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County reports higher trash hauling, begins regional landfill study; state meeting set on food composting request
Summary
Los Alamos County staff reported February diversion and hauling changes at the Environmental Sustainability Board meeting and said the county has started a regional landfill feasibility study after beginning to haul waste to Valencia Landfill; staff also said the state requested a meeting on the county's food composting request.
County staff presented residential sustainability metrics and recent program updates at the Environmental Sustainability Board meeting on March 20, reporting an 18% diversion rate for February and noting a 20% increase in trash compared with the prior year.
Helga (county staff) said recycling rose 2% while trash rose 20% year-over-year and attributed part of the change to the county's recent decision to begin hauling some waste to Valencia Landfill, which adds distance to the county's hauling routes. "We started in January hauling waste to Valencia Landfill," Helga said, noting the new route adds roughly 20 to 30 miles depending on the facility and has operational impacts. Environmental Services has kicked off a regional feasibility study to explore alternatives in coordination with nearby jurisdictions.
Staff also reported work to support defensible-space brush collection ahead of fire season and said the county is exploring ways to provide energy audits in compliance with anti-donation rules. On organics and food-composting, staff said the state requested a meeting about the county's composting request; Helga described that outreach as a positive step. No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff said more details will be provided as studies and state discussions progress.
