Madera County Solid Waste Management Study

March 2024 Update: The Solid Waste Management Study is Complete!

With sincere thanks to all who contributed time, input, and feedback, we are proud to announce that the Solid Waste Management Study is complete!

Learn More About the Final Study at Our Community Meetings

The Madera County Public Works Department will hold two community meetings to present and answer questions about the final Solid Waste Management Study and the resulting recommendations. Meeting information for in-person and virtual attendance is provided below.

Valley Area Community Meeting

When: Monday April 1, 2024 from 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Where: Hybrid

  • In-Person: Madera Ranchos Library | 37398 Berkshire Dr, Madera, CA 93636

  • Virtual: Use this meeting link or dial in using your phone at (872) 240-3311 using the access code: 442-401-621

Mountain Area Community Meeting

When: Wednesday April 3, 2024 from 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Where: Hybrid

  • In-Person: Oakhurst Elementary School | 49495 Road 427, Oakhurst, CA 93644

  • Virtual: Use this meeting link or dial in using your phone at (571) 317-3112 using the access code: 557-729-525

Legacy Study Information Below:

Imagine the paper coffee cup you recycled this morning, that tissue you discarded after using it, the spring cleaning items you threw away. Those became part of the solid waste management program Madera County handles daily to keep you, your family, and your community clean and healthy. That solid waste program is required by code, providing incorporated and unincorporated areas in the county solid waste handling opportunities.

Is it working well? Can it be improved? How must it adjust to remain in compliance with state regulations?

Good questions.

Madera County is conducting a solid waste management study to help us identify solid waste management options that support and align with our community values while complying with state regulations.

The Study

A solid waste management study aims to identify ways to improve the solid waste system in a manner that is consistent with community goals and in compliance with state regulations. These studies can include an analysis of current waste management practices, identification of alternative methods, and an assessment of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of different waste management options.

To achieve the intended goals of our solid waste management study, we’re working with a consultant, Raftelis, who has broad experience helping local governments across the nation conduct planning studies that help them implement effective and sustainable solid waste management programs.

Madera County’s solid waste management study began in early 2023 and will take place until late this summer. This timeline will ensure we have time to gather comprehensive input from the community, identify what works among our neighboring counties, and come away with solid waste program recommendations to meet the service needs of Madera County communities while complying with state regulations.

Read Our Preliminary Findings

We hosted two Open Houses in July and invited residents, businesses, community groups, and others to participate. These events provided an opportunity for community members to learn about and provide feedback on preliminary findings prior to finalizing the study. 

Learn about what we discussed here.

Keep Up with the Study

Interested in learning more about the Madera County Solid Waste Management study? In the coming months, there will be opportunities to ask questions and share your thoughts in person. Sign up for our email list to make sure you receive updates about upcoming community events.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A solid waste management study aims to identify ways to improve the solid waste system in a manner that is consistent with community goals and regulations. These studies can include an analysis of current waste management practices, identification of alternative methods, and an assessment of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of different waste management options.

    At the end of the study, our consultant will provide us with solid waste management program recommendations that align with community values and meet the program’s legal, financial, and operational needs.

  • Madera County is conducting this study to identify ways to update, modify, or revamp its solid waste management program in a manner that complies with state law and aligns with community values.

    To comply with recently implemented state regulations under SB1383, Madera County is identifying a way to incorporate organics into its solid waste program. The County is exploring how this new waste stream may be included in the program without becoming a financial burden to those the program serves.

    While exploring how to effectively incorporate organics into the solid waste management program, the County is also identifying ways to align a new program with the values of the community. The study is weighing several community priorities, including cost-of-service and level-of-service, to ensure the recommendations produced from the study align with Madera County communities’ values as closely as possible.

  • The management of solid waste impacts everyone living in Madera County. It’s what keeps trash out of neighborhoods, helps residents meet climate goals, and keeps our communities sanitary. Whether you’re a realtor who deals with property values, or someone who cares deeply about environmental impact, this program has immense impacts for residents and businesses across the board.

  • The solid waste management program dictates how Madera County handles your waste. Waste can be taken care of in a variety of forms, including recycling and garbage. To get that waste from a residence or business, to a facility, and then to a final destination, there are several facilities and processes that need to be managed.

    Right now, Madera County’s Solid Waste program covers the various elements of trash disposal, collection, and recycling. These services ensure the health and welfare of the public in unincorporated areas of Madera County. The components of the County’s current solid waste program include, but are not limited to:

    • Waste disposal facilities for anyone who would like to self-haul

    • Non-mandatory residential and commercial trash collection services

    • Recycling services

    • Special waste collection and clean-up events

    After the solid waste management study is complete, recommendations will be presented that may change the way these services are provided to better align with what the community needs, and better comply with state regulations.

  • Senate Bill 1383

    California law (SB 1383, Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) targets a 50% reduction in the landfilling of organic waste in 2022. By 2025, that reduction target is 75%. Some communities already have curbside organics collection services—including food waste collection. Some communities will need to implement organics collection programs to meet these goals, and yet other communities with the specific population densities have or will receive exemptions.

    While it might sound simple, incorporating a new waste stream like organics and food waste into the program actually requires several new operational elements, including monitoring, reporting, and staffing. Each of these steps needs to be funded to work.

    Madera County’s solid waste management study will identify ways for us to better incorporate organics collection and disposal into a solid waste program.

    The Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling Law (AB 1826)

    Law AB 1826 requires businesses and multi-family residential dwellings (5 or more units) to have an organics recycling program.

    In this case, organics are defined as food waste, landscape and pruning waste, food-soiled paper waste, and nonhazardous wood waste.

    To learn more about this law and the resources already available, visit the Madera County website.

  • The solid waste management study follows several steps to ensure the recommended program alternatives it provides at the end align with community needs, values, and state regulations. Over the course of the solid waste study we will gather information in several ways:

    • Stakeholder input – We’re gathering information from community members to better understand your values

    • Analysis of the existing operations – The consultant is auditing our existing operations to help find any space for new practices or approaches to meet regulations

    • Solid waste benchmarking – The study takes a comprehensive look at what Madera County’s neighboring communities are doing. This will help identify possible ideas, develop a better understanding of what might work, and some gain insights into other communities similar to Madera County.

    • Options and assessments – The study analyze several different recommendations and options to help determine which path most aligns with the financial and operational needs of the program and the community’s values.

    The solid waste management study follows these steps closely to ensure we understand all the options and account for all the necessary components of a successful solid waste management program. By collecting community input, analyzing our existing operations, and benchmarking, the consultant will make recommendations for the county to consider.

  • You can contact the solid waste management program team with any questions at solidwaste@maderacounty.com.

  • You can contact the study team with any questions at solidwastestudy@maderacounty.com.

Resources

Madera County uses two solid waste disposal contractors for waste collection services—Red Rock and Emadco. To learn which service area you live in visit our solid waste management webpage.