Joe Haworth: We presently use green materials for alternate daily cover (ADC) at our landfills. Some feel this is controversial, but the argument is moot since planning for compost and other sites takes time and local landfills, especially Spadra, leave little planning and siting time before their closure. Trash will soon be leaving the L.A. Basin and the cost will be high enough that the green materials will be left behind for some type of local recycling. Puente Hills requires a permit renewal in 2003 and closes for sure in 2013. Either date is a short planning window for siting compost facilities with the way NIMBY works.

The City now has 100% beneficial reuse of all its yard trimmings and bio-solids from wastewater treatment facilities. The composted products are used in farming, etc. We are promoting YIMBY - "yes in my back yard," for composting. In Griffith Park our composting facility mixes yard waste with "Zoo Doo" and bio-solids to produce "TOPGRO." Currently 2,000 tons are produced per year, which is being donated to replenish the soil in school yards, brownfields and the Park. The City receives $21/ton from the vendor, but that doesn't cover the costs of the composting facility.

We are also promoting the sale of composting bins, which we calculate saves $27 annually in waste hauling for every bin.

About 2000 tons/day of yard trimmings are made into mulch and marketed to agriculture and composting feedstocks. We have our own chipping and mulching project to reduce transportation to distant processors. We use the product locally on the old reservoir in Granada Hills. Street sweepings, Christmas trees, etc. are all added to the waste stream.

We are publicizing through the Internet, publications, etc. We have a 13-page catalog of recycling publications (call 213-847-1444).

The Spadra Landfill, which now takes 75,000 tons of green waste for ADC (plus 700,000 tons/year of trash), will start phasing down and shifting operations to Puente Hills over the next 24 months. This will initially increase the tipping fee for yard waste by $2 a ton. Communities could look at transferring organics to Kern County for soil enhancement. Compounding the landfill situation is the fact that the present Puente Hills Landfill permit expires in 2003.

The Sanitation Districts are proposing to extend the life of the Landfill to 2013. They will try to expand the size or increase the height, but local homeowners will oppose it. Many cities are waiting for the problem to be solved by others. One alternative is to process more waste through a MRF at $46 a ton. There will have to be a crisis before we can get the attention of elected officials. There will always be a place to take waste, but at increased cost.

Current statistics are that 85% of the public engages in recycling, 65% of single family residences have curbside pickup of recyclables, there is a 75% redemption rate for beverage containers. While there is currently an average 30-35% diversion rate, 40 jurisdictions have achieved over 50% diversion, while 4 jurisdictions have been penalized for not achieving the 25% diversion in 1995.

Currently newspapers use 60% recycled newsprint. Organics recycling diverted 13 million tons last year in the state. Of the 300 known organics recycling operations, only 80 have permits. Only 10% of all mixed paper is recycled. Restaurant waste is 60% paper and 30% organic.

Factors, such as the Orange County bankruptcy, have resulted in a 30% contract price decrease at landfills, which has forced the organics recycling business to get serious. The big guys, such as Kellogg's, are getting out, with only small, efficient operators left.

Agriculture is the best market for organic material, including food, paper, and organic components of C&D, such as wood and wall board. Composters can handle paper easier than greenwaste, because they don't have to grind it.

Market conditions are improving, but the challenges are quality and transportation. The biggest problem with organics is to get glass, plastic and metal out.

We turn raw organics into high quality compost that can reclaim land and enrich soil for agriculture. Composting reduces brown rot in peaches, produces healthier grapes, carrots grow longer and garlic cloves bigger. Farmers can get a vineyard in production a year sooner. Compost helps keep the price of food low.

Currently we are selling everything we make: 20,000 tons per month. We have a big customer base.

ADC is supposed to be a last resort for greenwaste, the problem is that it costs less. Our organic waste pickup is only economical for chains with centralized distribution, not for small independent stores.

Question: What about mixed paper?

Hardy: Paper from MRFs has too much glass in it, but mixed paper from businesses works okay.

Van der Wende: We have to charge for mixed paper. We can take wax coated paper.

Question: What about street sweepings?

Hardy: We have no problem with street sweepings. We do tests on microbial counts and toxicity and we see no problems.

San Bernadino eliminates glass with a separate collection bin for glass and metal.