infoCycling, Summer 2004

New waste characterization study

As part of its continuing efforts to assist jurisdictions in reaching and maintaining their waste management goals, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) approved a contract for a new waste characterization study at the May 2004 CIWMB meeting.

To ensure the results of this study would be useful to both jurisdictions and CIWMB policy makers, CIWMB Waste Analysis staff polled staff in other CIWMB branches and divisions, staff at the local government level, and consultants who work with local governments on waste management issues for ideas on what areas to target. Based on those inputs, as well as time and budget constraints, the targeted waste streams chosen include:

• Characterization of disposed and diverted waste from the most important types of businesses that are major sources of waste.
• Characterization of disposed residuals from materials recovery facilities.
• A detailed characterization of disposed construction and demolition (C&D) waste.
• A detailed characterization of waste disposed by the commercial self-haul sector, including drop boxes.

Additionally, the C&D waste portion of the study will include development of a method to characterize C&D loads using "visual" means (looking at the load and estimating the percentage of each material type) rather than physically sorting the individual materials. Also, a specific volume of each material type will be weighed to determine its specific weight (pounds/cubic yard) and develop volume-to-weight conversion factors for C&D materials.

Past waste characterization studies conducted by the CIWMB (1999 and 2003–04) have been statewide events, with sampling being conducted at businesses and disposal facilities randomly selected from all over the state.

To view past studies and other waste characterization information, go to the CIWMB’s Solid Waste Characterization website. This new study will be somewhat different in that sampling will be confined to four metropolitan areas of the State: San Diego area, Southern California/Los Angeles Basin, San Francisco Bay Area, and the Central Valley.

The prime contractor is Cascadia Consulting Group, which has a wealth of experience in conducting such studies. They are teamed with two other highly experienced companies, R.W. Beck and SCS Engineers.

Staff is excited about this new targeted study and looks forward to providing jurisdictions with information to make their job of waste management easier. The study is currently in the design phase. Field work should begin in early 2005, with study completion due in spring 2006.

For a more detailed explanation of what will be accomplished in this study, you can read the scope of work. You may also contact Tom Rudy for additional information.

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GrassRoots Recycling Network zero waste conference

The GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN) held its first zero waste network action conference in Oakland, California, on August 28, 2004, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The main session was held at the Oakland Federal Building, and breakout sessions were held at Oakland City Hall.

This one-day event was designed to give attendees overviews of zero waste and producer responsibility, in theory and in actual practice. The agenda combined expert panels, workshops, and hands-on planning sessions to transform ideas into action. The main session set the stage by presenting the history and context for zero waste. Breakout sessions included:

Zero Waste in Action

• Zero waste community plans and programs
• Zero waste businesses
• Extended producer responsibility (EPR) in practice
• Resource recovery parks

Moving to Action

• Zero waste community network
• Plastics campaign
• No new landfills campaign
• No new incineration, pyrolysis, or gasification

For more information, please contact Richard Anthony, GrassRoots Recycling Network, at (858) 272-2905, or e-mail him. Or, visit the GRRN website for additional information. 

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Venues recycling news

Assembly Bill 2176, requiring the largest sport/entertainment/civic venues and events in each community to begin planning for waste reduction and recycling, was passed by the California State Assembly and is now in the Senate. (Note, as of September 28, 2004, this bill had also passed in the Senate and was waiting for the Governor's action by September 30.)

Many cities, venues, and events are not waiting, however. New summer recycling initiatives around the state include the following:

• The small City of Isleton, population 850, started a new program this year. Isleton collects beverage containers and cardboard at their famous Crawdad Festival that attracts more than 150,000 visitors in a single weekend. The city’s first try resulted in the recycling of almost 3 tons of material.
• Staff at the Network Associates Coliseum/Oakland-Alameda County Arena Complex is working on a new plan to recycle or compost 100 percent of the trash generated after every game and concert. The project will include switching to biodegradable utensils, cups, and bags and making separate grounds pickups of trash and recyclables before sweeping down food and other compostables.
• The City of Oxnard’s first effort to recycle at the Strawberry Festival was successful. More than 2 tons of materials were collected, including 74 percent of the beverage containers sold at the event. Event sponsor Coca- Cola provided recycling signage and stickers. Revenue from the sale of the recyclables was donated to local community assistance programs.
• The City of San Diego and the San Diego Padres have begun planning meetings for improved waste reduction and recycling at the just-opened Petco Park. The Padres’ goal is to significantly expand on the limited recycling program at their old venue.

Want to see a venue program in action for yourself?

The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) Expo in San Francisco offered professional tours of composting and recycling programs at the Giants’ SBC Stadium, the Moscone Convention Center, and the Embarcadero Tourist Area from August 29 to September 1, 2004. See the NRC’s Annual Congress & Expo web page for more information.

If you want to find out more about how your city can start a venue and event waste diversion program, visit the CIWMB’s Waste Reduction at Venue Facilities and Large Events website.

New on the planning page are direct links to the Environmental Management Systems used by some of the largest and most successful venue management companies in the world.

For questions about the CIWMB’s large venue and event waste reduction project, please contact Chris Schmidle, CIWMB.

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State agencies make significant strides in meeting diversion mandates

Chapter 764, Statutes of 1999 (Strom-Martin, AB 75) took effect on January 1, 2000. This bill added provisions to the Public Resources Code, mandating that each State agency and large State facility (State agencies) develop and implement an integrated waste management plan by July 1, 2000.

State agencies were required to divert at least 25 percent of their solid waste from landfills or transformation facilities by January 1, 2002, and divert 50 percent by January 1, 2004. For more information on the State agency waste diversion law formerly known as AB 75, go to the Official California Legislative Information web page or the Board's page on waste diversion requirements for State agencies.

State agencies have made significant strides in meeting diversion mandates since this bill took effect. Their hard work and dedication in establishing, overseeing, and maintaining successful diversion programs is paying off. Diversion programs some State agencies have established include:

• Composting: xeriscaping, grasscycling, and self-haul green waste.
• Facility Recovery: materials recovery facility.
• Hazardous Material: batteries, used oil, and antifreeze.
• Recycling: beverage container, cardboard, office paper (mixed), scrap metal, and plastics.
• Source Reduction: materials exchange and business source reduction.
• Special Waste: scrap metal, concrete/asphalt/rubble (C&D), and wood waste.
• Biomass or Transformation.

State agency diversion programs kept 595,184.85 tons of material out of landfills in 2002. The 2002 estimated diversion rate for all California’s State agencies was 68.5 percent. As shown in the table below, the total diverted tons increased in 2002 from 2001, and the total disposed tons decreased in 2002 from 2001.

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