infoCycling

infoCycling, Winter 2006

In this issue:

• Disaster debris
• ADC and AIC
• State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign
• Zero Waste California
• Safe Needle Disposal Act of 2004
• Kern County Fairground recycles
• Restaurant kitchen grease
• CalMAX updates
• Universal waste
• Editor's note

Being prepared for a disaster and managing disaster debris

What does being prepared for a disaster and the debris that follows mean? Simply—it means having disaster-related information and assistance at your fingertips that could help alleviate unnecessary roadblocks to getting help and information. Jurisdictions, State agencies, large State facilities, and others can access the following information on disaster preparedness, disaster response, debris management, disaster training, tracking disaster waste in the disposal reporting system (DRS), and more.

Disaster-related web pages, articles, and other resources

• Disaster Preparedness and Response.
• Debris Management Guide—FEMA Publication 325.
• Disaster Assistance Training by Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Independent Study Program: IS-632 Introduction to Debris Operations in FEMA's Public Assistance Program—Free online course.
• FEMA's Debris Management Course (3-Day Course)—Training on Demand (Adobe Acrobat, 113 KB)
• Debris Management in Disaster Recovery, January 2005. Disaster debris management training manual by Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
• Disaster Debris, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• Planning for a Natural Disaster, June 2003.
• Disposing of a Disaster, May 1, 2004.
• Hurricane Katrina Disaster Debris Management Response:Vegetative Debris Disposal, September 3, 2005; and Building and Structural Debris Disposal, September 4, 2005.
• Hurricane Katrina Disaster Debris Management: Lessons Learned from State and Local Governments-Briefing Report.

Disaster Waste Guidelines—New on the Local Government Library website

The Disaster Waste Guidelines were created to assist jurisdictions in preparing for and dealing with disaster waste. Topics you can expect to find include predisaster preparation, postdisaster preparation, procedures for submitting disaster waste disposal deduction claims, disasters and disaster waste regulations, and helpful contacts and websites.

In addition, you can contact your CIWMB Local assistance staff county representative for more information. A list of contacts can be found on the California Integrated Waste Management Board’s (CIWMB) Local Assistance Contacts web page. 

Tracking disaster waste

The California Integrated Waste Management Act (AB 939, Sher, Chapter 1095, Statutes of 1989 as amended [IWMA]) requires each city, county, or regional agency (jurisdiction) to reduce waste by recycling, composting, or other diversion activities. Jurisdictions must report annually to the CIWMB on the progress they are making in reducing waste.

To prevent a jurisdiction’s diversion from being impacted by disaster waste, the IWMA allows disaster waste to be subtracted from disposal tons if it is tracked. Because disasters (for example, earthquakes, fires, and floods) can generate a lot of waste, it is important for facility operators to track this waste to assure disposal reporting accuracy.

Jurisdictions that do not know whether the facilities that receive their waste have contingency plans for tracking disaster waste may want to contact the DRS coordinators in the counties in which the facilities are located to determine whether disaster waste is tracked. DRS county coordinator contact information can be found on the CIWMB’s Local Assistance Contacts web page.

Disaster waste that is documented may be deducted in the annual report using the disposal modification process (Microsoft Word, 115 KB). For more information on tracking disaster waste, call WasteLine at (916) 341-6675.

Revised regulations—Reporting disaster waste in the DRS

Revised DRS regulations (effective January 1, 2006) require that all disaster waste loads be tracked by jurisdiction of origin, and that data be provided to jurisdictions upon request. The regulations do not require that disaster waste tonnages be reported to the county or the CIWMB. Refer to the Revised Adjustment Method and Disposal Reporting System Regulations (Microsoft Word, 503 KB) sections 18808.7(b)(6), 18809.7(d), 18810.7(c), 18811.7(c) for more information. For more information on the revised DRS regulations, call WasteLine at (916) 341-6675.

Emergency Waiver requirements for tracking and reporting disaster waste

The Emergency Waiver of Standards reporting requirements state that each facility must track the disaster waste and report jurisdiction of origin information to the enforcement agency (EA) and the county agency. The data reported to EA’s should be consistent with data tracked for DRS purposes. For more information, access the CIWMB’s web page, Chapter 3, Minimum Standards for Solid Waste Handling and Disposal, Article 3, Emergency Waiver of Standards, section 17210.5. Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) Advisory Number 41, Emergency Waiver of Standards also provides guidance on the issuance of emergency waivers of standards as allowed under the regulations. In addition, the CIWMB’s LEA Advisory Number 43, Disaster Assistance identifies disaster assistance CIWMB can provide to LEAs.

Does an Emergency Waiver exempt DRS reporting or payment of Board of Equalization (BOE) fees?

An emergency waiver does not exempt DRS reporting or payment of the BOE fees. In addition, the current requirement for the emergency waiver states that operators have to track the disaster waste (Permitting and Enforcement Regulations 17210.5) and report jurisdiction of origin information to the EA, but DRS may not receive any of this information. However, the jurisdiction tracking information reported to EA’s should provide a contact point for jurisdictions to try to get disaster waste information by origin. For more information on the Emergency Waiver, contact your CIWMB Permitting and Enforcement county contact.

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Alternative daily and intermediate covers

What are alternative daily cover (ADC) and alternative intermediate cover (AIC)?

ADC and AIC means cover material other than earthen material placed on the surface of a municipal solid waste landfill to control vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging. ADC is applied on the surface of the acting face at the end of each operating day, while AIC is applied where no additional solid waste will be deposited for 180 days.

What do the permitting and enforcement regulations state about ADC?

These regulations stipulate types of materials that can be used, the processing requirements, and how permission can be obtained for site-specific demonstration projects. All types of ADC must be approved by the local enforcement agency (LEA) in writing prior to use. The following are waste-derived materials that can be used without the need for site specific demonstration projects.

• Ash and cement kiln dust.
• Treated auto shredder waste.
• Processed construction and demolition waste.
• Compost.
• Processed green waste material.
• Contaminated sediment.
• Sludge.
• Shredded tires.

All other materials would require demonstration projects to establish suitability as ADC. Only ADC waste-derived materials that have been approved by the LEA for use do not need to be reported as disposed. The following are non-waste-derived materials that can be used as ADC without first conducting a site-specific demonstration project. These non-waste-derived materials cannot be reported as diversion:

• Foam products.
• Geosynthetic fabric or panel products (blankets).

For more information on the regulations and detailed descriptions of CIWMB material types, see Title 27, California Code of Regulations (27 CCR): Chapter 3, Subchapter 4, Article 2. For other ADC materials that may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and more information on the regulations, see LEA Advisory #48, Disposal Site Daily and Intermediate Cover Regulations.

What do Permitting & Enforcement regulations say about AIC?

Proposed use of AIC requires a site specific demonstration to establish suitability as intermediate cover. With approval by the LEA and concurrence by the CIWMB, only AIC waste-derived materials that have been approved for use by the LEA do not need to be reported as disposal.

What do the revised Disposal Reporting System (DRS) Regulations say about ADC?

Title 14, California Code of Regulations (14 CCR): Chapter 9, Article 9.2 was revised adding section 18801.1 to the regulations. This section was added to clarify that soil is not an alternative cover. Since soil is an earthen material that has normally been used for cover, it is not considered to be an alternative.

How does DRS record ADC and AIC?

The Public Resources Code (PRC) section 41781.3 establishes that LEA-approved ADC use is considered diversion through recycling. ADC and AIC use is required to be reported in DRS. ADC and AIC does not count as disposal if used in compliance with the regulations; therefore, it is considered diversion. However, if it is determined that excess amounts of ADC and AIC were used not in compliance with the regulations, CIWMB staff may need to reclassify the tons of overuse as disposal in DRS.

Contact information

For more information on ADC, go to the CIWMB’s Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) web page.  For more information about disposal reporting system regulations in tracking ADC and AIC, contact WasteLine at (916) 341-6675.

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New law for the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign Program begins January 1, 2006!

Out with the old and in with the new mandates…

The State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) Program is a legislatively mandated procurement arm written into the Public Contract Code (PCC). The intent of this law is to ensure new markets for commodities and materials that have been diverted from California’s landfills. It adds a new dimension to the ‘chasing arrow’: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and, Buy Recycled. When the Legislature and all State agencies purchase products within product categories the products must contain a certain amount of recycled-content material. The State agencies and Legislature then report annually on the recycled-content purchases. Both State agencies and local governments have procurement mandates that require the purchase of recycled-content products. A new law has been signed by Governor Schwarzenegger that went into effect on January 1, 2006.

Most of the changes in the law for the SABRC and local governments’ buy recycled program are just “cleanup” language, moving codes together so that one does not have to look in several sections of the PCC to find out what the law says regarding procuring recycled-content products. The new SABRC law is PCC 12200–12217, and the new local governments law is PCC 22150–22154. Changes for the SABRC that will affect both the Legislature and State agencies are:

• The Legislature and State agencies will track only the product’s postconsumer content material instead of both the secondary and postconsumer content. Postconsumer content material is a commodity that has been diverted from the landfill through various recycling programs, whether it is from a business or a residence. This will make certifying the recycled-content material within the product much easier for both the State consumers and the vendors.
• When products in a category are purchased, at least half the total dollars spent must be used to purchase recycled-content products.
• There are now 11 instead of 12 product categories.
• “Mulch” has been added to the list of landscape additives (compost, co-compost) that can be counted as a SABRC product, which requires 80 percent postconsumer material.
• “Metal” has replaced “steel.” Therefore, ALL metal products need to be reported. The percentage of postconsumer material for these products is set at 10 percent. “Steel” products will not need to be certified for postconsumer content pursuant to a certification received from the American Steel Recyclers Institute.
• The “solvents” category has been removed altogether.
• Printed newspapers meeting the requirements of Chapter 15 of the Public Resources Code (PRC) commencing with Section 42750-42756 shall be considered in compliance with the requirements of SABRC. No additional certification is needed.
• Full SABRC credit can now be obtained for all purchased toner cartridges in the following ways:
  • If purchased toner cartridges consists of at least 10 percent postconsumer plastic; or
  • Companies that manufacture toner cartridges must certify that, if they have a take-back program, their product components, which have been returned, are either used to manufacture new products; or
  • The cartridge(s) purchased is (are) remanufactured.
• The annual reports shall be submitted by State agencies to the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) on or before October 31 of each year.

Changes for the SABRC that will affect the Department of General Services (DGS) and the CIWMB:

• CIWMB now has full responsibility of annually collecting the SABRC reports from State agencies and submitting an agency-specific report to the Legislature every year.
• DGS must submit a report to the CIWMB every year of all the previous fiscal year contracts, agreements, or schedules used statewide by the Legislature and all State agencies for both recycled and non-recycled-content products that fall into one of the SABRC product categories.

The product categories and their mandated postconsumer material percentage are listed below. The bold areas below are updated by the passage of SB 1106.

Product Categories, Content Requirements, and Procurement Mandates*

* Bold areas show changes made by SB 1106.

How can the CIWMB assist State agencies?

The CIWMB assists procurement staff from the Legislature and all State agencies in establishing practices for purchasing recycled-content products and to help State agencies meet the requirements of the SABRC. CIWMB staff can provide training and procurement options, which can assist State agencies to meet their mandated goals. If you have questions, contact your CIWMB State agency assistance section representative at (916) 341-6199.

The CIWMB also has several websites that assist procurement officers in locating recycled-content products. For more information on the SABRC program, access the CIWMB’s State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign website. In addition to the mandated SABRC, purchasing environmentally preferable products (EPP) is another statutory requirement, which is above and beyond the SABRC program. For information on purchasing EPPs, please visit the CIWMB’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing website.

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Zero Waste California

The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) believes in “Zero Waste—You Make It Happen!” The CIWMB supports Californians’ efforts in working toward a Zero Waste California. The CIWMB encourages Californians to use the Zero Waste California and the CIWMB websites to help them find useful tools and information in meeting their zero waste goals.

Zero Waste California website

The Zero Waste California website offers information to assist Californians in reducing, reusing, recycling, and responsibly disposing of resources. While browsing the Zero Waste California website’s home page, you will find a list of California zero waste news and activities. In addition, users can access the eRecycle.org website and the e-recycle PSA by selecting the eRecycle.org logo or the PSA photo on the Zero Waste home page. Information on fluorescent lamps and batteries is also available by selecting the links on the Zero Waste page.

Wait—there is more!

The following web pages are also available through the website.

What is Zero Waste? offers an informative overview on the meaning of what is a zero waste California.

CIWMB Commitment to a Zero Waste California provides information from the CIWMB’s November 2001 Strategic Plan and its commitment to zero waste.

Finding Your Nearest Recycling Center provides an easy-to-use-tool to help locate a recycling center near you.

Several links to waste prevention topics, such as reuse, used oil, electronics, construction and demolition debris, and much more are also available. Select one these topics to give you direct access to an abundance of CIWMB waste prevention information on a particular topic. Looking for information just for kids? Then, select the Kids link. After selecting this link, you will have access to the CIWMB’s Kids Stuff web page. Information for teachers is available at the Teachers link. This link takes you to the CIWMB School Waste Management Education and Assistance web page.

Contact information

For more information on a Zero Waste California, contact the CIWMB’s Office of Public Affairs at (916) 341-6300.

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Safe Needle Disposal Act of 2004

The "Safe Needle Disposal Act of 2004," (Figueroa, SB 1362, Chapter 157, Statutes of 2004) became effective January 1, 2005. This act authorizes a program for the safe collection, treatment, and disposal of sharps waste generated by households (hypodermic needles, syringes, and lancets). This act also authorizes a permitted household hazardous waste collection facility to operate as a home-generated sharps consolidation point under certain conditions.

Jurisdictions—Did you know?

A jurisdiction’s household hazardous waste element may include a program for the safe collection, treatment, and disposal of sharps waste generated by households. However, jurisdictions are not required to amend their household hazardous waste elements (HHWE) to include information regarding sharps programs.

Jurisdictions are encouraged to include information regarding sharps programs through their electronic annual reports that will ultimately be included in their updated HHWE program information in the Planning Annual Report Information System (PARIS). If you have questions, please contact your California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) Local assistance staff representative. A list of contacts is available on the CIWMB’s Local Assistance Contacts web page.

For detailed information on the Safe Needle Disposal Act of 2004, go to Health and Safety Code section 25218.13 and Public Resources Codes sections 40190.5, 41502, and 41512.

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Kern County Fairground Recycles

The 15th District Agricultural Association, also known as the Kern County Fairgrounds, is comprised of 161 acres, of which 57 acres are dirt parking lots. The remaining acreage is covered in lawns, trees, flower beds, and oleander bushes. The Fairgrounds finds it economical to recycle rather than throw away. In fact, they would like to be able to recycle everything. The Fairgrounds saves about $400 per load of material diverted when compared to the costs associated with the disposal of the same load of material at a landfill.

Recycling at Kern County Fairgrounds in 2004

Materials recycled in 2004 at the Kern County Fairgrounds included the following:

Green waste, animal bedding/manure, and wood—120 tons of green waste, 912 tons of animal bedding and manure, plus 48 tons of wood were ground up into mulch and used to make a ground cover or soil amendment at a Bakersfield facility. The facility processes almost all the green waste in the Bakersfield area. Green waste, animal bedding/manure, and wood are picked up weekly.

Cooking Oil—2.3 tons were placed in special containers provided by a Paso Robles company and hauled off after the 2004 Kern County Fair. The cooking oil is made into biodiesel, or filtered and processed into animal feed.

Metal—29.5 tons were sold to a Bakersfield company. The metal is sold once a year.

Concrete—48 tons were taken to a Bakersfield facility and processed into a road base. The concrete was delivered to the facility after the Fairgrounds completed a project.

Cardboard—88 tons were hauled off after the 2004 Kern County Fair by the local trash hauler and recycled.

Pallets—1 ton was sold to pallet brokers to be reused or recycled into wood. The pallets are delivered to the pallet brokers several times a year.

Vehicle Batteries—Half a ton was exchanged on replacement with a local battery supplier. Vehicle batteries are exchanged on an as-needed basis.

Papers and magazines—2.5 tons were taken to a facility run by BARC (Bakersfield Association of Retarded Citizens). The papers and magazines are taken monthly to BARC who packs and ships the items to recyclers.

Contact information

For more information on the Kern County Fairgrounds diversion programs, contact Bob Putney, Recycling Coordinator, Kern County Fairgrounds, at (661) 833-4908.

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Restaurant kitchen grease helps power the City of Millbrae’s wastewater treatment plant

Millbrae’s drive to go above and beyond diversion requirements shows in their creative diversion of inedible (used) kitchen grease. In August 2006 Millbrae’s wastewater treatment plant, the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP), will begin reusing restaurant kitchen grease, a waste by-product of food preparation, to help power the WPCP. The technical term for used kitchen grease is “inedible kitchen grease.” This definition comes from the proposed Department of Food and Agriculture regulations that control disposal of this waste product. The term “inedible” is used to distinguish it from deep fryer grease that can be recycled. Inedible kitchen grease cannot be recycled.

The new cogeneration system, currently under construction, is powered by a combination of natural gas and biogas. Biogas, a by-product of the wastewater treatment process called anaerobic digestion, is produced in part by adding used kitchen grease to the digesters. Feeding the grease into anaerobic digesters enables the system to produce 80 percent of the WPCP’s electrical needs. The WPCP is one of the first wastewater treatment plants in the United States to receive and process used kitchen grease in a specifically designed system that controls odors, generates reliable power, captures waste heat, reduces energy costs, and provides a new municipal revenue stream.

The new system is projected to save about $112,000 per year in energy costs after nearly a 12-month startup period. The $112,000 is energy savings based on the PG & E energy cost to Millbrae in 2004. Additionally, the new system will produce an estimated $152,000 in annual revenue from tipping charges for grease received, a significant new revenue stream to the city. Disposing used grease in this manner represents a major environmental benefit too. According to Richard York of the WPCP, the benefits of using grease to help power the WPCP are numerous. The table below outlines these benefits.

Benefits of Using Grease to Help Power the WPCP

The WPCP cogeneration and grease receiving project is just one of many innovative ways the City of Millbrae keeps waste out of the landfill. The city has continually met or exceeded the State-mandated diversion rate since 1999 through their diversion programs.

Contact information

For more information about this project, go to Millbrae’s website, select “What’s New,” then “Co-Generation Project Case Study.” Or contact Richard York, Superintendent, WPCP, at (650) 259-2393.

How can I get California Materials Exchange (CalMAX) updates?

CalMAX, the free classified listing service for potentially reusable or recyclable discards, will e-mail the latest ads directly to you! Through this free service, e-mails will be sent twice a month with the new listings. The listings will be provided alphabetically by county so that you can easily scroll to see the ads in your area. To subscribe, simply go to the CalMAX website, and select the "Add me to the Listserv" link. If you have any questions, please contact CalMAX, or call the toll free number at 1-877-520-9703.

Universal waste

As of February 9, 2006, regulations changed; hazardous waste referred to as universal waste is banned from trash. For more information, go to the Zero Waste California website.

Editor’s note

I hope you enjoyed this edition of infoCycling. Look for the next edition of infoCycling in spring 2006. Look for articles on universal waste in future editions of infoCycling. Please contact Tracy Webb with suggestions on articles you would like to see included in infoCycling and announcements of events in your jurisdiction or at your State agency. Your comments and suggestions on infoCycling are always welcome!

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Tracy

Last updated: December 28, 2007