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ADMINISTRATION - Chief Administrator Gabriel Hydrick & Green Waste of Tehama District Manager Amanda Garrett
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION - Regarding Green Waste’s Education Program for 2025, and overall program management and goal achievements related to residential and commercial solid waste management services in the unincorporated areas of Tehama County
b) Board discussion and possible approval that Green Waste made a good faith effort to meet its 2025 minimum diversion goals
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Financial Impact:
None.
Background Information:
On August 28, 2018, the Board approved the Agreement between the County of Tehama and Waste Connections of California, Inc. dba Green Waste of Tehama for residential and commercial solid waste management services in the unincorporated areas of Tehama County.
As required by the Agreement, beginning January 1, 2019, Green Waste must use reasonable and feasible efforts (taking into consideration the cost, expense, and/or associated capital expenditure, and the agreed upon annual expense limitations associated with the Customer Education Program) to divert a minimum of 25% of solid waste it collects from disposal, and increase the total solid waste diverted from disposal by 2% each year thereafter.
Failure to meet the minimum diversion goals may result in Green Waste becoming ineligible for a contract extension. To determine whether Green Waste is eligible for contract extensions, the County will consider the good faith effort put forth by Green Waste to meet the minimum diversion goals. This consideration will include documentation provided by Green Waste regarding its activities and compliance with Green Waste’s Customer Education Program, as approved by the County. The final decision as to whether Green Waste made a good faith effort in complying with the minimum diversion goals will remain with the County.
As required, Green Waste developed a Customer Education Program for calendar year 2025, which was subsequently approved by the Board. The plan included information with respect to AB 939 diversion goals, AB 341 covered generator compliance and outreach, bulky goods pick-ups, backyard composting, yard waste programs, and the importance of the safe disposal of household hazardous waste. Pursuant to the Agreement between the County and Green Waste, Green Waste’s expected goal for calendar year 2025 was a 37% diversion rate; the year-end actual diversion rate for 2025 was 17.60%. A summary of data follows:
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Total solid waste diverted from landfill (tons), 2025 |
5,576.26 |
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Total solid waste landfilled (tons, inbound), 2025 |
20,528.12 |
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Total residual solid waste from materials recovery facility (proportionate tons), 2025 |
922.68 |
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Diversion rate, 2025 |
17.60% |
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Diversion rate, 2024 |
17.69% |
As indicated in the above data, Green Waste did not meet its minimum diversion goal of 37% for 2025. Overall diversion decreased slightly in 2025 despite Green Waste implementing all aspects of its Education Programs for 2025. In consideration of Green Waste’s implementation of all aspects of the Education Program beyond what is required, staff is recommending that the Board find that Green Waste made a good faith effort in meeting its minimum diversion goals for calendar year 2025.