1. County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Works
October 5, 2013
A Sustainable Solid Waste System
California Contract Cities Association
Annual Fall Seminar

2. 2
Overview
• Role of Public Works
• Where We Are Today
• Long Term Strategy
• Closure of Puente Hills Landfill
• Next Steps
County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works

3. Role of the Department of Public Works
3Public Works, Environmental Programs Division
• Advise Board of Supervisors on
Waste Management Issues
• Implement Waste Reduction
Programs
• Prepare Disposal Capacity
Planning documents
• Assist with Permitting of Solid
Waste Facilities

4. Solid Waste Quantities in LA County
4
= +
Amount of trash
generated
Amount of trash
diverted
Amount of trash
disposed of
• 22 million tons per year
(equivalent to filling the
Rose Bowl 88 times)
• 4,300 lbs per person
per year
• 13 million tons per
year
• 2,600 lbs per
person per year
• 9 million tons per
year
• 1,700 lbs per
person per year
Public Works, Environmental Programs Division

5. Waste Management Paradigm
5Public Works, Environmental Programs Division

6. • Describes how the County and Cities plan to manage
the disposal of solid waste for 15-years.
• Establishes criteria for siting disposal facilities.
6Public Works, Environmental Programs Division
Long-Term Strategy
Countywide Siting Element
• AB 939 requires each County
to prepare a siting element.

7. Status-Quo Scenario
7
• No increases in
diversion rate
• No increases in out-of-
County capacity
• No conversion
technology facilities
(only waste-to-energy)
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
TonsperDay
In-CountyLandfillCapacity
Out-of-CountyCapacity
Waste-to-Energy
Diversion
Shortfall
Public Works, Environmental Programs Division
Reliance on existing
disposal capacity
alone is insufficient
to meet long-term
needs.

8. Sustainable Strategy
8
• Increase diversion
to 75%
• In-County landfill
expansions
• Conversion technology
is operational
• Waste-by-rail is
operational
Public Works, Environmental Programs Division
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
TonsperDay
Waste-to-Energy&Conversion
In-CountyLandfillCapacity
Diversion

9. Long-Term Strategy
Conversion Technologies (CT)
Environmental
• Reduce air
emissions
• Divert from
Landfills
• Increase recovery
of materials
Economic
• Produce energy
and biofuels
• Create green
collar jobs
Community
• Reduce truck
traffic
• Provide local
options for waste
management
Public Works, Environmental Programs Division 9

10. Long-Term Strategy
Conversion Technologies (CT)
 Assisted jurisdictions and private
companies with project development.
 Build coalition of cities and state
agencies in support of CTs.
 Sponsor CT legislation: SB 804 (D-Lara)
Public Works, Environmental Programs Division 10

11. Closure of Puente Hills Landfill
Public Works, Environmental Programs Division 11
• Closure has been accounted for
in long-term projections.
• Anticipate higher costs due to
tighter disposal market.
• Waste-by-Rail System aids in
providing long-term security.

12. Next Steps
Countywide Siting Element
Tentative Milestones
• Disseminate CEQA document (2014)
• Adoption by cities, and County Board
of Supervisors (2015)
• Approval by CalRecycle (2016)
12

13. 13Public Works, Environmental Programs Division
Thank you
www.CleanLA.com
1 (888) CLEAN LA
Emiko Thompson
Senior Civil Engineer
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Works
Environmental Programs Division
ethomp@dpw.lacounty.gov