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Elsmere Canyon Final Draft Page 6
May, 1984

eight more being currently proposed. Table 1 is a list of the existing stations with
I the approximate volume of waste handled in 1982-83. The new transfer stations are

listed under Table 2, Proposed Facilities Designated in the Draft Los Angeles
County Solid Waste Management Plan Triennal Update.

RESOURCE RECOVERY AS AN ALTERNATIVE
One of the most significant improvements in solid waste management would be
,I utilization of resource recovery facilities to reduce the volume of much of this
waste material. One estimate shows that about 60% of the waste generated in this
! county is combustible. If that is the case, resource recovery facilities could handle
I more than 27,000 tons of waste per day in the year 2000.

I Many communities have seen that solid waste disposal is a growing and continuing
problem. There are currently at least 11 resource recovery projects being planned

I within Los Angeles County. Plans for these facilities range from conceptual to
detailed design. However, no facility is currently under construction in the county.
Resource recovery can be a technology that can dispose of refuse close to its
I source of generation given that environmental impacts can be mitigated and

economic conditions are favorable. Some of the proposed projects are very close to
I resolving the economic and other impediments to implementation. As the disposal

problem gets worse, we expect even greater interest in resource recovery from
I many of the cities in the County. Over the next 5-10 years it is expected that

these facilities· will absorb some of the landfill shortfall.
I

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN
The County has committed to solve the refuse disposal problem through the County
I Solid Waste Management Plan. The plan covers a 20-year planning period, during

which a 10-year reserve disposal capacity is to be maintained. The reserve
capacity is estimated at 80 million tons of additional capacity (equivalent to a

current 10-year capacity). According to the Los Angeles County staff the current
existing permitted capacity of landfills located in the county is 165 million tons.
For the 20-year planning period, the county staff has estimated that 195 million
tons of capacity are needed, based on projected waste quantities and an eventual

. split of 50 % resource recovery and 50 % landfilling. The current landfill capacity
shortfall is estimated by county staff to be 110 million tons (195+80-165=110).

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