Illegal dumping is a statewide problem suffered by both rural and urban areas as well as incorporated towns and cities. The Yolo County Division of Integrated Waste Management (DIWM) took this issue into consideration when negotiating the new solid waste franchise agreements with Waste Management, Inc. (WM) and Recology Davis, to enhance eradication efforts. As part of the new agreements, WM and Recology are to provide a total of 11 (40-yard) dumpsters to the County to cleanup illegal dumping each year, at no cost. In addition, as the Board is aware, DWIM manages a Good Neighbor program that compensates residents who bring illegally dumped waste with a free disposal coupon for their future use. Last fiscal year, 122 customers utilized the Good Neighbor program. This program is only valued around $800 in disposal annually however it saves the Roads Division resources and engages the community in the efforts of cleanup. Below you will find our a complete list of programs managed by the DIWM that are aimed at addressing illegal dumping, and which are funded by solid waste franchise fees and grants. No general fund dollars are used to support these programs.
| Illegal Dumping Program |
DIWM Estimated Annual Contributions |
| Esparto Transfer Center Staffing |
$67,000 |
| Road Crew Time and Disposal |
$45,000 |
| Haz. Waste Cleanup & Removal |
$40,000 |
| Probation Litter Pickup |
$25,000 |
| Farm & Ranch Grant- Resource Conservation District-Bable Slough Road (Clarksburg) |
$150,000 |
| Litter Abatement Grant (Elkhorn, Knights Landing and Clarksburg Boating Areas) |
$5,000 |
| TOTAL |
$332,000 |
More recently, the DIWM has partnered with the Consumer Fraud and Environmental Protection Division (CFEPD) of the District Attorney's Office to work on expanding the prevention of illegal dumping. Together, we attend monthly Zoom meetings hosted by the Northern California Illegal Dumping Task Force (initiated by Alameda County Supervisor Miley's Office) which focuses on the three "E"s (Education, Eradication and Enforcement). Meeting topics span common problems jurisdictions face with illegal dumping, including how to tackle homeless camp cleanups, hazardous and infectious waste spills, as well as standard trash and litter abatement. In addition, we are collaborating on an application for the 2021 Cal Recycle Farm and Ranch Grant. The anticipated focus areas for use of any 2021 grant funds are CR 31 at Buckeye and Coil Lane at 99E near Nelson's Grove.
On the policy front at the State level, the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) is working to get an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill written and passed through the State Assembly which puts a recycling fee on all appliances sold. This would mirror the Covered Electronic Waste (television and computer monitor) as well as the mattress recycling EPR programs which allows funding to come back to Yolo County to accept these items free of charge from the public and support "cradle to grave" recycling for all Californians. This is an important effort for Yolo County, for as explained further below, the current regulatory cost of disposing these appliances far exceeds the fees charged for their disposal. DIWM staff anticipate bringing a draft bill to the Board in late 2021, at which point we will be seeking a letter of support for such legislative action.
Until such time as an EPR is in place, the DIWM continues to accept, process and recycle over 12,000 appliances annually at the Yolo County Central Landfill. Due to increased enforcement by the Department of Toxic Substances and Control (DTSC) on air quality regulations and hazardous waste storage limits, appliance recyclers will no longer pick up appliances at the landfill without the units first being serviced (emptied of all hazardous waste such as Freon, batteries, circuit boards, capacitors, gear oil, etc.). This has resulted in a $125,000 annual increase in costs to the DIWM with no current means to recoup these costs. The cost to service an appliance averages an additional $10/unit on top of our current $6/unit charge. Due to staging required to service these appliances, DIWM also has increased its cost per unit in labor.
To address the concern of illegal dumping of appliances as a result of a direct and immediate pass through of all costs needed to support this program, the DIWM is seeking approval of a 2 year phased approach on appliance recycling rates. Approval of this Board item only allows for the DIWM to submit these rates as part of the Master Fees packet at the December 2020 Board meeting.
| Landfill Appliance Recycling Rates |
|
|
| |
Current |
Jan. 1 , 2021 |
Jan. 1, 2022 |
| Washer/Dryers/General |
$6 |
$12 |
$25 |
| AC Units/Refrigerators/Freezer |
$6 |
$8 |
$16 |
In looking at how approval of this rate increase might impact Yolo County residents, please note below that every jurisdiction in Yolo County offers a bulky waste collection program or landfill voucher program which includes the free recycling of appliances annually. Therefore, staff does not believe that an increase in appliance rates will result in an increase in illegal dumping as all 77,000 residents have the ability to get rid of appliances at no charge, at minimum once per year.
| Jurisdiction |
Appliance Program |
| Yolo County |
2 Bulky waste vouchers annually = Total of 4 appliances |
| City of Davis |
1 Bulky waste voucher/drop off annually = Total of 2 appliances |
| City of West Sacramento |
2 Curbside pickups annually of bulky waste = Total of 6 appliances |
| City of Winters |
1 Bulky waste voucher annually = Total of 2 appliances |
| City of Woodland |
1 Bulky waste voucher annually = Total of 6 appliances |
??????????Should CPSC be successful in getting an EPR bill passed within the next two years, Yolo County residents would benefit as the County would eliminate appliance recycling fees at both the Landfill and the Esparto Transfer Station. |