2004 Annual Report: Introduction

Since 1990, the California Integrated Waste Management Board has been responsible for, among other things, overseeing the permitting of solid waste and recycling facilities, the management of used oil and tires, and the waste diversion mandate for all jurisdictions within the state. That mandate directed all cities and counties within the state to divert 50 percent of their waste from landfills beginning in the year 2000. The Board continues to sustain the State’s diversion efforts and to preserve a healthy environment for all Californians.

This will require the commitment of all staff and members of the Board. Each individual contributes greatly to our success. We will continue to rely on the talents, creativity, experience, and ingenuity that has brought us this far. CIWMB will continue to develop stronger, better, and more effective programs that will move us beyond 50 percent diversion towards a Zero Waste California.

On this page...

• It Starts with the Waste Characterization Study
• Building a Zero Waste California
• Technologies for the Future
• Procurement Leadership
• Keeping up with the Technology Boom
• Environmental Education for Our Future
• Final Thoughts

It Starts with the Waste Characterization Study

Statewide diversion is currently at 48 percent, recovering from a slight dip to 47 percent in 2003. This turnaround is due in large part to focused efforts of the Board and local jurisdictions to address materials generated in construction and demolition activities related to California’s continuing growth. Our ability to continue our diversion progress requires an understanding of our changing waste stream. The results of the Board’s 2003–04 waste characterization study will help us to adapt successful strategies.

Our statewide findings in the waste characterization included the following:

• Commercial wastes comprise 47 percent of the statewide waste stream.
• Residential waste from single-family and multifamily homes is approximately 32 percent.
• Self-hauled wastes are approximately 21 percent.
• The largest fraction of disposed waste—30 percent—was organic, and half of this is food wastes.
• Construction and demolition materials make up approximately 22 percent.
• Paper is 21 percent of the waste stream.

Based on these findings, the state’s waste stream appears to contain the following:

• 20 percent recyclables.
• 24 percent compostable materials.
• 16 percent recoverable construction and demolition materials.

This study helps set the primary agenda for increased diversion statewide.

Every jurisdiction has demonstrated creativity and innovation that are being used to address the State’s diversion goals. A few of these innovations include:

• Co-locating a charity donation center at the entrance to a landfill.
• Exchanging burn barrels for compost bins when burn barrels were banned.
• Creation of co-located “Ecoparks” to facilitate collection and separation of materials.

This type of inventiveness gives us hope to achieve diversion rates even higher than 50 percent. In fact, many jurisdictions are taking it upon themselves, as stewards of the environment, to think beyond what is required.

We have seen a growing momentum to increase diversion, raising the bar from 50 percent to 70 percent or more. The City of San Francisco has adopted a resolution to achieve 75 percent diversion by the year 2010—and Zero Waste by 2020.

The City of Los Angeles is striving for 70 percent, while Alameda County increased its diversion goal to 75 percent. Not to be outdone, Del Norte County and the San Luis Obispo Integrated Waste Management Authority have joined San Francisco in setting their own Zero Waste goals. All of these efforts showcase the leadership of these communities.

Building a Zero Waste California

This is all quite heartening, since becoming a Zero Waste state is one of the Board’s seven strategic goals. As we say: If you’re not for Zero Waste, how much waste are you for?

The Board adopted the Zero Waste California attitude and hopes that all Californians will change the way they think, talk, and act regarding the resources we are sending to our landfills. We can create a Zero Waste California, especially if the public, manufacturing sectors, haulers, and government agencies work together to reduce, reuse, and recycle all materials back into nature or the marketplace. It is a matter of protecting our resources and maximizing existing recycling and reuse, while ensuring that products are “Designed for the Environment.” By doing so, we can create materials for new markets—all the while protecting human health and the environment.

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Technologies for the Future

The Board continues to play a vital role in the development of new and innovative programs as we work with other State agencies, businesses, local jurisdictions, and organizations on creating a means to manage our resources. With energy generation first on everyone’s mind these days, public and private entities are considering conversion technologies that are popular in other countries. Non-combustion technologies use post-recycled and/or postconsumer solid waste for the production of alternative fuels, energy, and industrial biochemicals. These substances are made for use in items such as adhesives, pharmaceuticals, food additives, building materials, biodegradable plastics, and cleaners.

Depending on the system used and the materials input, conversion technologies can produce ultra low sulfur diesel, hydrogen, and other types of fuels. Other conversion technology products include chemicals, ethanol, pharmaceuticals, gas that can be converted to electricity, and other resources valuable in today’s world. These technologies are of great interest to California, and this interest may result in some of the first facilities of their kind in the United States.

The impact of conversion technologies on the State of California could be significant. Municipal waste disposal is at nearly 41 million tons, and 79 percent—or 32 million tons—is organic material such as biomass and carbon-based plastics. Conversion technologies could influence the state’s overall economy by:

• Creating internal energy production projects.
• Diversifying product markets.
• Increasing recycling.
• Extending landfill capacity.
• Decreasing environmental impacts and creating new jobs.
• Generating new revenue sources.

The application of conversion technologies could meet up to 6 percent of the state’s current electricity needs and help achieve the goal of 20 percent renewable energy by the year 2017. This is a requirement of California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard Program.

If converted to electricity, the 41 million tons of municipal waste landfilled would be the equivalent of 66 million barrels of crude oil. This could provide 2,600 megawatts of electrical power, enough to support an estimated 2.6 million homes. From a statewide perspective, conversion technologies also could help us reduce our dependency on natural gas, introduce renewable energy sources, and replace MTBE with an estimated 600 to 900 million gallons of ethanol. Considering these statistics, there are some very compelling reasons for California to consider investing in conversion technologies.

Procurement Leadership

Creating a Zero Waste California will also require all of us to be mindful of what and how we act as consumers. Procurement of recycled-content products is, and will continue to be, one of the primary goals of the Board. Increased waste diversion provides more materials that can be used as feedstock for recycled-content products; and with more feedstock comes greater innovation. That is why the Board is focusing on the procurement of recycled-content materials. By driving markets for recycled-content products—through low-interest loans to businesses creating these products—and by increasing government purchases of these products, we can guarantee that recyclable materials are turned into new products.

The Board helps to drive these markets through the annual trade show. On April 6–7, 2005, the Board hosted the 6th Annual Environmentally Preferable and Recycled Product Trade Show at the Ontario Convention Center. Purchasing managers from businesses all over the state came to see the latest recycled-content products, and to participate in the afternoon workshops. By encouraging businesses and agencies to visit the trade show, we helped drive these commodity markets and supply manufacturers with the feedstock they need—ultimately increasing profitability and the markets for their products.

Keeping up with the Technology Boom

The need to properly manage electronic products banned from California landfills resulted in the enactment of California’s landmark Electronic Waste Recycling Act in 2003. Beginning on January 1, 2005, California consumers are now assessed an “advanced recycling fee” on those covered electronic products that contain hazardous components. The fee is then returned to e-waste recyclers and collectors in the form of incentive payments. We are in the infancy of this program, but we have a vision: Eliminate toxic waste from all electronic products—and eliminate all electronic products from landfills. And, we are spreading the word about this important vision through www.eRecycle.org.

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Environmental Education for Our Future

Working together with multiple agencies, the Environment and Education Initiative has continued to make great strides. This initiative calls upon the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Board, in cooperation with the Resources Agency, State Department of Education, State Board of Education, and Secretary for Education, to complete the following tasks:

• Develop education principles and concepts for the environment for elementary and secondary schools.
• Ensure that education principles and concepts for the environment are aligned to the academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education and do not duplicate or conflict with any academic content standards.
• Incorporate education principles for the environment in criteria developed for textbook adoption in science, mathematics, English/language arts, and history/social sciences.
• Develop and implement a unified education strategy on the environment for the State's elementary and secondary schools.

Final Thoughts

So, what’s next for the California Integrated Waste Management Board? In 2005 the Board hopes to see more local jurisdictions thinking Zero Waste, and we hope to educate more of our residents and businesses to becoming Zero Waste Californians.

The Board continues to work with industry professionals, environmental organizations, and the public to strengthen our commitment to the environment and to show the world how the environment and the economy can work together.

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