infoCycling, Winter 2003

In this issue:

• Waste outflow and inflow maps
• Rural Web pages
• Multimedia diversion-training videos
• Calipatria State Prison's waste reduction programs
• Disposal reporting accuracy
• Recycled Product Trade Show
• Wheelchair recycling
• Editor's note

Waste outflow and inflow maps

These maps illustrate California county waste outflow and inflow data for 2000 in an easy-to-view geographical format. Each California county is featured on a waste outflow and inflow map. The legend on each map displays a county’s total disposal outflow or inflow amount by percent and tons in ranges (for example, less than 1 percent is equivalent to 1 to 1,298 tons; 1 to 25 percent is equivalent to 1,299 to 32,454 tons).

Waste outflow maps present a picture of where a county disposed of its waste for 2000, including waste disposed within the county, in other counties, and/or exported out of state. (See "Alameda County Waste Outflow to Landfills in 2000" map.) These maps enable you to see disposal destination trends by county and view the data geographically.

 Waste inflow maps show where a county received its waste in 2000: from within the county, from other counties, and/or from out of state. (See “Riverside County Waste Inflow from Landfills in 1999” map.) One benefit for customers is the ability to use these maps to see the percentage and tons of waste moving from other counties to their county.

What’s new on the year 2000 maps?

• The approximate locations of permitted and active landfills.
• An easier-to-read format.

In the future, look for maps depicting disposal data for the year 2001 and beyond. If you have any questions, contact Peter Staklis at (916) 341-6230 or pstaklis@ciwmb.ca.gov.

Attention local government: Rural jurisdiction information is now available on Local Government Central

In 2001, CIWMB staff, along with working groups representing local governments and other interested parties, reviewed the CIWMB’s diversion rate measurement system. Based on this year-long review, the staff and working groups discussed the system and developed recommendations to present to the Board for approval at the March 2002 CIWMB meeting.

The variation in data for rural jurisdictions can lead to measurement accuracy issues. Rural jurisdictions often have extremely limited staff and resources. Therefore, as a follow-up to these Board-approved recommendations, the CIWMB developed new Web pages to assist rural jurisdictions in achieving the goals of the California Integrated Waste Management Act. The benefits of these pages are highlighted below.

Rural Jurisdiction Information and Resources—The starting point for helping rural cities, counties, and regional agencies (rural jurisdictions) share ideas about what works to reduce waste, locate available funding to implement programs, and apply for other assistance.

Rural Market Development Resources—Explores rural marketing cooperatives and other techniques to build markets for locally collected recycled materials.

Rural Grants and Loans—Lists state and federal programs that specifically target rural jurisdictions, offer a rural preference in the application process, or are available to rural jurisdictions. This list can help rural jurisdictions secure the funds necessary to begin new solid waste diversion programs or find new uses for locally generated recycled materials.

Who Is Considered Rural?—Assists jurisdictions in determining whether they meet the criteria to be considered a rural city, county, or regional agency.

Rural Jurisdictions—Lists California cities, counties, and regional agencies that qualify as rural for 2001 annual reports. This list will be updated each year.

Successful Rural Diversion Programs—Highlights case studies of successful rural diversion programs, which includes Trash Cutters Awards Program winners, Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) winners, and community programs featured in the Innovations model studies published in 2002.

Rural Relief— Describes measures to help rural jurisdictions meet the solid waste diversion requirements of the California Integrated Waste Management Act (IWMA); in particular, petitions for rural reductions, time extensions, and alternative diversion rates under Chapter 672, Statutes of 1997 (Sher, SB 1066).

Petition for Reduced Diversion Requirements for Rural Jurisdictions—Provides eligibility requirements, policy, and criteria pertaining to petitions for reduced diversion requirements for rural jurisdictions.

Rural Links—Lists links to organizations and agencies that offer assistance to rural jurisdictions.

If you need further information regarding these rural Web pages or if you questions, contact Robert Horowitz at (916) 341-6239 or rhorowit@ciwmb.ca.gov.

Multimedia diversion-training videos focus on State agencies and large State facilities

In 2003, look for a series of eight multimedia diversion-training videos produced by the CIWMB. These videos will benefit State agencies, large State facilities, local government, and businesses by increasing the opportunity to view and learn about source reduction, recycling, and the mandates of the State Agency Recycling Act (Act).

These 8-10 minute training videos can assist State agencies and large State facilities (State agencies) in their efforts to divert 50 percent of their waste from landfill disposal by January 1, 2004, as required by the Act. Plus, they can be used as a tool to develop effective relationships with local governments and private industry in developing and implementing programs.

Each video will feature different types of waste generated within State government as described below.

Office/administrative—focusing on office recycling programs and how they can be effective in reducing materials going into the trash as well as outline how to prevent wastes before they are generated.

Automotive—covering the proper handling and recycling of waste generated from various motor vehicles.

Construction and demolition/maintenance—demonstrating how old asphalt and concrete can be crushed and reused, how scrap steel can be recycled into re-bar, and how material from old buildings can be salvaged and reused.

Food service diversion—explaining how food waste can be reduced and incentives and tools were used to achieve food waste diversion.

Organic management—discussing turf management, tree and bush trimmings, stump removal, and what can and should be done with these materials other than sending them to the landfill.

Parks/landscaping—focusing on two park settings and the public-generated waste reduction efforts being implemented.

Stores distribution/warehouse—focusing on the shipping and receiving of materials and how to reduce or recycle packing materials such as corrugated cardboard, polystyrene packaging, and plastic wrap.

Buying recycled—covering recycled-content products procurement as well as the benefits of buying recycled items.

Each video will explain the benefits of having a strong recycling program and outline how the individual recycling programs work. In addition, they will identify the common waste material for the particular waste generated.

For example, the office/administrative video will feature the following:

• Recycling of paper, toner cartridges, beverage containers, and cardboard.
• Double-sided printing and copying.
• Equipment transferred to the Department of General Services property reutilization program.
• Equipment donated to local nonprofit agencies or local jurisdictions.
• Vermicomposting program.
• Source reduction by reusable cups, mugs, dishes, and silverware.

The videos will be placed on the CIWMB Web site at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/StateAgency/. Stay tuned for further information in a future issue of infoCycling and through e-mails.

If you would like more information, contact Dorothy Woody in the CIWMB’s State Agency Assistance section at (916) 341-6257 or dwoody@ciwmb.ca.gov.

Calipatria State Prison’s waste reduction programs

The California Department of Corrections (CDC) recognized early on the importance and benefits of recycling and waste prevention. In 1990, CDC started a recycle and salvage program (RASP). Since that time, all prisons have successfully implemented waste diversion activities.

In this issue of infoCycling, we would like to highlight Calipatria State Prison’s recycling and salvage program and other waste reduction programs. These diversion programs helped Calipatria State Prison report a 61.5 percent diversion rate in the year 2001!

Calipatria State Prison’s RASP

Calipatria State Prison implemented a two-phase program. The first phase begins within each of the secured housing blocks. Four to five inmates sort through the trash generated by their housing block and pull out the various recyclables. Once the initial sort is complete, the second phase begins with the inmates taking the recyclables and remaining trash to the RASP yard located on the facility grounds.

At the RASP yard, inmates pull out presorted recyclables and conduct a second sort of the leftover trash from the first sort at the secured housing block.

Other waste materials generated from the prison staff’s trash are also sorted at the RASP yard. This double-sort process provides labor for the inmates, increases the number of items recycled, and assures less contamination of the recyclables. Through the RASP program, beverage containers, cardboard, office paper (both white and mixed), plastics, and scrap metal are collected and sold to vendors.

Calipatria State Prison’s other waste reduction programs

Business source reduction promotes the use of double-sided printing, e-mail, envelope reuse, Web page information, electronic forms, electronic plans, and memos. In addition, new software—Team Management Systems for Windows (TEAM)—was established to track, review, and respond to tasks and assignments.

Material exchange includes computers refurbished in-house, computers donated to local schools, and excess property (for example, desks and chairs) that are sent to the Department of General Services surplus warehouse.

Organics management covers the practice of xeriscaping (low water and maintenance plants), grasscycling of approximately 100 acres, and chipping and composting of shrub and tree trimmings.

Special waste includes used tires picked up by a vendor for recycling, scrap metal sold to a vendor (brass ammunition casings recovered from the practice range, metal bed frames, metal doors, and other items), wood waste used for Native American sweat lodges (wood scraps from the carpentry shop and vocational education program, and damaged wooden pallets), and concrete/asphalt/rubble (from ongoing construction projects) hauled away for reuse.

Reaching beyond waste reduction programs

Recognizing that recycling is more than just bottles and cans, the Calipatria State Prison—with the assistance of Tom Foxx, Senior Hazardous Materials Specialist—is working with the Calipatria High School film class to jointly develop a training video on recycling. The educational video will help encourage the prison inmates and staff, the Calipatria High School students and staff, and the surrounding community to recycle.

If you would like more information about this program, contact either Marie Wright at (916) 341-6202 or mwright@cwimb.ca.gov or Tom Foxx of Calipatria State Prison (760) 348-7000, Ext. 5175.

Ventura County and CIWMB work together to promote accurate disposal reporting

In the CIWMB’s continued effort to promote accurate waste allocation for disposal reporting, staff performed unannounced random site visits during the June 8–14, 2002, quarterly survey week at various landfills and transfer stations throughout the state.

Following each site visit, the CIWMB sent a letter to each facility they visited congratulating the landfill or transfer station operator on asking the hauler the jurisdiction of origin question “where is the waste from.” If the landfill or transfer station operator failed to ask the jurisdiction-of-origin question, the letter informed the facility of the oversight. The CIWMB also sent a copy of the letter to each county where the landfill or transfer station is located. 

After receiving the results of the CIWMB’s site visit, Ventura County became concerned that a transfer station located in the county was not asking haulers the jurisdiction of origin. This prompted the county to perform its own follow-up visit to the transfer station, in part, based on an agreement established between the county and the transfer station operator regarding recyclable household hazardous waste (“RHHW”) and electronics waste (e-waste) drop-off services.

In 2001, Ventura County adopted a regional funding grant agreement that provides transfer station operators a per-transaction grant payment to provide countywide access to RHHW and e-waste drop-off services at their facility. Accurate “jurisdiction-of-origin” tracking of RHHW and e-waste drop-off loads is a requirement of the county’s agreement. Ventura County became concerned with the potential accuracy of jurisdiction-of-origin information supplied by the transfer station’s operators and their performance under the county’s agreement.

In fall 2002, county staff arranged for their own site visit and records inspection with the transfer station’s operator. During the visit, the county was assured by the transfer station operator that the majority of waste haulers were asked jurisdiction-of-origin questions. The county’s record review found that there were some inconsistencies in tracking the jurisdiction of origin for some self-haul loads and some RHHW/e-waste loads.

Ventura County and the transfer station operator discussed improvements to the jurisdiction-of-origin recordkeeping and monitoring at this facility, and they are committed to working together to improve reporting procedures. In addition, the transfer station operator reviewed procedures with the scale house operator to assure jurisdiction-of-origin questions will be asked for all loads.

The CIWMB appreciates Ventura County and other local agencies’ efforts in promoting and improving disposal reporting system accuracy. CIWMB staff will continue to make unannounced random site visits to encourage accurate disposal reporting. If you have questions, contact Sherrie Sala-Moore at (916) 341-6204 or sherriem@ciwmb.ca.gov.

If you have taken actions to ensure compliance with disposal reporting regulations and you would like to share this with others, contact Tracy Webb at (916) 341-6240 or twebb@ciwmb.ca.gov to include an article in infoCycling.

Recycled Product Trade Show

April 10-11, 2003
At the Sacramento Convention Center

Exhibitors—This is the show for you!

$850 includes:

• Fully furnished 10' x 10' booth.
• Access to hundreds of buyers and decision-makers.
• Free listing on the Trade Show Web site.
• Free listing in our nationally recognized database.
• Continental breakfast and buffet lunch.

Attendees receive:

• Free admission to this unique event.
• Face-to-face interaction with recycled product suppliers and manufacturers.
• Information about recycled-content products that can help save you money.
• Continental breakfast and buffet lunch.
• Door prizes!

Visit the Trade Show Web site at: www.associationtradeshows.com/ciwmb/home.htm or contact Kym Dreher (916) 932-2200.

Sponsored by: California Integrated Waste Management Board and Department of General Services

Wheelchair recycling

The Sacramento County Department of Waste Management & Recycling has created an innovative recycling partnership with Joni and Friends, a nonprofit charitable ministry organization serving people with disabilities and their families. The program, operated out of the North Highlands North Area Recovery Station in Sacramento County, accepts surplus non-motorized wheelchairs, walkers, metal crutches, and metal canes at no cost to the public.

Joni and Friends takes these items as part of its “Wheels for the World” program. The wheelchairs and similar items are then transported to correctional facilities in Colorado, Tennessee, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts to be restored through an inmate job-training program. Wheels for the World distributes the recovered wheelchairs and other items to people in developing countries.

If you would like further information about this program, contact Ryan Bailey from the Sacramento County Department of Waste Management & Recycling at (916) 876-5393. Information about the recycling program can also be accessed at www.sacgreenteam.com  

Editor’s note

I hope you found this edition of infoCycling interesting and informative.

In the spring 2003 edition of infoCycling look for an article on the CIWMB’s new Landfill Profiles (Active & Permitted). If you want to access the profiles immediately, go to www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Profiles/Facility/Landfill/default.asp?VW=JSELECT&MTYPE=Landfill on the CIWMB’s Web site.

Please contact me with suggestions on articles you would like to see included in infoCycling and announcements of events in your jurisdiction or at your State agency. You can reach me at (916) 341-6240 or at twebb@ciwmb.ca.gov.

Your comments and suggestions on infoCycling are always welcome!

Tracy

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Last updated: December 28, 2007