Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future Waste Diversion Strategies in the Unincorporated Communities of Los Angeles County Throughout the Region.

Roadmap to a Sustainable Waste Management Future

Waste Diversion Strategies in the Unincorporated Communities of

Los Angeles County

Throughout the Region and at

County Operations

Environmental Programs Division

Los Angeles County Department of Public Works

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Agenda

• Sustainable Waste Future Roadmap

• Key Drivers

• State of Waste in 2014

• Disposal Reduction Targets

• Organics Management by Focus Area

• Discussion

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Sustainable Waste Management Future Roadmap

The Roadmap lays out the general framework for strategies and initiatives the County can use to decrease reliance on landfills by maximizing the recovery of products, materials, and energy from waste that would otherwise be disposed at landfills.

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Key Drivers for Sustainable Waste Management

AB 32 (2006) AB 341 (2011)• Requires California to

reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020

• Waste Sector is required to achieve net carbon neutral sector-wide

• Requires commercial sector to recycle

• Adopted a Statewide 75% “recycling” goal by 2020

AB 1826 (2014)

SB 498 (2014)

• Requires Commercial entities to recycle their organic waste (food, wood, green waste, contaminated paper)

• Allows non-combustion conversion technologies to process biomass (crop residue, wood, green waste, contaminated paper)

• L.A. County-sponsored bill

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• The Los Angeles County Strategic Plan, Goal #2: Community Support and Responsiveness;

• The final draft Community Climate Action Plan; and

• The Public Works Strategic Plan

Elements of Sustainability

An integrated approach to environmental, social, and economic impact issues.

Alignment with County Priorities

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Structure of the Roadmap

Focus Areas• County

Unincorporated Communities

• Regional/Countywide

• County OperationsStrategies• Quality Programs and

Services

• Measuring Results

• Facilities and Infrastructure

• Outreach and Education

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Organics35.8%

C&D24.4%

Paper20.4%

Plastic7.8%

State of Waste in 2014

• More than 1 million people in CUC• CUC generated approximately 2.9 million tons of materials in

2005• Equivalent to 14.8 pounds generated per resident per day

(ppd) resulting in a diversion rate of 50 percent compared to a 1990 baseline

• Currently, the CUC dispose 4 ppd, achieving approximately a 70 percent diversion rate with respect to 2005 baseline year

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Disposal Reduction Targets

• 80% diversion from landfills by 2025

• 90% diversion from landfills by 2035

• 95% + diversion from landfills by 2045

Example of an outdoor zero waste station at the City of Vancouver, BC, with bins for:Refundable Containers, Mixed Containers, Mixed Paper, Compostables, and Garbage Only

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Highlighted Roadmap Initiatives

CountyUnincorporated

Communities

•Recover Organics, including Food Waste, to Highest and Best Uses•Maximize Diversion of Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris•Advocate for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)•Waste Sector Assessment•Communication Action Plan

Regional/Countywide

•Enhance Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Electronic Waste Management•Develop Conversion Technologies and Integrated Materials Recovery Facilities•Develop Resource and Recovery Centers and Re-Stores for Self-Haul Customers

County Operations

•Evaluate County purchasing practices•Waste Sector Assessment•Organics Processing Infrastructure at County Facilities

• Separate collectiono Commercial Sectoro Large Generatorso County Departments

• Infrastructureo Anaerobic Digestiono Compostingo Conversion Technologies

• Educationo Businesseso Residents

Paper17%

Plastic10%

Organ-ics

32%

Inerts and Others (Glass,

Electronics, & Metal)

35%

HHW and Special Waste5%

Mixed Residue1%

Organics includes: Food Waste, Green Waste, and Textiles

CUC Organics Management

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• List of food waste generators in CUC• Cross-reference with Form B customers– 8 cubic yards +

• Inspectors & consultants survey and visually inspect organic waste disposal at businesses

• Annual mail-outs: flyers/letters to all businesses • Bi-annual waste hauler newsletters – AB 1826 article

• Waste hauler site visits every other year• County site visits

Identification & Outreach

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Countywide Organics Management

• Calculate total countywide organics generation

• Identify existing organics processing facilities

• Determine necessary organics processing capacity

• Analyze existing organics processing capacity and additional capacity needed

• Develop database identifying markets for compost and organic residuals

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County Operations Organics Management

• Organics Recycling Pilot at Public Works Cafeteria

• Hall of Administration Cafeteria Contract includes Sustainability Planning requirements

• Update County Facility waste hauling contracts to include provisions for meeting the requirements of AB 1826

• Pitchess Detention Center AD Facility

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Challenges

• Gathering accurate organic waste generation quantities

• Identifying effected businesses and County facilities

• Identifying sites for organic processing infrastructure

• Additional costs for annual monitoring efforts• Staff & labor

• Lack of markets for organics

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Discussion • Definition of organics

• Standards for Material Recycling Facilities (MRFs)

• Compliance of agencies and/or facilities outside the oversight of a jurisdiction

• Regulations for landscape and/or tree trimming companies

• Pending Legislation• AB 876• AB 901

• CalRecycle’s expectations and timelines