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Waste Board Approves Southern California Cities' Diversion Rates: Others get new deadlines, diversion rates

SACRAMENTO—Cities in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties had their year-2000 waste diversion rates approved recently by the California Integrated Waste Management Board—the State's primary recycling agency and a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Three southern California cities—one in Los Angeles County and two in Ventura County—either matched or surpassed the State-mandated 50 percent diversion goal that has significantly reduced the amount of materials disposed in California landfills for more than a decade, or demonstrated a substantial commitment to diversion so as to earn a "good faith effort" standing from State regulators.

"Individual cities' diversion efforts have proven largely responsible for California's continued solid waste diversion successes are to be commended," said Board Chair Linda Moulton-Patterson. "In view of last year's statewide diversion average of 48 percent, it is apparent that the concerted efforts of many environmentally aware businesses and local governments have joined together to pace California at the head of the solid waste recycling class."

Other cities asked for and received deadline extensions or alternative diversion requirements (ADR) after the Board determined they were eligible based on criteria established by the State. Those jurisdictions had their reported year-2000 diversion rates approved by the Board, but are still expected to meet the 50 percent diversion mandate in the future. The ADR represents the greatest diversion amount that the jurisdiction may reasonably and feasibly achieve, based on findings by the Board.

The Board approved the following diversion rates:

Los Angeles County—The Board approved the City of Agoura Hills' 46 percent diversion rate in 2000 as a "good faith effort." The Board approved the lower rate, even though it fell below the mandated 50 percent standard, after carefully reviewing the city's programs and concluding the level is a realistic goal for conditions in the community.

The cities of Pomona (41 percent diversion in 2000) and Santa Clarita (42 percent diversion) were granted time extensions by the Board to the end of 2004 in which to raise their solid waste diversion levels to the 50 percent level.

Orange County—The City of Laguna Hills and unincorporated Orange County were granted alternative diversion requirements by the Board. Laguna Hills had a waste diversion rate of 29 percent in 2000; the Board approved a 40 percent ADR for the city until December 31, 2003. Orange County posted an 18 percent diversion rate that year and the Board approved that rate as the ADR until June 30, 2004. Alternative rates can be granted when the Board finds that a jurisdiction has fallen short of the mandate for various reasons, but has the potential to significantly improve its diversion within a given time period.

The recently incorporated City of Aliso Viejo received additional time from the Board to submit documentation that will provide data for the State to fully analyze its solid waste diversion efforts. The city incorporated in 2001. The Board granted Aliso Viejo until June 30, 2003, to submit its reports.

Ventura County—The Board approved year-2000 diversion rates for the cities of Moorpark and Ojai. Moorpark diverted 51 percent of its solid waste in 2000. Ojai diverted 47 percent, but demonstrated to the Board it had implemented several successful waste management programs and was committed to minimizing disposal in favor of recycling. The Board approved Ojai's diversion rate as a "good faith effort."

The City of Port Hueneme, which diverted 39 percent of its solid waste in 2000, requested and received a time extension until the end of 2004 to improve its diversion efforts.

So far, the Integrated Waste Management Board has determined that 269 jurisdictions met the requirements of the diversion law in 2000, either by reaching or exceeding the 50 percent diversion rate, or by making a "good faith effort" to reach the goal. There are 445 reporting jurisdictions in all. To find out how all California jurisdictions are doing in meeting the 50 percent diversion goal, visit www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGTools/mars/jurdrsta.asp.

Public Resources Code section 41780, enacted by AB 939 (Sher)—the Integrated Waste Management Act (Chapter 1095, Statutes of 1989)—requires every city and county in the state to divert from landfill at least 50 percent of the waste generated within their jurisdiction in 2000. The Legislature amended this statute in 2000, requiring jurisdictions to sustain their waste diversion efforts into the future.

To achieve their high diversion rates, jurisdictions have tailored new waste handling infrastructures from options that include curbside recycling, material recovery facilities, and composting operations, all supported by comprehensive waste prevention and public education efforts.

Information about individual city and county programs is available on the Board's local government Web site at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGTools/PARIS/jurpgmsu.asp or can be obtained from the following local contacts:

Jurisdictions that did not meet the 50 percent diversion requirement in 2000 may petition the Board for one or more time extensions, for a maximum of five years. No single extension can be for more than three years, and no extension may be effective beyond January 1, 2006. At its meeting, the Board granted time extensions to six jurisdictions. To date, there have been 111 time extensions approved.

Alternatively, the Board can determine that a jurisdiction's "good faith efforts" to implement comprehensive diversion programs have satisfied the requirement even if diversion levels are below 50 percent. A jurisdiction that does not meet the 50 percent diversion requirement and does not receive a time extension, a "good faith effort" finding, or an alternative diversion goal, will be placed on a compliance order and could be subject to fines. The Board can issue fines of up to $10,000 a day for noncompliance.

The six-member California Integrated Waste Management Board is responsible for protecting public health and safety and the environment through management of the estimated 72 million tons of solid waste generated in California each year. The Board works in partnership with local government, industry, and the public to reduce solid waste disposal and ensure environmentally safe landfills. California now diverts 48 percent of its solid waste away from disposal.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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