A Success Story
The Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD), within the San Bernardino County Department of Public Works, has achieved some early success in the implementation of California Senate Bill (SB) 1383 solid waste collection programs. The goal of this bill is to reduce the amount of organic waste disposed in landfills, where it decomposes anaerobically, releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In 2023, SB 1383-compliant collection programs were rolled out in 15 of the 20 County Franchise Areas (CFAs), with another added in 2024. (SWMD has 20 CFA agreements with five different waste haulers to collect waste in San Bernardino County unincorporated communities.) As a result of the new collection programs, the County’s overall diversion rate increased by two percentage points in 2023, from 53% diverted to 55% diverted. While 2024 disposal figures had not been released by the State at time of publication, the County expects the diversion rate in 2024 to have increased yet again as more residents and businesses begin to adopt waste separation practices.
Green Innovation
SOLAR CAPACITY AND PACE OF ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE ADOPTION ARE AREAS OF STRENGTH FOR SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Air Quality
AIR QUALITY TRENDS ARE MIXED FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR, BUT SOME OVERALL IMPROVEMENT
Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste
SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL GROWTH SLOWS; GRADUAL 10-YEAR INCREASE IN HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW) DISPOSAL PARTICIPATION
Stormwater Quality
REPORTS OF POLLUTANT DISCHARGES, FACILITY INSPECTIONS, AND DEFICIENCIES ALL INCREASED IN 2023/24
Water Consumption
AFTER SERVERAL YEARS OF STEADY REDUCTIONS IN WATER USE, USAGE TICKS UP IN 2024