PLACER COUNTY, CA — SCS Engineers will evaluate the collection, hauling, and processing of organic material and food waste for Placer County in compliance with California’s recently adopted mandatory organics recycling law. According to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, the state disposes of approximately 30 million tons of waste in landfills each year, of which more than 30 percent could be used for compost or mulch.
The SCS Organics Management Study will help the County develop various organics management strategies based on their objectives and find the most cost efficient method for optimal compliance with the new law. SCS will analyze the volume of commercial organic waste produced in the County and assess capacity and operations at the Eastern Regional Landfill and Materials recovery facility. The results show the viability and impact of creating an organics recycling program and are used to identify optimal locations for an organics processing facility.
SCS then analyzes the potential conditions that could impact the long-term success of the County’s organics program. A cost-benefit analysis is used to recommend potential processing methods and technology to effectively manage organic waste with food waste collection, processing options, capital costs, and customer fees.
“Using the SCS study, the County can quickly and efficiently isolate the optimal compliance strategy for their particular needs now and in the future,” said Pat Sullivan, a senior vice president with SCS Engineers. “We want the County to get the maximum value and balance to their organic waste materials processing program.”
