CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake continues to increase its refuse diversion rate, exceeding per capita expectations mandated by the state.

Julie Price of Clearlake Waste Solutions delivered the company's annual report to the Clearlake City Council last week, commending residents of the city and city staff for reaching a waste diversion rate of 71 percent in 2013, which well exceeds the 50 percent mandated by the state.

For the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery – known more commonly as CalRecycle – the most important number is the per capita disposal rate, measured in pounds per person per day, or ppd, Price said. The city's target rate is 4.3 ppd.

In 2007, the city was noncompliant with AB 939, which called for a 50-percent increase in diversion by 2000, with a per capita disposal rate of 5.4 ppd.

Price said while the city gained compliance with AB 939 in 2009 with a rate of 3.7 ppd, its per capita disposal rate continues to significantly decline and in 2013 reached 2.5 ppd.

“The numbers are just amazing,” she said. “I am commending the staff and, really, all of the residents of the city.”

Price highlighted ongoing waste reduction programs aimed at increasing diversion and other Clearlake Waste Solutions activities in 2014.

She said for the third year the company provided a bulky item collection program, which she said resulted in the collection of 190 items from 131 households.

Efforts to inform customers of the available service continue. Price attributed the year's increase in collection results to those education efforts.

Clearlake Waste Solutions participated in the city's annual citywide cleanup day in May 2014. Price said approximately 70 cubic yards of garbage was collected.

That included a number of bulky items such as couches, mattresses and a floating dock that were delivered to the landfill, Price said. About 200 tires also were collected for proper disposal.

Price said the city's third annual e-waste collection event was held simultaneously, filling two six-cubic yard bins, twice what was collected the previous year.

Clearlake Waste Solutions also hosted informational booths at a number of community events such as the Lake County Fair, the Kelseyville Pear Festival and Yuba College's Earth Day celebration, Price said.

Additionally, she said in-kind services and donations were made to the warming center, Highlands Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, Lakeshore Lions Club, Superhero Day, Spirits of the Loch, Clearlake Hazmobile and Lake County Pride Foundation's Power to the Youth event.

Price said three new programs have been added to the refuse system.

As of May 2014, household paint disposal is available free of charge during regular operating hours at the Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake and at the Lake County Waste Solutions Transfer Station in Lakeport, Price reported.

She said the service eliminates residents' need to wait for a Hazmobile event to dispose of unwanted paint.

In September 2014, a sharps disposal program, sponsored by the county of Lake, was implemented, Price said. Free disposal is available at the Eastlake Landfill and the transfer station. Sharps must be in approved containers, which are available at local pharmacies.

Price said the county has contracted with South Lake Refuse to assume the duties of the household hazardous waste collection in lieu of the Hazmobile beginning this June.

She said the new program will result in monthly collection opportunities, alternating locations between Eastlake and the transfer station.

Price said the new program is intended to provide consistency that should be less confusing and more convenient for all residents in Lake County.

She said it also will increase the number of collection events in Clearlake from four to six per year.

Price said while actual diversion rate numbers for 2014 will not be available from CalRecycle until July, she expects those numbers to be well within compliance.

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