Public Resources Code (PRC) section 41780 establishes and requires a 25 percent reduction of solid waste disposal by cities and counties by 1995 and 50 percent by the year 2000. The planning requirements in this section require waste diversion from landfill or transformation facilities through source reduction, recycling, and composting activities identified in city, county and regional agency Source Reduction and Recycling Elements (SRRE).
In addition to the SRREs, local jurisdictions are also required to prepare additional solid waste planning documents. These include the Household Hazardous Waste Element (HHWE), the Nondisposal Facility Element (NDFE), the Countywide Siting Elements (CSE), and the Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan (CIWMP). The NDFEs are to be consistent with the implementation of a local jurisdiction’s SRRE. However, it is the SRREs that are required to have an implementation schedule which shows the diversion of 25 percent and 50 percent through source reduction, recycling and composting activities.
A SRRE is composed of the following components: waste characterization; source reduction; recycling; composting; solid waste facility capacity; education and public information; funding; special waste and integration. Statute requires a SRRE to include a program for management of solid waste generated within the jurisdiction and which is consistent with waste management hierarchy and order of priority. The hierarchy is in order of source reduction, recycling and composting and environmentally safe transformation and land disposal.
A HHWE is a planning document which identifies programs for the collection, recycling, treatment and disposal of household hazardous waste. Local programs separate the collection of these materials from the solid waste stream to prevent illegal disposal at solid waste facilities.
A NDFE identifies new and existing facilities needed to implement a SRRE. Local jurisdictions do not have to address disposal or transformation facilities in an NDFE, but they may identify general locations or specific areas for new facilities needed to implement a SRRE.
A CSE is a planning document that identifies areas that may be used for the development of new disposal and transformation facilities. The identification of new areas for locating new facilities is needed if a county determines that existing disposal capacity will be exhausted within 15 years or if additional capacity is desired.
A CIWMP includes a summary plan, SRREs, HHWEs, NDFEs and a CSE. This countywide planning document describes the programs to be implemented in the unincorporated and incorporated areas that will effectively manage the solid waste generated countywide and promote and implement the hierarchy of the Integrated Waste Management Act.
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As approved by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (now CalRecycle) on November 17, 1993.
For more information contact: Local Assistance & Market Development, LAMD@calrecycle.ca.gov