Green Waste Working Group Report

Information gathered from: 9/16/2021 - 1/31/2022 

Committee members:

  • Andrea Irving, Firewise 
  • Bethany Rouse, PCFSC
  • Dan Martynn, Citizen
  • Dave Kinateder, USFS
  • Don Gasser, PCFSC Board Member & RPF
  • Hannah Hepner, PCFSC
  • Jason Ackely, Operator & Business Owner
  • Micheal Hall, FRRCD
  • Penny Leinwander, Firewise 
  • Sally McGowan, Firewise
  • Shayna De Silva, Citizen 

Definition: “Green waste” - vegetative material that accumulates on the landscape and requires removal in order to reduce potential negative effects of wildfire. 

Forest biomass refers to vegetative material accumulating in forest environments and requires technical transportation from potentially rugged terrain to a utilization site. Green waste refers to vegetative material accumulating in not only forest environments, but also in residential backyards and smaller acre parcels. 

Goal: Sustainable and economically viable vegetative (biomass) disposal that is of low cost to landowners and that contributes to a forest condition that does not sustain crown fire around communities

 

Identified problems:

  • Lack of affordable green waste disposal methods for residential, small commercial, and public landowners
  • Reduced market demand for biomass materials 
  • Limited biomass utilization options
    • Biomass power utilization cannot often compete with wholesale power rates
  • Burning restrictions on residential and public land 
  • Lack of disposal methods disincentivizes defensible space, hazardous fuel reduction, forest management and can contribute to illegal dumping 
  • Accumulation of biomass contributes to extreme fire behavior and risk to communities

Identified stakeholders:

  • District Manager, SPI
  • Collins Pine
  • The CHY Company
  • Plumas County Solid Waste
  • Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District
  • Waste Management/Feather River Disposal
  • Intermountain Disposal
  • City of Portola - Public Works Director
  • Mayor of Portola
  • Plumas County BOS - District 1
  • Plumas County BOS - District 2
  • Plumas County BOS - District 3
  • Plumas County BOS - District 4
  • Plumas County BOS - District 5
  • AICP, Plumas County Planning
  • Sierra Institute - Stewardship Project Manager
  • Feather River Resource Conservation District
  • Feather River College, Forestry
  • Feather River College, Equine
  • PG&E
  • Plumas National Forest
  • Lassen National Forest
  • Honey Lake Power
  • Sierra Valley Enterprises (Loyalton Biomass)
  • HFR Operators

Current green waste disposal options for Plumas County residents:

  • https://www.plumascounty.us/2416/Green-Waste-Facilities 
  • Chester Landfill (Department of Public Works)
    • Reduced rate 
    • Open Spring & Summer
    • Accepts woody and non-woody green waste 
  • Almanor-Chester Transfer Station (Feather River Disposal - Waste Management)
    • Non-reduced rate
    • Open year round with adjusted winter hours 
    • Accepts woody and non-woody green waste when Chester Landfill is closed
  • Quincy Transfer Station (Feather River Disposal - Waste Management)
    • Non-reduced rate
    • Open year round with adjusted winter hours 
    • Accepts woody and non-woody green waste
  • Graeagle (Intermountain Disposal)
    • Community burn pile 
  • Portola (Intermountain Disposal)

Plumas County BOS, Fee Schedule for residents and commercial businesses self-hauling waste to transfer stations, 2020.

 

Green Waste Working Group Survey results:

  • Survey open from 10/27/21 - 1/24/22 with 174 total responses. Email bethany@plumascorporation.org to view results.​

 

Example Frameworks:
1. Keep Truckee Green (https://www.keeptruckeegreen.org/):

  • First started in 2005, Keep Truckee Green is the Town of Truckee's sustainability, solid waste, and resiliency program.

Truckee Funding overview:

  • Funded through the direct solid waste rate + a monthly administration fee of $4.50 to every parcel which funds programs/events like: compost bins, Christmas tree collection, drop off events, 10x punch cards, green waste carts

Collection:

  • Operates on “event days” - collection only occurs on certain days and is seasonally dependent 
    • May/June weather depending
    • Drop off events (Fairgrounds - Truckee Rodeo Grounds) are in collaboration with Nevada County & local Fire Safe Council 
    • Run an average of 7-10k (?) per day (was unable to give # of vehicles but could pull data another time)
    • Self-service: drop-off your residential yard waste. No dirt, rocks or bags.
    • Free Green Waste Drop Off Events: 2021 example schedule 

8 AM – 2 PM @ Truckee Rodeo Grounds

  1. Friday, May 14
  2. Friday, June 4
  3. Friday, June 25

Free Punch Card Residential Program:

  • Free from May through October at Eastern Regional Landfill.
  • Punch card with 10 free drop-offs
  • Drop-off up to six yards of green waste for free annually. Load, unload and completely empty your bags and materials.
  • Residents will receive an address-specific punch card to track yards dropped off upon first visit to Eastern Regional Landfill. Proof of residency with an ID and a utility bill required for issuance of a punch card. Punch cards are transferable, so you can give this to your contractor or friendly neighbor.

Disposal:

  • Material is transported to a number of places. This is an ongoing challenge with more material.
  • Chipped and sold as yard/garden amendment
  • Brought to landfill for alternative daily cover – least ideal scenario 
  • Pay to dispose of material at compost facilities 
  • Low percentage of material is used for biomass energy

Goals: Keep Truckee Green is currently working with a consultant to evaluate the feasibility of a smaller scale biomass facility in Truckee or Eastern Regional Landfill. Also collaborating with: the Truckee Fire Protection District, Airport District and Town of Truckee. Apparently, this same consultant played a role in establishing the Quincy biomass facility?
Recommendations for Plumas County:

  • Establish an influential ally within the county (should be first priority)
  • Look-out for Cal Fire grants and other grant funding
  • Food waste law SB 1383 (note: rural areas may choose to be exempt)

 

2. Recology Arcata (https://www.cityofarcata.org/294/Food-Yard) (https://www.wesgreencompany.com/services/) 

  • Recology is the City of Arcata’s contracted waste disposal company, similar to Waste Management in Plumas County
  • Disposal service is based on a fee system and other sources of funding are not necessary
  • Green waste disposal requires each household to pay an additional fee on top of regular waste disposal to utilize curbside pick up service (fees for green waste pick up vary)
    • $18.44 per month for landfill waste and an additional $3.48 for recycling 

Collection:

  • Curbside pickup service
  • Recology customers may also drop off 1 cubic yard of green waste 24 times per year for free at Wes Green’s Landscaping business (must show proof of residence and recology bill)
  • For those who are not recology customers, you can drop off green waste at Wes Green Landscaping for $11 per load

Disposal:

  • Wes Green Landscaping re-rells green waste materials as compost, mulch, soil, etc.
  • Green waste collected by Recology is not diverted to biomass utilization facilities as sawmill residue from local timber industry exceeds power needs
  • Most biomass energy is generated from local sawmills 
    • Humboldt Sawmill Company utilizes forest biomass, sawmill residue and urban biomass waste (between 150,000 - 200,000 BDT per year, 28 MWs)
    • DG Fairhaven LLC utilizes forest biomass and sawmill residue to supply power to PG&E (currently idle in operation)

Waste Goals for City of Arcata:

  • Public education regarding waste 
  • City operations will integrate zero waste strategies 
  • Material reuse is priority 
  • Developing a market for material use/reuse is an integral component for economic support 

Recommendations for Plumas County: 

  • Work closely with local government 
  • Find a way to generate revenue 
  • Look for ways to work with local businesses 


3.   Waste Management transfer station drop-off - Pilot Program 

  • Leverage the waste transfer station as a drop off location 
  • Transporting the material to utilization location(s) 
  • Grant funds would be utilized for staff time and transport 
  • Quincy was identified as a pilot location


Identified needs:

  1. Develop strong connection and support from local government
  2. Sorting location
  3. Program of use or disposal for material 
  4. Public education surrounding green waste and reducing fire risks  


Possible Solutions:

  1. Leverage existing resources:
    1. Develop staffed sorting facilities and storage lots that allow mills and local biomass operations to accept green waste material from the public
    2. utilize old mill sites, community spaces, or post-fire converted use areas
    3. Identify County or grant funding to maintain staffing, site security, and address liability
  2. Increase accessibility of burning on private land
    1. Develop local capacity for burning 
    2. Establish multiple small biomass utilization facilities throughout the county
    3. Link local landowners, organizations, and business with resources and funding opportunities to establish biomass facilities
  3. Access regional/state/global markets:
    1. Infrastructure enhancement (rail, trucking, etc) to facilitate the export of biomass from the County
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