Date: January 5, 2021
To: The Honorable Moke Simon, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Lars Ewing, Public Services Director
Subject: Discussion of Changes to State Management Standards for Treated Wood Waste and Direction to Staff for Future Efforts
Background
Wood that has been preserved with chemicals for protection against pests and environmental conditions is called treated wood. Most commonly the wood is pressure-treated, though there are other treatment methods such as brushing, dipping or soaking. Typically treated wood is used in exterior applications where ground or water contact is likely; treated wood products include items such as fence posts, railroad ties, utility poles, landscape timbers, pilings, docks, piers, guardrail posts, decking, and lumber for numerous structural applications. When treated wood has reached the end of its service life it is considered treated wood waste (TWW) and is subject to California hazardous waste control laws for generators, transportation, and disposal.
State Statute and Regulations
In recognition that a variety of households and businesses statewide (e.g., retail stores, agricultural and industrial facilities, and numerous construction trades) generate, handle, and manage treated wood waste, in 2007 the legislature enacted HSC 25150.7 to provide for a streamlined alternative management standard for TWW. Through the regulations the general community was provided a mechanism by which they could be in compliance with the law in place of the general hazardous waste control laws. In short, the cradle-to-grave (from point of generation until final disposal) alternative management standards lessen storage requirements, extend accumulation periods, allow shipments without a hazardous waste manifest or a hazardous waste hauler, and allow disposal at specific non-hazardous waste landfills with a composite liner. The County's Eastlake Sanitary Landfill has such a liner, which provides a local TWW disposal ...
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