To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Letter of Interest and Support to Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA) for Leading Regionalization for the Purposes of Organics Processing in Compliance with SB1383.
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the attached letter to notify the Humboldt Waste Management Authority (“HWMA”) of the county’s support for regionalization for the purposes of organics processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Solid Waste (3691)
DISCUSSION:
On Feb. 15, 2022, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors passed Resolution 22-18 authorizing Humboldt County Department of Public Works (“Public Works”) to submit a Notification of Intent to Comply with the requirements of California Senate Bill 1383 (SB1383) to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, in accordance with California Senate Bill 619 (SB619). Resolution 22-18 provided assurances to the State of California that the County of Humboldt will implement proposed actions to remedy violations and comply with required deadlines through a Corrective Action Plan.
In order to stay compliant, the county is in need of an organics pre-processing facility which may be fulfilled by HWMA if they receive the assurances from the county and the other jurisdictions within the county, that they will receive organic materials through flow control. The current Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) will be updated with an amendment to secure flow control of organic materials for HWMA.
SB1383 went into effect this year and jurisdictions that do not meet the requirements of this state law are subject to fines of $10,000 per day. Although, the County of Humboldt is continuing to make progress towards full compliance with SB1383, there are several challenging aspects of the county’s programs which have not yet been fulfilled.
Implementation originally planned for Jan. 1, 2023, has been hampered by HWMA’s ability to develop a pre-processing organics facility for green waste and food waste. Public Works is developing SB1383 programs, however, we are currently out of compliance without an operating organic composting facility. Signing this letter of support is the next step for the county to notify the State of California of Humboldt County’s compliance actions and efforts in order to avoid fines.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact involved with the approval of this letter of support. There is potential for fines of $10,000 per day if the county does not meet the requirements of SB1383. As the county moves forward with this process, Public Works will return to the Board of Supervisors with agenda items that may require funding and supplemental budgets.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by building interjurisdictional and regional cooperation and creating opportunities for improved safety and health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Humboldt County Waste Management Authority; City of Arcata: City of Blue Lake; City of Eureka; City of Ferndale; City of Fortuna; City of Trinidad; City of Blue Lake, City of Rio Dell, California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to sign the attached letter to notify HWMA of the county’s support for regionalization for the purposes of organics processing. However, this alternative is not recommended since it could subject the County of Humboldt to ongoing administrative penalties of $10,000 per day.
ATTACHMENTS:
Letter of support to HWMA
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-21
Meeting of: Feb. 15, 2022
File No.: 22-165