CalRecycle Guidance Documents

This section of the library provides information produced by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to provide assistance in meeting the Integrated Waste Management Act.

Local Reports, Contacts, and Reviews

  • Annual Report-Electronic (EAR and LOGIC Help Documents). You can find help documents on how to create a WebPass for the LoGIC system, manage security, and use the Electronic Annual Report (EAR).
  • CalRecycle Jurisdiction Reviews. CalRecycle historically reviewed jurisdictions’ program implementation every two years. Legislation enacted in 2008 (SB 1016, Chapter 343, Statutes of 2008 [Wiggins, SB 1016]) codified CalRecycle’s historical approach by more explicitly focusing on program implementation, as well as implementing a simplified metric based on per-capita disposal and changing the frequency of some reviews. The law now states that the annual per capita disposal rate does not determine jurisdiction compliance, but is only one factor that CalRecycle will use to evaluate diversion program implementation.
  • Per Capita Disposal and Goal Measurement (2007 and Later). The new per capita disposal and goal measurement system moves the emphasis from an estimated diversion measurement number to using an actual disposal measurement number as a factor, along with evaluating program implementation efforts.
  • Reporting Entity Contact Change Request. Jurisdictions may directly manage contact information in the Local Government Information Center (LoGIC) application via a secure Web interface. Alternately, jurisdictions may complete and submit the contact change request form to inform CalRecycle of changes to jurisdiction contact information. CalRecycle’s Local Assistance and Market Development (LAMD) Branch staff will update the data in LoGIC.

 

Jurisdiction and Regional Planning Documents

  • CIWMP Enforcement Guidelines. This policy document guides CalRecycle in deciding whether or not a jurisdiction’s solid waste planning documents are adequate, and whether or not a jurisdiction has implemented its plans.
  • CIWMP or RAIWMP Review, Five-Year. The CIWMP or RAIWMP addresses waste management conditions within the respective county or regional agency. It also provides an overview of the actions that will be taken to achieve the diversion requirements of Public Resources Code (PRC), section 41780 and to maintain 15 years of disposal capacity. The statute requires elements comprising the CIWMP and RAIWMP to be reviewed every five years after the original CIWMP or RAIWMP approval date, and revised, if necessary.
  • Countywide Siting Element. Features a discussion of the statutory, regulatory and content adequacy requirements of a Countywide Siting Element (CSE). This section contains what staff will focus on during the review to determine and define adequacy.
  • Model Source Reduction and Recycling Element (SRRE) Guidelines. The jurisdiction may follow the guidelines and CalRecycle’s Model SRRE Template, designed for use by either a newly incorporated city that needs to submit a SRRE or a jurisdiction that needs to revise its SRRE.
  • Nondisposal Facility Element (NDFE). General guidelines for amending these solid waste planning documents. Nondisposal facilities include transfer stations and may also include recycling, anaerobic digestion, composting, and remanufacturing facilities.
  • General Plan Guidelines Update. In 2017, the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) completed the first comprehensive update to the General Plan Guidelines (GPG) since 2003. One of the major changes includes an expanded section addressing the need for additional recycling, anaerobic digestion, composting, and remanufacturing facilities in the land use element. Additional information is on the OPR General Plan Guidelines website.
  • Household Hazardous Waste Element Implementation (HHWE). Each household hazardous waste element (HHWE) describes programs for the safe collection, recycling, treatment, and disposal of hazardous wastes generated by households; a monitoring program; funding sources; and a specific implementation time frame.
  • Regional Agency. As explained in Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 40970, cities and counties are authorized to form “regional agencies.” Regional agencies (RA) are allowed to report program information and disposal numbers as one entity instead of by jurisdiction.
  • Rural Jurisdiction, Petition for Reduced Diversion Requirements. A jurisdiction may petition for a reduced diversion requirement if it can be defined as a “rural city,” a “rural county,” or a “rural regional agency,” and if it meets certain specific criteria.

Jurisdiction Models and Assistance

  • Disaster Waste Guidelines. These guidelines assist jurisdictions in preparing for and dealing with disaster waste.
  • Local Government Assistance Library. The library assists California jurisdictions with Integrated Waste Management Act compliance. The local government library includes CalRecycle-developed assistance documents and examples of materials local jurisdictions submit to CalRecycle. The documents and materials are also found throughout Local Government Central. The library is a convenient place to begin your search if you know the specific resource name.
  • Mandatory Commercial Recycling. Mandatory Commercial Recycling was one of the measures adopted in the Assembly Bill 32 Scoping Plan by the Air Resources Board (ARB) pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act (Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006). The Mandatory Commercial Recycling measure focuses on increased commercial waste diversion as a method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is designed to achieve a reduction in GHG emissions of 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents.
  • Mandatory Commercial Organic Recycling. Reducing the amount of organic material sent to landfills is part of Assembly Bill 32 Scoping Plan, is fundamental to ARB’s Short Lived Climate Pollutant strategy, and is one of California’s strategies for reaching the statewide 75 percent recycling goal. Collecting and processing organic materials, particularly food, is also the focus of AB 1826, which mandates such efforts beginning April 1, 2016.
  • Organics Management Infrastructure Planning Guidance. To reduce the landfilling of organics, increase composting and anaerobic digestion, and meet the state’s organic diversion goals, cities and counties now must plan for organics processing facilities that can process organics diverted from landfills and organics waste generators. In particular, AB 1826, requires each city and county to assess the infrastructure necessary for implementing their commercial organics recycling programs.
  • Model Construction and Demolition (C&D) Diversion Ordinance. CalRecycle is required by statute to create a model construction and demolition ordinance for local agencies to use in their jurisdictions if they desire.
  • Model C&D Informational Guide. Senate Bill 1374 (Kuehl, Statutes of 2002) directed CalRecycle to provide information to jurisdictions and general contractors on methods and activities to divert construction and demolition (C&D) materials. This bill also directs CalRecycle to develop and adopt a model C&D diversion ordinance for voluntary use by local jurisdictions.
  • Model Recycling Space and Enclosure Ordinance. CalRecycle is required by statute to create a model Recycling Space and Enclosure ordinance for local agencies to use in their jurisdictions if they desire.
  • Multifamily Recycling. In recognition that multifamily recycling programs are important for California’s continued success in waste reduction and recycling this information has been assembled to assist local jurisdiction efforts to develop successful multifamily diversion programs.

Archive

  • Biomass Guide. The following biomass guidelines include the information a jurisdiction should submit to CalRecycle to substantiate its biomass diversion claim for 2000 (and beyond), as well as other relevant biomass-related information. Note: This guide contains historical information for the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CWIMB), which as of January 1, 2010, became CalRecycle. The statewide goal measurement prior to 2007 was an estimated diversion percentage. For 2007 and subsequent years, CalRecycle compares reported disposal tons to population to calculate per capita disposal expressed in pounds/person/day. This new goal measurement system is described in Goal Measurement: 2007 and Later page. Because the annual per capita disposal rate is based on disposal tons, any biomass will not be reported as disposal. In other words, there is no cap on the amount of material a jurisdiction can send to biomass. Therefore, sending material to biomass will help to reduce disposal. A Biomass Facility Diversion Claim Sheet is no longer required for submittal with the jurisdictional Annual Report.
  • Conducting a Diversion Study–A Guide for California Jurisdictions. Helps local government officials perform the research necessary to establish new baseline figures for diversion measurement. Note: With the implementation of SB 1016, the Per Capita Disposal Measurement System, CalRecycle will only accept new base year studies that commenced prior to June 30, 2008. A jurisdiction may conduct a generation study for internal review purposes; however, CalRecycle will not review it for compliance determination.
  • New Base Year Guidelines. The general guidelines are provided to assist you in the preparation and completion of the diversion study and the documents required to submit a new base year or a report year generation study. We recommend that you review the guidelines and the checklist before you begin your study and continue to refer to them as you complete the process. These guidelines are for a nonextrapolated study only. Note: This Guide contains historical information from CIWMB’s statewide goal measurement prior to 2007 that estimated a diversion percentage. For 2007 and subsequent years, CalRecycle compares reported disposal tons to population to calculate per capita disposal expressed in pounds/person/day. This new goal measurement system is described in CalRecycle’s Goal Measurement: 2007 and Later web page. With the implementation of this measurement system, CalRecycle will only accept new base year studies commenced prior to June 30, 2008. A jurisdiction may conduct a generation study for internal review purposes; however, CalRecycle will not review it for compliance determination.
  • Time Extension/Alternative Diversion Requirement. Information on guidelines regarding time extension and alternative diversion requirements (SB 1066 guidelines) has been updated because the related section of the law was repealed on January 1, 2006. Note: This Guide contains historical data from CIWMB’s statewide goal measurement prior to 2007 that estimated a diversion percentage. For 2007 and subsequent years, CalRecycle compares reported disposal tons to population to calculate per capita disposal expressed in pounds/person/day. This new goal measurement system is described in CalRecycle’s Goal Measurement: 2007 and Later web page.

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For more information contact: Local Assistance & Market Development, LAMD@calrecycle.ca.gov or (916) 341-6199.