Waste Characterization – Solid Waste Generation Study, West Contra Costa, California

The West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority retained SCS Engineers to conduct studies on waste generation to set a new base-year. The project included residential surveys for source reduction, commercial waste assessments and analysis of DRS data, and review of hauler disposal and recycling information.

A new 2001 base-year diversion rate of 43 percent was established as a result of the project. The study was the first 2001 New Base-Year approved by the Calfornia Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB). Tasks included:

• review of disposal data from disposal reporting system and landfills
• diversion analysis, including governmental agencies, residential surveys and recyclers
• franchised haulers’ construction and demolition source reduction
• commercial waste assessments of 100 businesses
• identification of diversion opportunities
• preparation of CIWMB Base Year Modification Certification forms
• identification of top 10 generators
• identification of all diversion by material type and diversion type (source reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, etc.)