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The City of San Diego
Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) |
Mission Statement
To protect public health, safety and the environment by ensuring
safe and proper solid waste management practices through
the enforcement of federal, state, and local laws and regulations
within the jurisdiction
of the City of San Diego.
Overview of LEA
State law (Public
Resources Code) requires that every local jurisdiction
designate a solid waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA)
that is certified by the Department of Resources
Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)* to enforce
federal and state laws and regulations for the safe and
proper handling of solid waste.
*formerly known as the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) |
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| Solid waste includes household trash and garbage, construction
debris, commercial refuse, sludge, ash, discarded appliances and vehicles,
manure, landscape clippings, and other discarded wastes. A city can become their own LEA if they have an active facility
within their jurisdiction; a city can designate the county as their
LEA; or CalRecycle may act as the enforcement agency. |
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Before 1997, the City contracted with the County
Department of Environmental Health to provide LEA services. On
July 29, 1997, the City Council passed a resolution withdrawing
designation of the County and authorized the City Manager to seek
State certification
as the LEA for the City. Consequently, on November
19, 1997, the City of San Diego, Development Services Department
was issued temporary certification by CalRecycle. Upon completion
of specific requirements CalRecycle granted full certification status
to the LEA on August 26, 1999.
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| The City of San Diego disposes of more than 1.9 million
tons of solid waste (trash) annually. To ensure regulatory compliance,
the LEA administers a permitting and inspection program that oversees
more than 60 solid waste sites and operations within the City. These
include two active landfills (Sycamore and West Miramar), nine waste
transfer facilities, five composting facilities, two permitted waste
tire facilities, twenty-one permitted refuse haulers with 520 refuse
collection trucks and eleven locations within the City, and over 29
closed, inactive, or abandoned disposal sites. |
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The LEA also investigates complaints of illegal disposal
of solid waste and evaluates historic waste disposal sites (including
old trash burn dumps) to address potential public health, safety,
and environmental concerns.
Staff of the LEA currently consists of a Program Manager, two Solid
Waste Inspector III’s (Environmental Health Specialists), one Solid Waste Inspector II (Environmental
Health Specialist Trainee),
one Assistant Management Analyst (part-time), one Management Intern (part-time), and one Clerical Support
position. |
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