Update: As of January 2020 multiple snowstorms are causing delays. The crew working on this project must wait roughly 2 weeks after a storm for the ground to dry enough to support heavy equipment. As a result, the project is running several weeks behind.
The Problem:
Our “dump” is technically a Medium Volume Transfer Facility, permitted by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. There are rules that we must follow and limits on what we can accept at the
Transfer Site, and our facility is inspected monthly by the Kern County Public Health Services Department.
There have been ongoing issues with “improper dumping” –people putting things in bins and the green waste and manure sites that don’t belong there. Whether it’s broken manure forks and buckets in the manure pile, tree trunks in the green waste, or bulky items and light bulbs in the roll-away bins, it affects all of us.
Repeated violations of these rules put us at risk for losing our permit. If we lose our permit, we lose our Transfer Site.Because curbside pickup is not viable or cost effective for our community, we would have few alternatives to driving our garbage to the Tehachapi Landfill ourselves.
In addition to the risk of losing our permit, we have been paying fees above and beyond our contracted haul-away rates to process the items we’re not supposed to be accepting. This has resulted in a increase in costs to the CSD as tons of “illegal” items have been dumped at our facility each year. Each instance costs us extra, and every instance increases our risk.
The Solution:
Community awareness has been growing, and residents have done a terrific job of reducing “illegal” items. In 2015, over 42 tons of treated wood were improperly disposed of at our facility. In 2018 that was cut in half. Now we’re taking steps to further improve our facility and support your efforts.
These changes will allow us to control and monitor non-resident access, to better help residents determine what can and cannot be accepted, enforce compliance with state requirements, and to increase the safety and efficiency of the facility.
September 2019
- September 6th - Power will be off at the transfer site and storage building for approximately 30 days while the main power cabinet is relocated. Resident Impact: No lighting at the site for the duration of the relocation.
- September 12th - The Board of Directors will finalize the days and hours of operation. Resident Impact:These hours will not take effect until the project is complete.
November 2019
- Construction will begin. Resident Impact: Certain areas will be closed periodically throughout September and October. We will make every effort to give notice of these closures on our District Facebook page.
Project construction phase will take approximately 2 months. (See updates at top of page)
- Construction will begin on the new entrance/exit road located to the west of the facility (outlined in white on the photo above)
- A security camera system will be installed to help monitor the site
Upon Project Completion
- Days and hours of operation will be in place: 8am - 8pm Daily, Closed Monday and Thursday
- Traffic flow will be reversed - the current entrance will become the exit for the household waste / recycling area
- Recycling bins will be available on both sides of the household waste area
- A new Yellow Starthistle burn pit will be installed
- Signs will be placed throughout the site to inform and direct residents
Waste Transfer Station Rules & Penalties
The rule set for our transfer station is outlined in the District Code.
This code is enforced through administrative citations and/or criminal misdemeanor citations.
Authorized Vehicles:
Only vehicles displaying a current Bear Valley CSD windshield decal are permitted to enter the solid waste station. Commercial vehicles (gardening service, etc.) must have a manifest - an invoice specifying what is being disposed and the property that is the source, signed by the homeowner. In no case will commercial vehicles carrying building materials be permitted to enter the solid waste transfer station.
Preparation of Solid Waste:
- Garbage is to be securely wrapped and placed in either a standard container or detachable bin box. Garbage is prohibited from the green waste disposal area or the horse manure disposal area.
- Human excrement, animal excrement (except horse manure) and all types of disposable diapers must be disposed of in a trash bag or sealed container.
- Household ashes must be thoroughly cold by the day of deposit and placed in the ash receptacle provided for by the district
- Green waste may be deposited at the green waste disposal area
- Horse manure may be deposited at the horse manure disposal area. Horse manure may not be deposited at the green waste disposal area nor mixed with other rubbish.
- Hypodermic syringes and needles can be disposed of by placing them within a can or bottle, sealing the can or bottle and identifying the contents on the outside of the container.
Green Waste:
- Branches and limbs under 4" diameter
- Daily disposal limit of one vehicle trip not exceeding three cubic yards of material (approximately the size of one average pickup truck bed)
- Contractors must provide a manifest - an invoice specifying what is being disposed and the property that is the source, signed by the homeowner.
Prohibited Waste
Household Hazardous Waste
Americans generate 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste (HHW) per year. When disposed of improperly, these materials create potential risk to people and the environment. Certain types of HHW have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers, contaminate septic tanks and wastewater treatment systems when poured down drains, and cause a potential risk to environmental and human health.
HHW products include:
- cleaners
- stains & varnishes
- batteries
- automotive fluids
- pesticides & herbicides
- paints
- batteries
- light bulbs
These products may be responsibly disposed of at the monthly Household Hazardous Waste collection event at the Tehachapi Landfill. This takes place on the 1st Saturday of each month from 9am-12pm.
Construction Debris & Building Materials
All solid waste generated by construction or demolition of any structure shall be deposited in the detachable bin box required to be located at the construction site. Such material is prohibited from being transported to the solid waste transfer station or deposited therein. For the purpose of this section, solid waste includes green waste and other debris incident to grading or clearing property for the purpose of construction or demolition.
Large Organic Material
The transfer station is not an appropriate facility for the disposal of dead trees and large material. The site is not large enough to handle the quantity and lacks the ability to segregate large organic material that may be contaminated with pests or other diseases. Additionally, this material adds significant tonnage to the District's disposal numbers, which are subject to certain limits by our permit. Finally, the deposit of large organic material coming from a small percentage of properties unfairly shifts the cost of disposal to other property owners.