determine how to best approach a full-cost accounting analysis in California. Issues to consider will include:

  • Which parts of the solid waste management system, including activities related to waste prevention and reuse, should be included.
  • Whether to develop tools for local governments to use or to focus on statewide costs only.
  • Whether the models developed by the U.S. EPA or other states such as Florida are applicable or usable for our purposes.
  • Whether legislation is needed to compel entities to provide the information (considered proprietary by some) needed to calculate costs.
  • How to structure a contract to accomplish these goals.

Strategic Directives Home Page (SD 1-2) | SD-4

 

Last updated: December 06, 2007


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