Article 1 - Solid Waste Facility Permits

California Public Resources Code — §§ 44000.5-44019

Sections (18)

Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 500, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 2009.

(a)With respect only to solid waste disposed of in this state, a person shall not dispose of solid waste, cause solid waste to be disposed of, arrange for the disposal of solid waste, transport solid waste for purposes of disposal, or accept solid waste for disposal, except at a solid waste disposal facility for which a solid waste facilities permit has been issued pursuant to this chapter or as otherwise authorized pursuant to this division and the regulations adopted by the board pursuant to this division.

(b)A violation of this section is an unlawful act.

§ 44001

Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 952, Sec. 15. Effective October 16, 1995.

Any person who proposes to become an operator of a solid waste facility shall file with the enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the facility, or the board if there is no designated and certified enforcement agency, an application for a solid waste facilities permit at least 150 days in advance of the date on which it is desired to commence operation, unless the enforcement agency issues a permit to the applicant to commence operations prior to that time.

§ 44002

Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 448, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2005.

(a)(1) No person shall operate a solid waste facility without a solid waste facilities permit if that facility is required to have a permit pursuant to this division.

(2)The prohibition specified in paragraph (1) includes, but is not limited to, the operation of a solid waste facility without a required solid waste facilities permit or the operation of a solid waste facility outside the permitted boundaries specified in a solid waste facilities permit.

(b)If the enforcement agency determines that a person is operating a solid waste facility in violation of subdivision (a), the enforcement agency shall immediately issue a cease and desist order pursuant to Section 45005 ordering the facility to immediately cease all activities for which a solid waste facilities permit is required and desist from those activities until the person obtains a valid solid waste facilities permit authorizing the activities or has obtained other authorization pursuant to this division.

§ 44003

Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 1292, Sec. 69. Effective January 1, 1993.

When the operator of the disposal site is not the disposal site owner, the disposal site operator’s application for a solid waste facilities permit shall contain any information that the enforcement agency or the board may require regarding the disposal site owner’s interest in the real property utilized as the disposal site.

§ 44004

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 476, Sec. 14. (AB 341) Effective January 1, 2012.

(a)An operator of a solid waste facility shall not make a significant change in the design or operation of the solid waste facility that is not authorized by the existing permit, unless the change is approved by the enforcement agency, the change conforms with this division and all regulations adopted pursuant to this division, and the terms and conditions of the solid waste facilities permit are revised to reflect the change.

(b)If the operator wishes to change the design or operation of the solid waste facility in a manner that is not authorized by the existing permit, the operator shall file an application for revision of the existing solid waste facilities permit with the

enforcement agency. The application shall be filed at least 180 days in advance of the date when the proposed modification is to take place unless the 180-day time period is waived by the enforcement agency.

(c)The enforcement agency shall review the application to determine all of the following:

(1)Whether the change conforms with this division and all regulations adopted pursuant to this division.

(2)Whether the change requires review pursuant to Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000).

(d)Within 60 days from the date of the receipt of the application for a revised permit, the enforcement agency shall inform the operator, and if the enforcement agency is a local enforcement agency, also inform the department, of its determination to do any of

the following:

(1)Allow the change without a revision to the permit.

(2)Allow the following changes without a revision to the permit through a modification to the permit allowed pursuant to regulations developed by the department:

(A)The proposed change is to allow a nondisposal facility to increase the amount of solid waste that it may handle and that increased amount is within the existing design capacity as described in the facility’s transfer processing report and review pursuant to Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000).

(B)The proposed change is to allow a disposal facility to add a nondisposal activity to the facility that will increase the amount of solid waste that may be

handled as described in the facility’s report of facility information and review pursuant to Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000).

(3)Disallow the change because it does not conform with the requirements of this division or the regulations adopted pursuant to this division.

(4)Require a revision of the solid waste facilities permit to allow the change.

(5)Require review under Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) before a decision is made.

(e)The operator has 30 days within which to appeal the decision of the enforcement agency to the hearing panel, as authorized pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 44305) of Chapter 4. The enforcement agency shall provide notice of a hearing held pursuant to

this subdivision in the same manner as notice is provided pursuant to subdivision (h).

(f)Under circumstances that present an immediate danger to the public health and safety or to the environment, as determined by the enforcement agency, the 180-day filing period may be waived.

(g)(1) A permit revision is not required for the temporary suspension of activities at a solid waste facility if the suspension meets either of the following criteria:

(A) The suspension is for the maintenance or minor modifications to a solid waste unit or to solid waste management equipment.

(B) The suspension is for temporarily ceasing the receipt of solid waste at a solid waste management facility and the owner or operator is in compliance with all

other applicable terms and conditions of the solid waste facilities permit and minimum standards adopted by the department.

(2)An owner or operator of a solid waste facility who temporarily suspends operations shall remain subject to the closure and postclosure maintenance requirements of this division and to all other requirements imposed by federal law pertaining to the operation of a solid waste facility.

(3)The enforcement agency may impose any reasonable conditions relating to the maintenance of the solid waste facility, environmental monitoring, and periodic reporting during the period of temporary suspension. The department may also impose any reasonable conditions determined to be necessary to ensure compliance with applicable state standards.

(h)(1) (A) Before

making its determination pursuant to subdivision (d), the enforcement agency shall submit the proposed determination to the department for comment and hold at least one public hearing on the proposed determination. The enforcement agency shall give notice of the hearing pursuant to Section 65091 of the Government Code, except that the notice shall be provided to all owners of real property within a distance other than 300 feet of the real property that is the subject of the hearing, if specified in the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to subdivision (i). The enforcement agency shall also provide notice of the hearing to the department when it submits the proposed determination to the department.

(B) The enforcement agency shall mail or deliver the notice required pursuant to subparagraph (A) at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing to any person who has filed a written request for the notice with a person designated by

the enforcement agency to receive these requests. The enforcement agency may charge a fee to the requester in an amount that is reasonably related to the costs of providing this service and the enforcement agency may require each request to be annually renewed.

(C) The enforcement agency shall consider environmental justice issues when preparing and distributing the notice to ensure that the notice is concise and understandable for limited-English-speaking populations.

(2)If the department comments pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall specify whether the proposed determination is consistent with the regulation adopted pursuant to subdivision (i).

(i)(1) The department shall, to the extent resources are available, adopt regulations that implement subdivision (h) and define the term

“significant change in the design or operation of the solid waste facility that is not authorized by the existing permit.”

(2)While formulating and adopting the regulations required pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall consider recommendations of the Working Group on Environmental Justice and the advisory group made pursuant to Sections 71113 and 71114 and the report required pursuant to Section 71115.

§ 44005

Repealed and added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 952, Sec. 20. Effective October 16, 1995.

(a)Any owner or operator of a solid waste facility who plans to encumber, sell, transfer, or convey the ownership or operations of a solid waste facility or disposal site to a new owner or operator, shall notify the enforcement agency and the board, 45 days prior to the date of the anticipated transfer. The notification shall be in writing and shall include information as determined by the board, including any financial assurances, if applicable.

(b)The enforcement agency and the board shall review the notification documentation and any available records of enforcement actions taken against the proposed transferee, and shall determine, within 30 days of receipt, whether the facility will be operated in compliance with the terms and conditions of an approved permit and any other applicable requirements, including, but not limited to, the requirements of Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000). If the solid waste facility will not be operated in compliance with the terms and conditions of an approved permit, or any other applicable requirements of Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000), the new owner or operator shall be required to file an application for a revised or modified solid waste facilities permit.

(c)If the enforcement agency or the board determines that the facility will be operated in compliance with the terms and conditions of the existing permit, the enforcement agency may change the name of the owner or operator on the permit.

§ 44006

Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 231, Sec. 3.

(a)Each report or application filed under this article shall be submitted under oath or under penalty of perjury.

(b)Each report, notice, or application filed under this article shall be submitted on a form approved by the board.

(c)Each application required to be filed under this article shall be accompanied by a filing fee according to a fee schedule established by the enforcement agency to reflect the cost of processing the application and to recover costs incurred in meeting the requirements of Article 3 (commencing with Section 43500) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 43600) of Chapter 2. This fee is in addition to the fees authorized by Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 41900) of Part 2.

§ 44007

Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1095, Sec. 22.

The enforcement agency shall not issue or revise a solid waste facilities permit unless it has, at least 65 days in advance, provided the board and the applicant with a copy of the proposed permit, which shall contain the terms and conditions the enforcement agency proposes to establish.

§ 44008

Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 952, Sec. 21. Effective October 16, 1995.

(a)A decision to issue or not issue the permit shall be made by the enforcement agency within 120 days from the date that the application is deemed complete pursuant to Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 65920) of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, unless waived by the applicant.

(b)The enforcement agency may only issue the permit pursuant to subdivision (a) if it finds that the proposed solid waste facilities permit is consistent with this division and any regulations adopted by the board pursuant to this division applicable to solid waste facilities.

§ 44009

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1041, Sec. 17. Effective January 1, 1997.

(a)(1) The board shall, in writing, concur or object to the issuance, modification, or revision of any solid waste facilities permit within 60 days from the date of the board’s receipt of any proposed solid waste facilities permit submitted under Section 44007 after consideration of the issues in this section.

(2)If the board determines that the permit is not consistent with the state minimum standards adopted pursuant to Section 43020, or is not consistent with Sections 43040, 43600, 44007, 44010, 44017, 44150, and 44152 or Division 31 (commencing with Section 50000), the board shall object to provisions of the permit and shall submit those objections to the local enforcement agency for its consideration.

(3)If the board fails to concur or object in writing within the 60-day period specified in paragraph (1), the board shall be deemed to have concurred in the issuance of the permit as submitted to it.

(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the board is not required to concur in, or object to, and shall not be deemed to have concurred in, the issuance of a solid waste facilities permit for a disposal facility if the owner or operator is not in compliance with, as determined by the regional water board, an enforcement order issued pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 13300) of Division 7 of the Water Code, or if all of the following conditions exist:

(1)Waste discharge requirements for the disposal facility issued by the applicable regional water board are pending review in a petition before the state water board.

(2)The petition for review of the waste discharge requirements includes a request for a stay of the waste discharge requirements.

(3)The state water board has not taken action on the stay request portion of the pending petition for review of waste discharge requirements.

(c)In objecting to the issuance, modification, or revision of any solid waste facilities permit pursuant to this section, the board shall, based on substantial evidence in the record as to the matter before the board, state its reasons for objecting. The board shall not object to the issuance, modification, or revision of any solid waste facilities permit unless the board finds that the permit is not consistent with the state minimum standards adopted pursuant to Section 43020, or is not consistent with Section 43040, 43600, 44007, 44010, 44017, 44150, or 44152 or Division 31 (commencing with Section 50000).

(d)Nothing in this section is intended to require that a solid waste facility obtain a waste discharge permit from a regional water board prior to obtaining a solid waste facilities permit.

§ 44010

Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1095, Sec. 22.

The enforcement agency shall issue the permit only if it finds that the proposed solid waste facilities permit is consistent with the standards adopted by the board.

§ 44012

Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 509, Sec. 5. (AB 1398) Effective January 1, 2014.

(a)When issuing or revising a solid waste facilities permit, the enforcement agency shall ensure that primary consideration is given to protecting public health and safety and preventing environmental damage, and that the long-term protection of the environment is the guiding

criterion.

(b)When issuing or revising a solid waste facilities permit, an enforcement agency may impose those terms and conditions on a solid waste facilities permit that it deems necessary and appropriate to govern the design and operation of the solid waste facility, for purposes of implementing the requirements of subdivision (a).

(c)The terms

and conditions of the solid waste facilities permit

imposed by an enforcement agency pursuant to this section shall be

consistent with the enforcement policy adopted pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 43209 and shall be consistent with this division.

§ 44014

Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 952, Sec. 25. Effective October 16, 1995.

(a)Upon compliance with Sections 44007, 44008, and 44009, and after any necessary hearing, the local enforcement agency shall issue, modify, or revise a solid waste facilities permit if the board has concurred in that issuance, modification, or revision of the permit pursuant to Section 44009.

(b)The permit shall contain all terms and conditions which the enforcement agency determines to be appropriate for the operation of the solid waste facility. The operator shall comply with all terms and conditions of the permit.

(c)Within 15 days of issuing, modifying, or revising a solid waste facilities permit, the enforcement agency shall transmit to the permittee a copy of the solid waste facilities permit.

§ 44015

Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 448, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.

A solid waste facilities permit issued or revised under this chapter shall be reviewed and, if necessary, revised at least once every five years.

§ 44016

Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 952, Sec. 27. Effective October 16, 1995.

(a)The enforcement agency may, in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 44300), suspend or revoke the permit of any solid waste facility designed to convert solid waste from offsite sources into energy or synthetic fuels if the facility utilizes recyclable materials for conversion to energy and if the local agency in whose jurisdiction the materials are collected requires, by ordinance, contract, or otherwise, that recyclable materials within the jurisdiction of that local agency be converted into energy at that facility. This subdivision does not otherwise restrict the ability of a solid waste facility to purchase, collect, transport, or process recyclable materials.

(b)As used in this section, “local agency” means any county, city, or district authorized to collect, dispose, or collect and dispose of solid waste, or any joint powers authority formed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code which is authorized to construct and operate a facility for the conversion of solid waste into energy, synthetic fuel, or reusable materials.

(c)As used in this section, “recyclable materials” means discarded paper, glass, cardboard, plastic, ferrous metal, or aluminum which has been segregated from other solid waste materials for the purpose of reuse or recycling, except that recyclable materials do not include materials which a local agency, having jurisdiction over the locations where these materials exist, determines could be potentially harmful to the public health, or materials which create a public nuisance, as defined in Section 3480 of the Civil Code.

§ 44017

Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 952, Sec. 28. Effective October 16, 1995.

The enforcement agency shall include, in the permit of any solid waste facility designed to convert solid waste into energy or synthetic fuels, a provision which requires the use of operating procedures at the facility to prevent hazardous waste from entering the conversion process.

§ 44018

Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 952, Sec. 29. Effective October 16, 1995.

The board shall establish, by regulation, a program to be implemented by the board and by local enforcement agencies that provides for the expedited review of permits issued pursuant to this article. The program shall be designed to reduce unnecessary delay in the issuance of these permits and to protect the public health and safety and the environment.

§ 44019

Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 651, Sec. 1. (SB 279) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)For purposes of this section, all of the following shall apply:

(1)“Agricultural byproduct material” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (4.5) of subdivision (a) of Section 17852 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.

(2)“Agricultural facility” means an area where land is actively used for agricultural operations and includes related commercial activities and structures

necessary for these operations if they are consistent with accepted practices and local zoning.

(3)“Agricultural material” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 17852 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.

(4)“Large-scale biomass management event” includes, but is not limited to, the removal of a whole orchard or vineyard.

(5)“Manure” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (25) of subdivision (a) of Section 17852 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.

(b)The following

activities are excluded activities for purposes of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 17855 of Title 14 of the California Code of

Regulations:

(1)(A) Composting green material, agricultural material, food material, and vegetative food material activities, alone or in combination, if the total amount of feedstock and compost onsite at any one time does not exceed

either of the following:

(i)200 cubic yards.

(ii) 500 cubic yards for a composting activity owned by a public agency. For the purposes of this subparagraph, “public agency” means a city, county, city and county, including a charter city or charter county, special district, joint powers authority, state agency, or federal agency.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the department may increase, by regulation, the total amount of feedstock and compost a composting activity may have

onsite as an excluded activity.

(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (C), the composting of agricultural materials and residues that are from a large-scale biomass management event at an agricultural facility that does not otherwise operate as a solid waste facility. Materials or residues from a large-scale biomass management event do not include whole or partial animal carcasses or animal byproducts other than manure.

(B)(i) The excluded activity described in subparagraph (A) may

include acquiring and using agricultural materials, agricultural byproduct materials, and manure from an agricultural facility to blend with the onsite agricultural materials and residues resulting from a large-scale biomass management event. Offsite material shall not include whole or partial animal carcasses or animal byproducts other than manure.

(ii) An entity that acquires and uses agricultural materials, agricultural byproduct materials, or manure pursuant to clause (i) shall

maintain records identifying the origin of the material or manure for a minimum of five years and present those records to enforcement agencies upon request.

(C)The excluded activity described in this paragraph may be excluded activity for purposes of Section 17855 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations not more than once every 10 years and the composting of materials shall not exceed 24 months.

(c)Persons handling compostable material under the exclusions described in subdivision

(b)are obligated to obtain all permits, licenses, or other clearances that may be required by other regulatory agencies including, but not limited to, local health entities and local land use authorities.

(d)(1) A composting activity may give away or sell up to 5,000 cubic yards of compost product annually for purposes of both of the following:

(A) Paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 17855 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.

(B) Subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 17856 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.

(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the department may increase, by regulation, the amount a composting activity may give away or sell when the composting is of agricultural materials and residues that are from a large-scale biomass management event at an agricultural facility pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision

(a).