Integrated Waste Management

San Benito County’s Integrated Waste Management (IWM) has two essential functions. First, IWM staff manage the Integrated Waste Management Joint Powers Authority for its Regional Agency members, the cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista and the County to meet state waste reduction mandates, protect public health and increase sustainability. Second, IWM manages the county owned landfill and contracted landfill operator to ensure compliance with the landfill agreement, and state and regional requirements.

Regional Agency (226) - The Regional Agency is part of the Integrated Waste Management Department. Our role is to staff and manage the Waste Management Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to meet state mandates for landfill diversion and household hazardous waste for the cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista and the County. Our functions include, but are not limited to, Cal Recycle reporting, budgets, contracts, grant management, school recycling, Green Business and household hazardous waste management/compliance.

Landfill (301) - The John Smith Landfill is owned by the County and operated by a third party contractor Waste Connections, Inc. Waste Connections, Inc. pays the County a franchise fee and in turns charges the public for the disposal of refuse that is brought to the landfill. Integrated Waste Management oversees the landfill operations. We partner with Waste Connections, Inc., and the community to achieve a balance with the goals of maximizing revenues to the County, maintaining sustainable environmental standards, operating in an ethical manner with the public, and adhering to all State, Federal and regional requirements.

The following budget unit information details the two sections found under Integrated Waste Management, a division of the Resource Management Agency. The two sections are divided between two separate enterprise funds outlined below:

• (226) - Regional Agency
• (301) - Landfill

• Hired and trained full-time Staff Services Specialist (under-filling of Recycling Coordinator) to sustain IWM Regional Agency program outreach & resources and customer service support through staff
• Successful, COVID-safe community cleanup events throughout the Regional Agency collecting over 10,000 lbs of littered material in the County
• Successful, COVID-safe reopening of our monthly Household Hazardous Waste Collection events, Quarterly Bulky Item Collection events, and Recology Environmental Day Events. Recology Environmental Day Events which include collection of e-waste, onsite paper shredding, and compost giveaways set new records of attendance in both Regional Agency members, City of Hollister and City of San Juan Bautista. These events ensure proper disposal of hazardous waste, e-waste, and increase our Regional Agency's waste diversion.
• Achieved 40% diversion in franchise agreement programs (increased from 26% in 2018) in partnership with Recology

• Ability to meet state mandates such as SB 1383 - will require increased waste diversion programming and recycling target goals. This will require additional IWM staffing, funding, planning, expertise, and coordination across several departments and our Regional Agency members in FY 21-22 and on.
• Expansion of John Smith Landfill site capacity to take in waste; the landfill is currently near its required capacity
• Develop plans on operating John Smith Landfill and maintain revenue streams until the expansion is completed

• Provide cost-effective diversion programs to meet mandates.
• Draft a Regional Agency Climate Action Plan for comprehensive sustainability program implementation.
• Expansion of John Smith Landfill
• Develop plans on operating John Smith Landfill and maintain revenue streams until the expansion is completed