Local Government Disaster Waste Guidelines

Postdisaster Assistance

In the event a disaster occurs, affected jurisdictions should be aware of the following:

Diverting Disaster Waste
Part of claiming a disposal deduction for disaster waste includes demonstrating efforts to divert that waste. Local assistance staff is available to provide technical assistance in helping jurisdictions coordinate their disaster recycling and reuse efforts to meet this requirement.

Affected jurisdictions may wish to pass out information at disaster shelters or at disaster information sites to encourage residents to take any self-hauled disaster waste to specific sites where materials can be diverted and/or disposal of disaster waste is tracked.

Tracking Disposal Tonnage
A jurisdiction must be able to substantiate the disposal tonnage claimed. This will be facilitated if the jurisdictions uses a disposal facility that tracks disaster waste separately. Contact your local enforcement agency (LEA) to identify which disposal facilities have received an Emergency Waiver of Standards for the disaster, as they are usually equipped for tracking disaster waste.

The tonnage for each load of disaster waste received for disposal must be tracked separately from nondisaster waste and by jurisdiction. Not tracking in this manner will make it difficult for impacted jurisdictions to substantiate a disposal deduction claim.

Not all disposal facilities that receive disaster waste receive an Emergency Waiver of Standards. While a jurisdiction is not limited to only claiming a deduction for disaster waste sent to a facility with an Emergency Waiver of Standards, it may be more difficult to obtain disposal data from a facility without such a waiver.

Working Together
Jurisdictions affected by the same disaster should work together to pool resources and maximize efforts to track diverted and disposed disaster waste. For example, staff could form a disaster team to help coordinate cleanup of disaster areas and assist with programs to sort, transport, and, if necessary, store recyclable disaster waste. Team members could include the recycling coordinator, public works staff, a member of the jurisdiction’s emergency services unit, permitted or franchise haulers, and recycling facility representatives.

Table of Contents | Procedures

Last updated: November 01, 2007