Time to think recycling

Tehachapi can look forward to a new recycled waste plan. Assistant Director of Kern County Public Works, Nancy Ewert, made a presentation at the November 2nd City Council meeting regarding the 2015 Amendment to the Kern County Source Reduction and Recycling Element (SRRE) and the new state regulation mandating the recycling of commercial organic waste (AB1826). As of April 2016, any business, public entity or multi-unit residential dwelling of five units or more and producing more than eight cubic yards of food scraps or yard trimmings will need to separate organics from other waste and arrange for an organic waste recycling service.

Ms. Ewert outlined the history of California recycling mandates beginning with AB 939 which was adopted in 1990. The bill created the Integrated Waste Management Board and set reduction goals of solid waste diversion of 25% by 1995 and 50% by 2000 for each jurisdiction. In 2012, AB341 expanded the goals to 75% reduction by 2020.

" The bar has been set higher and higher," said City Manager Greg Garrett. He told the council that the City will be looking at a proposed plan for separated waste pick up that could be in place by July 1, 2016. He added that this would only effect Tehachapi residents that currently have weekly refuse pick up. New barrels would be supplied and recyclables would be picked up bi-weekly in addition to the existing weekly refuse pick up.

Councilman Ed Grimes reminded everyone that the Tehachapi landfill was originally scheduled to closed in 2017. With a new recycling plan, that closure could be put off until 2024 or longer. After our landfill closes, according to Ms. Ewert, Tehachapi refuse will go to the Mojave landfill with transfer stations in Tehachapi. She informed the council that the Mojave Landfill has about 100 years of capacity. She also added that the dirt from the recent Highway 58 mudslide was taken to the Tehachapi Landfill but is only being used to cover and mix with the waste and will not effect landfill capacity.