MuniEnvironmental has engaged with the Cities of Bellflower, Paramount and Santa Fe Springs to address key provisions of Assembly Bills 1826 and 1594, which have established parameters for mandatory organic recycling. The new project will focus on identifying short- medium- and long-term organic recycling opportunities.
“MuniEnvironmental is pleased to provide professional consulting services to the Cities of Bellflower, Paramount and Santa Fe Springs,” says MuniEnvironmental CEO and Principal Consultant Jeff Duhamel. “Assembly Bills 1826 and 1594 both are complex laws about which MuniEnvironmental is well-positioned to offer insightful, strategic guidance.”
In September 2014, Governor Jerry Brown approved two recycling bills: Assembly Bill 1826, Solid Waste: Organic Waste, which requires businesses to recycle organic waste and requires local jurisdictions to implement an organic waste recycling program to divert organic waste generated by businesses, and Assembly Bill 1594, which mandates that the use of green material as Alternative Daily Cover will no longer constitute diversion through recycling.
“Organic Waste” includes food and food-soiled paper waste along with green, landscape and pruning waste, along with nonhazardous wood waste. Organic waste, including food and green waste, is recyclable through composting, mulching and anaerobic digestion, which generates renewable energy and fuel.
“Alternative Daily Cover” is material placed on the surface of the active face of a municipal solid waste landfill at the end of each operating day to control vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter and scavenging.
Mandatory recycling of organic waste is the next step toward achieving California’s aggressive recycling and greenhouse gas emission goals, says Duhamel. “California disposes of approximately 30 million tons of waste in landfills each year. Of this, more than 30 percent qualifies as organic waste.”
MuniEnvironmental’s work with the Cities of Bellflower, Paramount and Santa Fe Springs will include:
- researching and reporting on organic waste-related legislation
- identifying, tracking and mapping current organic recycling facilities throughout Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Tulare and Ventura counties
- negotiating group rates
“The collection and processing of solid waste is second only to public safety as an expense for communities,” says Duhamel. “Currently the system is so fragmented that it’s difficult for municipalities to understand what their price represents and how their price compares to other neighboring communities. MuniEnvironmental is committed to finding solutions for this unique group of clients that will offer competitive fees while meeting the legislation’s requirements.”
With proven expertise in the Solid Waste, Recycling and Stormwater Industries, the experienced professional staff of MuniEnvironmental provides consulting services to governmental agencies attempting to implement mandated regulatory requirements while striving to preserve their leadership and administrative role with their contract service providers and the business community.
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