The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) has released preliminary waste diversion numbers for 2005, listing Santa Clarita as having a 45% diversion for that year.  Modifications over the next several months could propel Santa Clarita closer to its 50% goal.

            “The unofficial diversion number will be recalculated as more information is found and adjustments are made.  2005 was a big year for the City’s diversion efforts, with the roll out of several new programs and services,” commented Travis Lange, the City’s Environmental Services Manager.

            In 2005, the City’s commercial waste hauler, Burrtec, introduced its mixed waste processing program, which includes sorting recyclables out of specially identified trash routes.  Waste Management, the City’s residential trash hauler, implemented its first full year of larger recycling and green waste carts, increasing recycling 13% and green waste by 3%. 

            The City’s partnership with KHTS-AM 1220 for the award winning WE RECYCLE program was launched in 2005, rewarding residents for filling up their recycling bin.  Also, the City’s construction and demolition recycling ordinance went into effect, aimed at increasing diversion from construction and demolition projects in the City.

           Two major challenges for the City’s diversion program include multi-family recycling which is only at 7%, and lawsuits over the Gates-King project, the site the City plans to locate its state-of-the-art Materials Recovery Facility.

            “We have done several creative, voluntary programs to increase recycling in multi-family units but to date, we have not achieved voluntary compliance there.  Cities that have successful multi-family recycling programs are those that have a more mandatory approach; something we will be exploring with the City Council over the next year,” explains Lange.

            The City’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is believed to be a big component in the City’s plan to improve recycling, yet with the Gates-King lawsuit, the project is stalled, thus stalling the MRF project.

            According to the preliminary numbers posted on the CIWMB website, for 2005, the County of Los Angeles achieved a 6% diversion, while the city of Azusa is at 26%, the City of Commerce is at 16%, the City of Gardena is at 18%, the South Pasadena is at 36%, and the the City of West Hollywood is at 43%.

            The website address is: www.CIWMB.ca.gov.