Disposal Reporting and Goal Measurement

CalRecycle’s Recycling and Disposal Reporting System (RDRS) assigns accountability for disposed solid waste to the jurisdiction from which it came. Beginning in 2019, jurisdictions use the Recycling and Disposal Reporting System to calculate per capita disposal. Prior to 2019, the Disposal Reporting System (DRS) was used to report disposal data to CalRecycle.

Using Disposal Reporting to Estimate Per Capita Disposal

    • Solid waste sent to out-of-state landfills or to Indian country is disposal.
    • Disposal does not include approved alternative daily cover (ADC), alternative intermediate cover (AIC), or other beneficial reuse, except for Green Material Used as Alternative Daily Cover (ADC).
    • If reported amounts appear inaccurate, a jurisdiction should first discern if there were extraordinary events during the report period that could result in unusual amounts of waste disposal. If none are apparent, local governments should work with reporting entities to identify errors and encourage them to correct reporting errors and produce accurate information. Reporting entities must report accurately as required by statute and regulation. Local governments may review some reporting entity records pursuant to Public Resources Code, section 41821.5(g).
    • If the above steps do not resolve the issue with the reporting entity, please submit that information to the and be prepared to provide documentation upon request, establishing your belief that the information contained in RDRS is incorrect. If you have specific allegations of non-compliance by a reporting entity, please submit that information to the RDRS Online Complaint Form and identify the reporting entity and the facts upon which the allegation is based, so CalRecycle may investigate appropriately.
    • If, after working with the county, hauler, and facilities, a jurisdiction still believes the reported disposal tonnage is inaccurate, it may present supporting information in its electronic annual report to CalRecycle.
    • All changes to default disposal tons should be reflected in the RDRS before CalRecycle staff can complete their annual review. Disposal tons that are adjusted from other jurisdictions (either positive or negative) may impact the Reporting-Year Disposal Amount totals submitted by this jurisdiction after submittal of this EAR.
    • With documentation, jurisdictions may request a deduction from disposal for: regional diversion facility residue, C&D tons waste generated by a federal, state, or other control agency that is outside a jurisdictions control and was disposed, regional medical waste treatment facility residue, waste exported out of state that was subsequently diverted, and some special wastes.
    • Reporting-year disposal is divided by the population or industry employment of the jurisdiction, which is then multiplied by 365 (days in a year) to determine per capita disposal for population or employment. For details on goal measurement for 2007 and subsequent years, the new goal measurement system is described in CalRecycle’s Goal Measurement: 2007 and Later web page.

Definitions

  • “Disposal” – Resources Code – PRC 40192. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), “solid waste disposal,” “disposal,” or “dispose” means the final deposition of solid wastes onto land, into the atmosphere, or into the waters of the state. (b) For purposes of Part 2 (commencing with Section 40900), “solid waste disposal,” “dispose,” or “disposal” means the management of solid waste through landfill disposal, transformation, or EMSW conversion, at a permitted solid waste facility, unless the term is expressly defined otherwise.(c) For purposes of Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 42800) and Chapter 19 (commencing with Section 42950) of Part 3, Part 4 (commencing with Section 43000), Part 5 (commencing with Section 45000), Part 6 (commencing with Section 45030), and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 47901) of Part 7, “solid waste disposal,” “dispose,” or “disposal” means the final deposition of solid wastes onto land.
  • Recycling and Disposal Reporting System (RDRS) is CalRecycle’s electronic online data system in which businesses, facilities, and operations with a reporting obligation submit required information. Reporting entities submit information to CalRecycle on a quarterly basis on the types and quantities of material that they sell, transfer, or dispose.
  • Disposal Reporting System (DRS) as the methods and procedures for tracking disposed and transformed waste and the database that contains information about the tons of waste disposed or transformed at all permitted disposal or transformation facilities in the state prior to 2019.

Related Links

RDRS Regulations Development

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