Program Responsibilities

Compliance and Enforcement Division

The Compliance and Enforcement Division is responsible for the CalRecycle's regulatory mandates and activities. This program is responsible for ensuring that:

• All waste management activities within CalRecycle's purview as defined by law are assessed, enforced, and penalized as appropriate.
• The State's diversion goals are met and State agency and local programs achieve State mandated goals.
• Mandated producer responsibility programs including rigid plastic packaging containers (RPPC), plastic trash bags and newsprint are in compliance.
• All hazards created by the illegal or inappropriate disposal of solid waste are mitigated.
• Local enforcement agencies are properly certified, designated, and evaluated as appropriate.

The division comprises three branches:

• Engineering Support Branch
• Recycling Enforcement Branch
• Waste Evaluation & Enforcement Branch

The Engineering Support Branch reviews and approves solid waste and tire facility closure/postclosure maintenance plans to ensure state programs are effectively implemented and oversees CalRecycle’s cleanup and remediation programs for illegal and abandoned solid waste and tire disposal sites. The branch also provides engineering technical support for the department’s climate change, bioenergy, and solid waste technology responsibilities; and, in coordination with the Natural Resources Agency, Cal/EPA, and the Office of Emergency Services, organizes and executes CalRecycle emergency response functions.

The Recycling Enforcement Branch conducts financial auditing and investigations to ensure Beverage Container Recycling Program participants are in compliance with the law. The branch administers compliance programs that include field inspections and investigations, electronic surveillance, forensic document investigations, and joint criminal investigations with the State Attorney General and local law enforcement agencies designed to prevent improper claims of program funds and the elimination of fraud from within the program.

The Waste Evaluation and Enforcement Branch oversees CalRecycle’s compliance and enforcement activities related to solid waste and tire facilities, illegal disposal, and minimum content regulatory compliance. The branch performs compliance oversight and audit functions relative to Local Enforcement Agencies (LEA) carrying out solid waste permitting and enforcement responsibilities, Tire Enforcement Agencies carrying out tire enforcement activities, and local jurisdictions compliance with AB 939 source reduction planning and program implementation to insure each jurisdiction attains a 50 percent diversion rate.

Staff Directory for This Division