Facts About the Mitigated Alternative

Redwood Landfill has been seeking an updated permit for the past nine years. After originally requesting to expand its operations, Redwood has committed to Marin County to adopt an alternate plan that DOES NOT expand daily disposal tonnages, DOES NOT significantly increase total disposal capacity, and DOES allow more recycling.

Key aspects of the Mitigated Alternative include:

• A facility to recycle construction and demolition debris.
• A landfill gas-to-energy project designed to produce 4-5 megawatts of power.
• Reductions in receipts of Class B Biosolids.
• Increased array of accepted recyclable materials for self-haul customers.
• Maintaining current levels of non-hazardous Class III waste.
• Maintaining a similar level of composting, with the addition of food waste composting.

Here are the details.

Essentially No Expansion in Disposal Capacity

Redwood's 1995 Solid Waste Facility permit called for a maximum capacity of 19.1 million cubic yards of disposal, and the approved grading (or fill) plan indicated a total volume of 25 million cubic yards, including disposal and daily cover. In 1998, Redwood's application requested an increase in landfill capacity to 34 million cubic yards (accomplished by flattening the top, not enlarging the landfill footprint or increasing the height). In 2006, at the request of County staff, Redwood committed to implement a Mitigated Alternative - a plan that essentially DOES NOT increase disposal capacity beyond what was shown in the 1995 grading plan.

The permitted capacity for the Mitigated Alternative includes:

• 19.1 million yards of disposal (continuing the existing Solid Waste Facility Permit).
• 5.9 million yards of daily cover during the life of operation (consistent with the grading plan in the existing permit).
• 1 million cubic yards of final cover, which will be placed after the landfill is closed to prepare the property for future recreational or other uses.

The Mitigated Alternative adds approximately nine months of operation time to the 70-year life span of the landfill.

No Increase in Daily Disposal

Under the Mitigated Alternative, waste received for disposal would NOT INCREASE over what can be received today. The Mitigated Alternative includes these ceilings:

• 1290 tons per day of municipal solid waste
• 100 tons per day of Cla>ss B biosolids (sludge), which is similar to the amount of wet Class B biosolids could be disposed under the 1995 Solid Waste Facility Permit (capped at 1 ton biosolids for every 9.5 tons of solid waste disposed)

No Increase in Height or Area

Under the Mitigated Alternative, final height and area covered by waste would NOT INCREASE over what was approved in 1995. The Mitigated Alternative maintains the existing 166-foot height limit.

Once Redwood Landfill and Recycling Center has secured an updated permit, we will be able to implement many programs that reflect Marin County residents' growing concerns regarding waste, recycling, and reuse. Some changes can begin immediately, while others require additional permitting from regulatory agencies.