8.2 Conditions Assessment

We must respond immediately to climate change and our actions must be bold.Introduction Chapter 8: Miscellaneous Waste Streams | Conditions Assessment

Pierce County and the City of Tacoma currently have no bans on materials landfills are permitted to accept. In Pierce County, miscellaneous wastes are regulated by both the State Department of Ecology and the TPCHD. Ecology is responsible for enforcing hazardous waste regulations in Washington. In most cases, generators or transporters of miscellaneous wastes will work with TPCHD. TPCHD has regulatory and review processes to ensure a proper characterization of the materials has been performed, and that the material is acceptable for disposal as MSW at Pierce County facilities. This process is part of the Waste Disposal Authorization (WDA) program. The WDA program is codified in TPCHD regulations and in the operating permits of the solid waste facilities in Pierce County. The majority of the wastes allowed by the WDA program in Pierce County go to the LRI landfill. Examples of wastes that are considered miscellaneous waste are listed at right.

A complete list of small, medium, and large quantity waste generators is provided in Appendix L.

Industrial Process Waste or Sludge

Sludge is generally defined as “a semi-solid substance consisting of settled sewage solids, combined with varying amounts of water and dissolved materials generated from a wastewater treatment plant or other industrial source.” Industrial process waste includes materials that have similar physical properties to sewage sludge, but may contain inorganic chemicals that result from a specific industrial process. Industrial process waste in Pierce County typically comes from large quantity generators and includes paper and mill wastes, boiler ash, gypsum and other building material wastes (distinct from construction and demolition debris), metals and paints. This material is regulated as solid waste and generally disposed of in the LRI landfill. Ash from MSW incineration is regulated under RCW 70A.315 and WAC 173-306 in Washington. A specific example of industrial process waste handling in Pierce County is Kleen Industrial Services, which finds long-term sustainable alternatives to landfilling these materials for generators and endusers of industrial abrasives.

C&D – Construction and Demolition Debris

Construction and demolition wastes (often referred to as “C&D”) are generally defined as “waste building materials and rubble, resulting from construction, remodeling, repair and demolition operations on houses, commercial buildings, pavements and other structures,” and are generated primarily during residential and non-residential development, redevelopment and remodeling. The C&D waste sub stream is made up of similar materials that come from two distinct but related activities. Remodeling and repair work generate both types of wastes, often mixed together. Overall, C&D wastes include items such as plasterboard, cement, dirt, wood, brush, concrete, rubble, fiberglass, asphalt, bricks, block foam, wallboard, and other building materials. Pierce County has several major C&D waste handlers, including two facilities operated by DTG, Alpine Recycling, Miles Resources (for asphalt shingles), and several inert waste landfills that accept concrete and fill dirt. Pierce County is not involved in the rate setting for these C&D disposal options. Countywide, C&D wastes comprise nearly 15% of the total waste stream as of 2019. The C&D waste recycling industry includes organizations that seek to capture and repurpose a portion of this material, including reclaiming and recycling materials such as asphalt, concrete, wood and metal, as well as repurposing and salvaging fixtures. Pierce County has identified the C&D waste stream as an opportunity to further reduce GHG emissions.

Auto Shredder Residue (ASR)

Auto shredder residue (ASR), or “auto fluff,” is generally defined as the lightweight material left over after vehicles are shredded and most of all metals are removed. ASR consists of glass, fiber, rubber, automobile liquids, plastics and dirt. Vehicle hulks are not specifically defined in WAC 173-350. ASR often contains hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium, and PCBs. Metal is magnetically separated from ASR in the shredding process before being treated with chemical binders to contain hazardous substances. The material is not recyclable, but qualifies as miscellaneous waste and is accepted for disposal post-treatment, where it is often used as cover material at the landfill. Schnitzer’s facility in Tacoma includes an auto body shredder, whose metal recycling operation results in ASR material.

White Goods/Appliances

Large household appliances, also known as “white goods,” include washing machines, water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves, refrigerators and freezers. White goods are easily recycled for their metal value after an appliance has been stripped of insulation, plastic, glass, nonferrous metals, lubricants, refrigerants, and other contaminants. Most of the materials in white goods are recyclable, but environmentally threatening components, such as PCB-contaminated capacitors in older appliances, mercury-containing switches and oilfilled compressors, or refrigerants in refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners require treatment prior to disposal. White goods are accepted at Pierce County transfer stations and recycling centers, at some retailers and by junk haulers. White goods are typically recycled at specialty recyclers, including some of the same shredder and recycling facilities that handle automobiles (such as Schnitzer and Simon Metals). Plastic and other non-recyclable components are disposed of in a similar manner to ASR, although they are potentially less toxic and require different levels of treatment prior to disposal.

We must respond immediately to climate change and our actions must be bold.Introduction Chapter 8: Miscellaneous Waste Streams | Conditions Assessment

Street Sweeping and Vactor Wastes

Vactor wastes or catch basin wastes are collected through private collection contractors and local municipal jurisdictions. Street sweeping wastes are collected primarily through local municipal jurisdictions. The material consists of soils, gravel, organic material and various solid wastes such as cigarette butts, paper and beverage containers. The soils and organic material are generally contaminated by hydrocarbons and very similar to contaminated soils (but contain more organic material and litter). This waste stream is not appropriate for an inert waste landfill but can go to a landfill. There are several permitted facilities throughout Pierce County, including municipal and private operators of street sweeping and vactor equipment.

Tires

“Waste tires” are “tires that are no longer suitable for their original intended purpose because of wear, damage or defect” (RCW 70A.205). WAC 173-350-350 governs waste tire storage and requires a solid waste permit for facilities that store more than 800 waste tires or over 20 tons of heavy equipment tires. Waste tires are regulated to limit pest vectors (such as mosquitoes) and to prevent tire fires. Pierce County has one regulated tire disposal facility, L&S Tire Company. Recycled tires are used as fuel, construction material, and in other re-use applications. As of December 2021, TPCHD had only one open complaint on a tire pile in Pierce County. For statewide tire disposal information, visit Ecology’s waste tire page.

Asbestos

Asbestos is the commercial term for a group of highly fibrous minerals that readily separate into long thin microscopic fibers. The fibers are heat resistant and chemically inert and possess a high electric thermal insulation quality. As a result, asbestos was used when a noncombustible, non-conducting or chemically resistant material was required. However, the fibers are a carcinogenic air pollutant when inhaled, so use was widely restricted by the EPA in the late-1980’s. Friable asbestos is regulated in Washington under WAC 173-350. Both residential and commercial sources of asbestos are regulated by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA). When handling follows PSCAA rules, asbestos may be landfilled. Asbestos is accepted in a manner that complies with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 61, Subpart M, and WAC 173-303-395. Customers requesting approval for asbestos disposal must provide LRI with a completed special waste application, a waste shipment record, and additional documentation as needed for review. Accepted applicants contact the landfill to make special delivery arrangements.

We must respond immediately to climate change and our actions must be bold.Introduction Chapter 8: Miscellaneous Waste Streams | Conditions Assessment

Biomedical Wastes: Medical waste consists of both infectious and non-infectious wastes generated by hospitals, laboratories, medical, dental and veterinary clinics. Residential users of syringes and home health care also generate medical waste. Non-infectious medical waste requires no special treatment and is part of the regular municipal solid waste stream. Approximately 5-15 percent of the medical waste stream, from clinical settings, is considered infectious.

Infectious or biomedical wastes contain pathogens or other biologically active materials in enough concentration that exposure to the waste creates a significant risk of disease to humans. Infectious wastes include cultures, laboratory waste, needles and other sharps; human and animal blood, tissue, and body parts. These wastes require special handling and disposal practices to protect the health and safety of both medical and solid waste disposal personnel.

Infectious waste may include combination wastes where multiple hazards are present (toxic, radioactive, or other hazardous chemicals). These wastes are segregated from the general infectious waste stream when additional or alternative treatment is required. An example of a combination waste is commingled state-only dangerous waste pharmaceuticals and medical sharps. This waste is managed by incineration only.

TPCHD currently permits and inspects hospitals, medical and dental clinics, laboratories, and other health care facilities. There are an estimated 1,200 facilities in Pierce County that have the potential to contribute to the biomedical waste stream; 900 of these facilities are permitted. Approved treatment methods for infectious waste include incineration, autoclave, chemical treatment and encasement. More often, a certificated hauler will transport infectious waste to an offsite treatment facility. Currently, no commercial treatment facilities are in operation within Pierce County. Once biomedical waste has been treated, it is no longer considered “infectious” and may be disposed of within the municipal solid waste stream.

Additional discussion of biomedical wastes, is included in Appendix Q.

Agriculture Wastes: Agricultural wastes are regulated in Washington under WAC 173-350. Agricultural wastes are “wastes resulting from the production of agricultural products, including, but not limited to, manures and carcasses of dead animals weighing each or collectively in excess of fifteen pounds.” Agriculture wastes consist of three general types of wastes: crop wastes, livestock wastes, and agricultural chemicals. Crop wastes include residues from grain, hay, vegetables, seed crop production and trimmings from fruit trees. Livestock wastes include manure and animal carcasses. Agricultural chemical wastes are composed primarily of empty agricultural chemical containers and banned or unused agricultural chemicals. The management of animal carcasses is addressed separately later in this chapter.

Bulky Wastes: Bulky wastes are large items of refuse such as furniture and other oversized wastes, that typically do not fit into residential disposal containers. These are distinct from white goods, as described in this chapter. An example of a permit-exempt bulky waste handler is Spring Back Mattress Recycling. Contaminated Soils: Contaminated soils are defined in WAC 173-350-100 as “soils removed during the cleanup of a hazardous waste site, or a dangerous waste facility closure, corrective actions or other clean-up activities and which contain harmful substances but are not designated dangerous wastes.”

Dredge Spoils: Dredge spoils consist of soils and other organic materials generated by dredging operations. Dredge spoils are often used as upland fill and generally do not enter the MSW handling and disposal system unless testing reveals contaminants. If contaminants are found, the spoils would be classified as a solid or dangerous waste and require special disposal..

Animal Carcasses: Animal carcasses weighing over 15 pounds are considered agricultural wastes. Chapter 246-203-121 WAC and Chapter 16.68 RCW “Disposal of Dead Animals” address the minimum requirements for this special waste. While these rules allow for burial of animal carcasses with a minimum of three feet of cover and 100’ from any well or surface water, this plan recommends against this practice unless an emergency or disease outbreak occurs, whereby burial is deemed essential to prevent the spread of disease and authorized by the Health Officer. In these rare instances, the minimum requirement of three feet of cover and 100 feet from any well or surface water would apply. All carcasses must be transported to the disposal site within 24 hours. Disposal guidelines for animal carcasses include:

• Rendering by a licensed rendering company • Incineration at a permitted facility suited for this waste type • Composting utilizing best management practices found in

Mortality Composting Management Guidelines developed by the

Department of Agriculture. • Disposal at a transfer facility. • Animal feeding operations should incorporate best management practices for managing animal carcasses generated from on-going operations.