Enforcement Issues Hamper San Diego C&D Recycling Laws

San Diego has had a construction and demolition debris recycling ordinance in place for nearly two years, but financial issues have prevented proper enforcement, according to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune.

According to the report, a similar ordinance could be heading for a city council vote later this year, spurred by a committee’s recommendation that that city must act quickly to preserve space in the Miramar Landfill, the same reason the council supported the original ordinance in 2005.

Mayor Jerry Sanders has also decided against a proposed facility at Miramar that would divert about 289,000 tons of C&D material per year from the landfill. The facility was supposed to trigger the initial mandate, according to the report. Earlier this month, the mayor’s staff said the facility and related mandate are not currently needed, although C&D debris makes up more than one-third of the material disposed at Miramar.

According to the report, the city has hired a consultant to help improve waste management.