infoCycling, Fall 2000

In this issue:

• Customer Needs

• Disposal Reporting

• Share Your Information

• Diversion Rate Summary Pages

• Recycledibles

• Waste Characterization

• Restructuring

• CIWMB Move

• Editor's Note

Your needs are important to the Board!

As part of an ongoing commitment to customer needs and to continuously improve the Local Government Central Web site tools and information, the Board is conducting an electronic customer needs survey.

Local governments should have received this survey by e-mail in early October 2000. If you did not receive an e-mail, you can access the survey on the Local Government Central Web site, at  www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGCentral/Survey/ . Please complete the survey, and then send it to us by pressing the Submit button at the bottom of the survey.

Completing this survey will help the Board tailor the Local Government Central Web site to meet your needs!

The survey responses will help us identify:

• Who is using our site.
• What tools work well.
• What improvements need to be made to the tools.
• What new tools and informational topics are needed to solve customers' concerns.
• What tools are not useful.

Look for the survey results and solutions to your questions and concerns in the Spring 2001 edition of infoCycling. As the Board continues to improve Local Government Central's tools and information, you will be updated through e-mail and on the Board's Web page at   www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGCentral/Events/ .

If you have any questions about the survey, contact Larry Stephens in the Board's Waste Analysis Branch at (916) 341-6241 or by e-mail at lstephens@ciwmb.ca.gov . We need to hear from you to make this work!

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Collecting waste origin information is a key ingredient in accurate disposal reporting

In a continued effort to improve the accuracy of disposal reporting, the Board conducts unannounced, random site visits at landfills and transfer stations (permitted solid waste facilities) throughout the state. These site visits are crucial in determining if the landfill and transfer station operators are collecting waste origin information as required by Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 18805-18810. ("Waste origin" refers to the city or county or regional agency in which the waste being disposed is produced.)

The regulations require all permitted solid waste facility operators to conduct, at a minimum, week-long quarterly surveys to obtain information on the city or county of origin for each vehicle load, including self-hauled waste, delivered to the facility during specified survey weeks.

Waste origin information is used to allocate the percentage of waste to surrounding cities and counties from the total waste tonnage received at the solid waste facility. The county compiles this information and submits it to the jurisdictions and the Board. Cities, counties, and regional agencies then use this data to calculate diversion rates.

Site Visit Findings

The Board is working with all disposal facilities to insure the most accurate information is collected. As of July 2000, the Board had visited 57 solid waste facilities in various regions of California. Roughly one-third of these facilities did not conduct origin surveys. This does not include facilities that fall within counties or regional agencies where all waste received at the facility is assigned to the county or regional agency (approximately 15 percent of the counties or regional agencies) and, therefore, no origin survey is necessary.

However, from these site visits, the Board is discovering there are facilities within counties and regional agencies that conduct more frequent surveys than required by regulation in order to get more accurate origin information.

About 15 percent of the counties or regional agencies require facilities to conduct daily origin surveys (every load every day), and at least one facility in more than half the counties voluntarily collects daily survey information. In addition, some facilities post signs informing customers of the required origin survey and ask them to verify that their receipts have the correct city or county of origin listed.

The Board commends these and other efforts of those who strive to improve the accuracy of disposal reporting.

These unannounced, random site visits at landfills and transfer stations will continue as part of the Board’s effort to improve the accuracy of disposal reporting as it relates to jurisdiction waste allocation.

All of the facilities visited have been notified of the site visit results and may be revisited at a later date.

If you have any questions regarding waste origin surveys or the disposal reporting system, call Dianne Range of the Board's Waste Analysis Branch at (916) 341-6204 or e-mail her at drange@ciwmb.ca.gov.

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If you have examples of ways to allocate residual waste from material recovery facilities (MRF) and transfer stations, please e-mail them to infoCycling at infocycling@ciwmb.ca.gov. We will be sharing your examples with other local governments.  Please include your e-mail address, name, agency, mailing address, and telephone number in your message.

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Would you like to know how your diversion rate has changed over time?

Many local governments have requested information on how their diversion rate has changed over time. To help answer this question and others on diversion rate trends and the status of biennial reviews, the Board has provided tools and information on its Web site.

To help you learn about a jurisdiction's (city, county, or regional agency) diversion rate or obtain information on biennial reviews, we are going to guide you through some Web pages located on the Board's Local Government Central Web site.

From the Local Government Central home page (www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGCentral), first select Waste Stream Measurement and Analysis, next select Diversion Rate Measurement System, then select Calculator. You should now be at the Jurisdiction Diversion Rate Summary page.

Jurisdiction Diversion Rate Summary

The Jurisdiction Diversion Rate Summary page enables you to access a summary of Board biennial reviews and diversion rates (both Board-reviewed and preliminary data), over the last five years. Viewing Board-approved diversion rates can help you see trends in diversion rates.

A picture of the Jurisdiction Diversion Rate Summary page main menu is displayed below.

Please select a Jurisdiction/Regional Agency for diversion rate summary information.

Jurisdiction:            Adelanto          

 Diversion Rate Measurement Home Page Read Instructions Blank Calculation Worksheet

Advisory! This online database contains some diversion rates calculated with preliminary data and labeled as such. Preliminary data is subject to change during the Board review process or when a jurisdiction submits updated information. Only those diversion rates where the status is labeled as Board Approved, Board Accepted or Board Approved Good Faith Efforts, are official diversion rates. Please use data accordingly.

You can select the Diversion Rate Measurement Home Page or the Read Instructions links for information. There is also a Blank Calculation Worksheet link, which is described below.

• Blank Calculation Worksheet The Blank Calculation Worksheet allows you to be flexible when entering information and data. If you are a newly incorporated jurisdiction or a new regional agency, you may want to use this worksheet. It allows you to type in any name in the box labeled Jurisdiction or County. This is also a great tool for "what if" scenarios—you have the option to calculate your diversion rate by inputting data in a blank worksheet. You can enter and change any data, which includes adjustment factors for population, taxable sales, employment, consumer price index, base year data, and disposal data.

There is a drop-down box labeled Jurisdiction. The drop-down box gives you the option to select the city, county, or regional agency of your choice.

For a jurisdiction's diversion rate and biennial review data, select the "Go" button. This will take you to the Jurisdiction Diversion Rate Summary (Results) page.

Jurisdiction Diversion Rate Summary (Results)

The Jurisdiction Diversion Rate Summary (Results) page provides information on the status of biennial reviews, information on the data used to calculate the diversion rates, and a link to definitions of a biennial review status. A picture of the results page for the City of San Leandro is shown below.

Advisory! This online database contains some diversion rates calculated with preliminary data and labeled as such. Preliminary data is subject to change during the Board review process or when a jurisdiction submits updated information. Only those diversion rates where the status is labeled as Board Approved, Board Accepted or Board Approved Good Faith Efforts, are official diversion rates. Please use data accordingly.

San Leandro

Return to Jurisdiction Diversion Rate Summary *Biennial Review Status Definitions

Biennial Review Status, Biennial Review Status Definitions, Quick Calculation, and Worksheet Calculation are described below.

• Biennial Review Status (click on status to view detailed data) This column provides access to information on the status of biennial reviews for a selected jurisdiction. For San Leandro (see the picture of the Results page above), you can access information on Board Approved diversion rates for 1995 and 1996, or Board Accepted diversion rates for 1997 and 1998. Once you have selected Board Approved or Board Accepted status, you will then see a report showing all the information used to calculate the diversion rate. This includes the amount of waste disposed by the jurisdiction that year, base-year data, and the adjustment factors (population, taxable sales, employment, and consumer price index).

• Biennial Review Status Definitions After selecting Biennial Review Status Definitions, you will find the descriptions of each biennial review status, such as "Board Approved," "Board Approved Good Faith Effort," or "Compliance Active."

Preliminary diversion rate information for a year that has not yet been considered by the Board is also available. The option to calculate a diversion rate is available only when the Board has not completed a biennial review for that year. Preliminary diversion rates are those that have not been reviewed by the Board and are subject to change. They can be calculated in two ways:

• Quick Calculation (using default amounts) Selecting Quick Calculation gives you a fast way to view your diversion rate using default data. This page does not allow you to make any changes to the default data.

• Worksheet Calculation (ability to change amounts) Selecting Worksheet Calculation allows you to change the data if you have more accurate information and also helps with "what if" scenarios. (A jurisdiction that uses alternative values must explain why the values are more accurate, in an annual report submitted to the Board.)

We hope this tour has been helpful! If you have any questions, call the Board's WasteLine at (916) 341-6274 or e-mail wasteline@ciwmb.ca.gov .

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Recycledibles--Board approves food waste grants

The Board recently awarded $150,000 to help cities and counties target the number one disposed material type in the overall disposed waste stream, food waste!

The awards went to the five most qualified bidders and will be used to fund one-year food diversion projects. Bidders included cities, counties, and school districts that implement food scrap diversion projects at high-volume sites, such as theme parks, malls, events, convention centers, and schools.

The following projects will be implemented:

San Francisco Recycling Program (SFRP), in cooperation with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) nutritional services and Sunset Scavenger Pilot projects are being implemented at several schools for collection of large volumes of cafeteria food scraps for off-site and limited onsite composting. The City of San Francisco hopes to incorporate area schools into its "Fantastic 3" curbside program. The program offers three separate bins (composting, recycling, and trash bins) for the residential and commercial sectors. These bins include a green bin for organic materials and food waste, a blue bin for commingled recyclables, and a black bin for disposed waste.

West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority and West Contra Costa Unified School District Cafeteria food scraps at one school in the West Contra Costa Unified School District will be reduced by introducing new waste prevention methods, such as the monitoring of uneaten food to adjust the quantities/types of food served to students. The selected school will assign a few students as "recycling monitors." These monitors will oversee a complete recycling station in the cafeteria where students sort items from cafeteria trash that can be composted and recycled, such as food scraps, milk cartons, and napkins. Biodegradable utensils will be used and composted off-site along with the food scraps.

Davis Joint Unified School District Food waste diversion programs will be established at three elementary schools in the Davis Joint Unified School District. Waste reduction programs such as the Offer Versus Serve program will be implemented. This program gives students the option to choose three food items they prefer to eat, rather than standard meals served to all students. In another program, Food Rescue, unwanted packaged or whole fruits will be exchanged between students or later delivered to a food bank. In addition, molded fiber trays on which food is served, uneaten food scraps, and shredded paper will be vermicomposted.

The City of Indian Wells and the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens An integrated food scrap diversion program will be incorporated into the management structure of the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens. This will include auditing postconsumer food scraps (food that is disposed of after someone has eaten what they wanted), collecting food scraps for off-site composting, and using compost on the grounds. The City of Indian Wells goal is to divert at least 70 percent of all food waste that is created at the monthly tennis events. The Tennis Gardens has seating for over 16,000 guests and is the home of the Master Cup Series Tennis Tournaments, an annual two-week event.

The County of Santa Cruz Department of Public Works in partnership with California Grey Bears and Organic Recyclers Anonymous The California Grey Bears sponsors the Brown Bag program. This program annually provides over 100,000 bags of recovered food to senior citizens and people with disabilities. The Grey Bears will be installing two "Earth Tubs" (small-scale, in-vessel, completely enclosed composting units) at the California Grey Bears site in the County of Santa Cruz. The tubs are designed to compost food scraps and food from the Brown Bag program that is no longer edible and suitable for recovery (e.g., food that is beyond the shelf life). Organic Recyclers Anonymous, a consulting firm, will provide technical assistance to the Grey Bears.

For additional information and updates on these five projects, or to learn more about managing food waste, contact Chris Kinsella at (916) 341-6274 and visit the Board's food waste management Web page at  www.ciwmb.ca.gov/FoodWaste/ .

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Waste Characterization--Is old data making it hard to target the right materials?

If you answered yes to the question above, the Board can help you!

The solid waste characterization database (www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WasteChar/JurisSel.asp) provides information on materials being disposed in California's waste stream. The database can assist local governments in deciding what materials to target for diversion and what diversion programs to implement. In addition, if you are a local government planner, a recycler, or a hauler you may also find this information useful.

For example, are you looking for ways to cut disposal costs, or do you want an idea on what materials may be profitable to recycle?

The Board recently updated its solid waste characterization database with new 1999 statewide waste characterization data! The data compiled was a result of disposed waste samples collected and sorted into material types. The Board collected these samples from business sites and residential garbage trucks delivering waste to various disposal sites throughout California.

As a result, new residential waste characterization data was added to the database, and the business waste characterization data has been updated.

New 1999 Residential Waste Characterization Data

This residential waste characterization data provides information to local governments and others on types and amounts of materials typically disposed, to assist in planning residential waste management programs. The residential waste characterization data estimates what materials are disposed of the most in the entire residential sector as well as the single family and multifamily subsectors. Disposed residential sector waste stream data can be accessed on the Local Government Central Web site at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WasteChar/JurisSel.asp.

Below is a picture of a Web page showing a partial table of the residential waste stream by material type in Albany, California.

The table below shows the estimated composition of waste typically disposed by single family and multifamily residences within California. Total tonnage for each jurisdiction is computed using regional per capita disposal rates obtained in the 1999 Statewide Waste Characterization Study. This is average data and may not reflect actual composition for a specific jurisdiction.

ALBANY: 1999 Materials Disposed by Residential Sector, Estimated from Statewide Composition Data, Sorted by Total Disposal

Updated 1999 Business Waste Characterization Data

The business (commercial) waste characterization database is a combination of the number and types of businesses in a city or county and the amount and types of waste typically disposed by those kinds of businesses.

Updates include new statewide disposal rates for 39 business types, new statewide average composition data for 39 business types, and the number of businesses and types of businesses within each jurisdiction in California. (Although 1999 business information has been incorporated into the database to estimate disposal amounts for cities and counties, the actual business data is not displayed on the Web page due to licensing restrictions.)

The business waste characterization data is useful in that you can:

• Find out what business types dispose the most waste in a city.
• Find out what materials are disposed the most for a certain type of business.
• Find out what materials are disposed of the most in the entire commercial sector.
• Find out which businesses dispose the most of a particular material type.

Disposed waste stream data for the commercial sector can be accessed on the Local Government Central Web site at  www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WasteChar/JurisSel.asp.  

Data Limitations

The database has been designed to be flexible and change over time as waste stream data is added; however, the database does have limitations.

Do not assume the database gives a precise representation of your situation—it doesn't. This tool is a starting point to help with integrated waste management, not the end point.

Some of these limitations are as follows:

• The business database is built on the assumption that similar businesses have similar waste streams, regardless of business size or location. This may not be true because businesses with the same Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code may have different waste stream characteristics, because of different business practices or different functions.

• The business and residential waste stream may be affected by local climate or economic development. In other words, the data may not reflect local conditions.

• Data represents the average jurisdiction's disposal patterns and does not account for differences in diversion program implementation or success.

If you have any questions about conducting a waste characterization study or questions on our publication, the 1999 Statewide Waste Characterization Study Results and Final Report, call the Board's WasteLine at (916) 341-6274, or e-mail the WasteLine at wasteline@ciwmb.ca.gov .

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Restructuring of two branches means better service for jurisdictions

In October 2000, the Board's Diversion, Planning, and Local Assistance division will begin restructuring two of its branches.

This change, which will involve the reassignment of jurisdictions to staff, will reduce the number of jurisdictions per staff person. This will result in Board staff being able to give more one-on-one assistance to their jurisdictions. The local assistance staff and the State and Local Assistance Branch will be working closely with jurisdictions to help them meet diversion goals mandated by the Integrated Waste Management Act (1989).

Staff will be working with jurisdictions on:

• Conducting program needs assessments and providing technical assistance.
• Providing training on conducting commercial waste assessments.
• Reviewing annual reports and diversion program implementation.
• Implementing school district diversion programs.
• Implementing diversion programs at State facilities.

In addition, staff will be working with State agencies on implementing diversion programs.

The staff contact map depicts the restructured division of counties within the two branches. Local Assistance staff will work with all cities, counties, and regional agencies in the sections identified as "North," "Bay Area," "South," and "Central." State and Local Assistance Branch staff will work with all cities and the unincorporated area within Los Angeles County and all State agencies.

Your current and new Board staff county contact will be calling you in October to discuss details of this restructuring.

Questions?

Jurisdictions located in the North, Bay Area, South, and Central areas should call the Board's local assistance staff at (916) 341-6199, if there are any questions.  Los Angeles jurisdictions should call the Board's State and Local Assistance Branch at (714) 449-7076 if there are any questions.

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CIWMB Move-The California Integrated Waste Management Board is moving to a new location!

All Board Members and staff (based in Sacramento) are scheduled to move in November 2000. Diversion, Planning, and Local Assistance Division staff are scheduled to move on November 9. Staff can be reached at the address and phone number below after November 9.

California Integrated Waste Management Board
Diversion, Planning and Local Assistance Division
1001 I Street
PO Box 4025
Sacramento, CA 95812-4025
(916) 341-6268

See the Board's What's New? page for current move information.

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Editor's Note

I hope you enjoyed this issue of infoCycling. What to expect in the Winter 2001 issue: a multitude of information on disposal reporting. Please contact me with your suggestions on articles you would like to see included in infoCycling and announcements of events in your jurisdiction.  I can be reached at (916) 341-6240 or by e-mail at twebb@ciwmb.ca.gov.  Your comments and suggestions on infoCycling are always welcome! 

Tracy Webb, Editor

Publication #341-00-013

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Last updated: November 01, 2007