Waste Reduction in Tehama County

Education and Publicity

Both Corning Disposal and GreenWaste of Tehama have established outreach programs aimed at local schools. Staff from both companies visit schools to give presentations and equipment demonstrations.

The Tehama County Sanitary Landfill Agency (TCSLA) advertises its recycling and source reduction programs in the local newspaper. It also sets up booths to promote recycling at community events, fairs, and other local events. In addition, it has established an award program to recognize source reduction efforts of residents, schools, and other institutions. Another awards program recognizes business organizations' source reduction and recycling efforts.

Volunteer citizens started the Recycling Task Force in 1989 to assist TCSLA's education efforts. Task Force members speak to civic groups, staff displays at community events, organize media campaigns, and assist in program monitoring and development.

Tehama County focuses solid waste education efforts at students in the elementary and high school grades. Both haulers and county staff make presentations to classes upon request. In addition, TCSLA sent a sample copy of the state's recycling curriculum to all schools and asked teachers to attend one of the state's "Closing the Loop" workshops.

TCSLA provides information on Tehama County's solid waste programs, plans, elements, and elements. The Web site tracks progress made toward achieving waste reduction goals.

Expanding Demand

TCSLA, Uninc.-Tehama, and the cities of Tehama and Red Bluff have all adopted similar procurement policies to encourage source reduction and recycling. TCSLA's policy directs that products manufactured with recycled material are preferred over goods made strictly with virgin material. The policy states that when a recycled-content item is difficult to procure, the purchasing record must include an explanation to that effect. In 1998, all of the paper used by the TCSLA had 30 percent or greater recycled content.

TCSLA staff have worked to attract businesses using recycled feedstock to the area but the county has no formal loan or grant program and is not part of a Recycling Markets Development Zone.

All of the Tehama County jurisdictions contract with private companies to provide trash collection and disposal services. They also provide recycling, and yard debris collection, processing, and marketing services. The jurisdictions incur no costs for these functions. Residents pay directly for these services.

TCSLA incurs costs for data collection, contract and grant oversight, program planning and administration, and education. TCSLA operates its budget as an enterprise fund.

The Tehama County-City of Red Bluff Landfill Management Agency (TC/RBLMA) staff operate the landfill scale and perform billing. The agency pays GreenWaste on a per ton basis for operating the landfill. GreenWaste provides all equipment used at the landfill.

Prior to creating a regional agency and implementing expanded recycling and composting opportunities, residents of Tehama County paid an annual $13.50 solid waste fee assessment on their property tax. As of March 2000, the assessment had not increased. In addition, residents pay haulers directly for curbside collection services. In 1997, residents of unincorporated Tehama County—and the cities of Tehama and Red Bluff—paid $12.38 per month for weekly collection of up to five cans and recycling of limited materials. Under the PAYT system, residents who cut their trash to 32 gallons or less each week can now pay less for the expanded services.

In 1997, residents of Corning who had curbside trash collection paid their hauler $10.94 per month for trash collection only. In February 2000, Corning required residents to contract for curbside trash, recycling, and yard debris collection at a cost of $14.13 per month. These residents receive alternate week collection of yard debris and recyclables for only $3.24 more per month than they paid for trash collection alone in 1997.

Funding Mechanisms

TCSLA funding comes from solid waste fee assessments on property taxes and grant funding from the CIWMB and the Department of Conservation’s Division of Recycling.

TC/RBLMA generates revenue from tip fees paid at the landfill and transfer stations.

Each jurisdiction retains the franchise fees that its hauler pays. The communities deposit the fees in their general funds.

Challenges and Opportunities

Before 1997, Tehama County's jurisdictions were reluctant to form a regional agency. They could not agree on a formula for allocation of civil penalties that could potentially be levied under AB 939. The jurisdictions overcame this obstacle in 1997. The current agreement among TCSLA's member jurisdictions calls for penalties to be divided according to the percentage of waste delivered to the landfill by each community in the year prior to the time the penalty is incurred.

Another challenge for rural communities in recycling is limited resources for staffing. Unlike large cities that may hire 100 or more waste management staff, small communities often cannot afford even one full-time professional. Hiring staff with broad experience is essential.

For example, some of the job functions of the Director of TCSLA include responsibility for overseeing franchise agreements, writing grant applications and administering grant funds, and providing technical assistance to residents and businesses. The director stated that all job descriptions in the TCSLA are broadly written and include the language "other duties as assigned."

TCSLA is hoping to improve its programs to handle non-recyclable household hazardous waste (HHW) and tires. The agency recently received state grants to fund a tire amnesty day (no tip fee for disposal) and a HHW disposal facility.

• Be aggressive in pursuit of grants.
• Develop commitment among all jurisdictions.
• Establish variable can rates—they are strong incentives to reduce waste.
• Paper products are a significant portion of residential waste. Focus on recovering as much as possible.
• Consider forming a regional agency to consolidate planning, administration, and reporting requirements.
• Exercise control over waste management services through franchise agreements.

Contacts

Credits/Disclaimer

Kelly Lease of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance researched and wrote this case study for the California Integrated Waste Management Board under the Board’s contract with the University of California at Santa Cruz (contract no. IWM-C8028).

The statements and conclusions in this case study are those of the contractor and not necessarily those of the Integrated Waste Management Board, its employees, or the State of California. The data in this report was provided by local sources but not independently verified. The State makes no warranty, expressed or implied, and assumes no liability for the information contained in this text. Any mention of commercial products, companies, or processes shall not be construed as an endorsement

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Last updated: December 28, 2007