Recycling ordinance:

In 1994 the City of Carson established a goal of reaching a 70% solid waste diversion rate by 2020. Recently, the Mayor and City Council have instructed the Bureau of Sanitation, in cooperation with the Office of Administrative & Research Services, the Department of General Services, and the Environmental Affairs Department, to create a strategy to achieve this goal. The City and the private sector operating within the City, has developed very strong waste management infrastructure programs and facilities over the last decade. Through the Bureau of Sanitation and private sector, the City has implemented a myriad of innovative source reduction, recycling, composting, and Reuse programs. These programs have made waste diversion inroads not only in City government, but also in the residential and commercial/industrial sectors as well. Due to the strength of this waste management infrastructure, programs, the City achieved a 49% waste diversion rate in 1999 and is expected to surpass the State mandated 50% waste diversion rate in 2000. Despite the City's tremendous success thus far, reaching the 70% diversion rate will require continued evaluation, planning, and implementation of comprehensive, new, and innovative diversion programs. These programs must be designed to maximize the opportunities for solid waste diversion available throughout a wide range of business, industrial, manufacturing, and governmental agency activities.

The Bureau of Sanitation is presently conducting a comprehensive waste stream analysis to validate that the City has reached the AB 939 50% diversion mandate. The year 2000 analysis will consist of an investigation of citywide disposal and diversion practices including; disposal surveys, on site audits, diversion facility surveys, and waste stream analyses of targeted residential and businesses/commercial operations. The City must continue its efforts by focusing on the waste currently reaching disposal sites and implement programs to reduce overall landfill disposal. This waste stream analysis is the tool the City will use to analyze, quantify and identify new opportunities to promote and increase source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and other solid waste diversion efforts to reach the 70% diversion rate.

INTERIM GOALS:

In the interim, this report establishes six goals: it reaffirms the five waste management goals established by the City of Carson Solid Waste Management Policy Plan (CiSWMPP) in 1993, and establishes a new goal which reflects potential large diversion through sustainable development. It also evaluates existing diversion programs, recommends immediate tasks, and identifies implementation and documentation responsibilities under each task. Staffs from OARS, EAD, and GSD have reviewed this report.

Six Strategic Goals for the City's Diversion and Recycling Program:

1. Maximize Waste Diversion: All recycling, source reduction, and re-use programs operated by the Bureau of Sanitation and the General Services Department will need to be continued and expanded. The Bureau's Targeted Materials Strategy must be enhanced and new materials added. The proposed Waste Hauler Permit Ordinance should be acted upon and its attendant recycling programs developed and implemented. New programs to further increase waste diversion from the waste that is currently land filled will incorporate both private and public sector participation in both the planning and implementation process.
2. Adequate Recycling Facility Development: The Bureau of Sanitation's Solid Resources Infrastructure Strategy Facilities Plan addresses the facilities the Bureau City requires to support its current and future solid resources management activities. The Office of the Mayor must assist, through its LA Business Team and Recycling and Market Development Zone (RMDZ) loan program can assist companies wishing to develop citywide recycling/processing facilities.
3. Adequate Collection, Transfer, and Disposal of Mixed Solid and Household Hazardous Waste: The Bureau of Sanitation will continue its residential curbside waste, household hazardous waste, and small business hazardous waste collection programs. The Bureau of Sanitation and General Services will continue to promote new and alternative technology. The Bureau will pursue the development of recycling, mixed waste processing and transfer infrastructure to service City residents and businesses, including appropriate contractual mechanisms and potential financial incentives.
4. An Environmentally Sound Waste Management Operation: General Services will continue to operate its vehicle maintenance and inspection program. The Bureau will comply with alternative fuel regulations by taking actions including purchasing alternative fuel trucks to replace fleet vehicles as they are retired, and modifying fuel stations and maintenance facilities to accommodate the new vehicles.
5. A Cost Effective Waste Management Operation: New programs will be designed to maximize the diversion potential for the waste currently disposed at the lowest cost. For example, the City will concentrate its efforts on market development through its purchasing power. Specifically the City will ensure department compliance with the Recycled Content Procurement and Purchasing Price Preference Ordinances through its Buy Recycled Challenge 2000 and Prima 2000 programs.
6. Sustainable Development (new goal): All City departments will lend their support and promote implementation of sustainable development policies and guidelines coordinated and developed by the Bureau of Engineering's expanded Citywide Sustainable Development Program and the City Departments' Sustainable Design Task Force.