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This fall, Kern County Public Works will be making improvements to the Tehachapi Landfill. New state laws have prompted the changes, but county staff is eager to comply. Nancy Ewert, Assistant Director for the Kern County Public Works Department, is leading the directive to help businesses meet new mandatory commercial organic recycling laws. "The changes are the result of increased recycling legislation, primarily directed at businesses, but the improvements will benefit residential users as well," said Ewert. Organic waste includes food, wood, manure and greenwaste.

Tehachapi area residents will begin to see site enhancements soon, which will include a new gate house and the installation of scales. The entrance gate house is being re-designed for ease of use and new scales will enable staff to provide a more accurate assessment of material volume. "In the past, chargeable material amounts were based on vehicle capacity. It was a one-size fits all. With scales, we can charge for the exact amount to be disposed," continued Ewert.

In addition to the gate house and scales, landfill diversion areas will also be expanded, to provide for the recycling of a greater variety of materials. The expansion will save landfill users money and enable the county to better meet state recycling mandates. "The first recycling bill as AB 939, adopted in 1989, and it required municipalities to recycle 50% of their waste stream by the year 2000. Kern County met that requirement. In 2012, AB 341 added an additional 25% recycling goal for local businesses, and in 2016, AB 1826 added a commercial organic recycling mandate. It was essential for us to provide businesses the tools to reach those goals by 2020."

The improvements will help residents and businesses save money when they source separate their loads. The Tehachapi landfill will have a recycling area for woodwaste, greenwaste, manure, appliances and scrap metal, electronic waste, tires, construction, demolition and mixed recyclable materials such as glass, paper, cardboard, aluminum and metal. Residents and businesses are encouraged to separate their loads, in advance of arriving at the landfill, to provide for an easier recycling experience.

As always, residential household trash can be disposed without charge. In general, non-chargeable residential waste is any household or yard waste that would normally go into a residential trash can. Other household items that can be disposed of without cost include: appliances, furniture and tree trimmings. Four passenger car or pick-up truck tires can also be dropped off, each year, without charge. Additional light duty tires cost $2.00 each, larger tires cost more. Residential construction and demolition waste are considered to be chargeable materials.

Commercial waste loads are almost always chargeable loads however, clean inert material that can be dropped off separately, is charged at a lower rate than mixed loads. Electronic waste (televisions, computers, monitors etc.) is also accepted without charge.

Tehachapi Landfill gatehouse

No prohibited waste including firearms or explosives, hazardous wastes, hot ashes, liquids of any kind, or waste from outside Kern County are accepted at the landfill. All loads must be covered; uncovered loads will trigger a fine. Starting this fall, the Tehachapi Landfill will be open two additional days for greater convenience. As with all public facilities, the landfill has posted site rules to ensure the safety of landfill users and staff.

A complete list of chargeable materials can be found on the county's website: kerncountywaste.com under Tehachapi Landfill. If residents or businesses have anything out of the ordinary for disposal, please call the Public Works Department before attempting to bring it to a disposal site at (661) 862-8900 or (800) 552-KERN.

We've come a long way from the "dumps" of years gone by. The landfills of today are designed to optimize recycling and reduce the amount of material being buried underground.

The times they are a changing – for the better.