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Editor’s note for clarity purposes: The “False allegation” section includes Curt Fuji’s responses to statements made in a mailer sent by Don’t Dump On San Benito. DDOSB responses are a reply to Fuji’s comments.
The below are Don’t Dump on San Benito’s responses to the article written by Curt Fuji of Waste Connections regarding his false allegations on our recent flyer sent to residents of San Benito County.
False Allegation: The flyer attempts to create the very misleading impression that “wealthy” Silicon Valley communities are dumping all their trash at John Smith Road Landfill (JSRL). This is simply not true. During 2021, the last full year during which, JSRL accepted out-of-County waste, only 14% of Santa Clara County’s waste went to JSRL.
DDOSB Response: Don’t Dump on San Benito (DDSB) never stated that all of Santa Clara County’s waste went to JSRL. DDDB stated that Santa Clara County trash is one of five out of county waste streams that did come to JSRL through March 30, 2022 and is part of the sum of those 5 outside waste streams (Source: Email Celina Stotler/San Benito County’s Integrated Waste Management Manager dated 6.28/2022). Approximately 75-77% of the waste stream is attributed to the 5 out-of-county sources (Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Monterey County, Fresno County and Santa Cruz County). In accordance with San Benito County Frequenty Asked Question #12 in the JSRL Expansion website it states that 80% of the garbage that goes to the John Smith Road Landfill is out-of-County trash. (https://www.cosb.us/departments/resource-management-agency/integrated-waste-
management/jsl-landfill-expansion/jsrl-expansion-faq).
Allegation: In contrast, during the same year, 24% of San Benito County’s waste went to landfills in other counties. San Benito County residents are taking advantage of other counties more than residents of other counties are taking advantage of San Benito County. (Source: CalRecycle data)
DDOSBC: We have no record of San Benito County’s trash going outside of the county with the exception of SBC Recycling goes to Monterey County and SBC’s green waste goes to Santa Clara County. For further information, please contact San Benito County Integrated Waste Management.
False Allegation: For 10 years County Supervisors let Silicon Valley dump its garbage cheaply in San Benito. Response: This is incorrect. County supervisors did not suddenly “open the gate” to out-of County refuse 10 years ago. Solid waste has always crossed County lines, in both directions. In addition, since 2013, State law restricts the County’s ability to prohibit waste disposal based on origin by the California Integrated Waste Management Act (California Public Resources Code §§ 40002 and 40059.3).
DDOSB Response: On September 14, 2010 the Board of Supervisors approved a proposal from Waste Connections Inc to enter into a new Operating Agreement at JSRL. This new operating agreement was the 6th Amendment to the existing contract and it allowed a tonnage increase from 500 to 1000 tons per day. This newly approved Amendment is how the county’s waste stream went from approximately 53% to roughly 75% out of county waste. The waste stream of San Benito County did not change with this daily tonnage allotment. Source: https://www.cosb.us/home/showpublisheddocument/6584/6374983943964
70000
The five sources of out of county waste all have closer landfills within their own county. The incentive for the out of county waste to be trucked additional miles are compensated by a low tipping fees at JSRL. Since the County waived any right to set tipping fees the current fee structure charges in county waste close to 2 times more the amount out of county waste streams pays. Source: Email Celina Stotler/San Benito County’s Integrated Waste Management Manager dated 6.28/2022.
False Allegation: 80% of garbage is from three counties in Silicon Valley. Response: This is incorrect. During 2021, the last full year during which, John Smith Road Landfill accepted out-of-County waste, the total out-of- County waste from all jurisdictions (not just Silicon Valley) was 68.69 percent of the total waste received at the landfill. (Source: CalRecycle data)
DDOSB Response: That is a typo, it should state 80% of trash was sourced from five outside counties not just from Silicon Valley.
False Allegation: These wealthy counties pay about half the rate that San Benito residents pay to dump their garbage here. Response: This is incorrect. The total cost out-of-County residents pay to dispose of their waste at JSRL is much higher than the total cost San Benito County residents pay to dispose of their waste at JSRL. Transfer station cost estimates from the John Smith Road Landfill Revenue Analysis prepared for the County indicate that Santa Clara County (Morgan Hill and Gilroy) residents may be paying approximately $100 per ton (including transportation) to dispose of their wastes at JSRL, while San Benito County residents pay only $44.75 per ton (including transportation) for this service.
DDOSB Response: The tipping fees for in county averaged $57 per ton and out of county averaged $30.41 per ton. Source: Email Celina Stotler/San Benito County’s Integrated Waste Management Manager dated 6.28/2022. A transfer station has not been fully analyzed.
False Allegation: Silicon Valley’s garbage is filling up our landfill. (There’s room left for just 15 years of our own county’s garbage.) Response: This is incorrect and misleading. First, San Benito County residents have filled more of the JSRL capacity than out-of-County residents. Second, the acceptance of some waste from outside the County is necessary to make this local landfill economically viable. In 1989, EPA adopted Subtitle-D regulations that were intended to force closure of low- volume rural landfills, by making the landfilling cost so high that low-volume landfills are not financially sustainable. Since that time, it has not been possible to maintain JSRL into the future as an economically viable low- volume rural landfill.
DDOSB Response: The landfill was established in 1968 and the waste that was brought in was less than 230 tons per day of in county waste that went into JSRL. However, in 2010, 3/4 of the trash that went in the landfill was out of county trash until April 1, 2022. San Benito County is a small county with a population of 67,579 as of 7/1/2022 US Census, we produce roughly 230 tons per day. We don’t need to accept 2000 tons a day from other counties to make our JSRL economically viable. The revenue from out-of-county does not compensate for the environmental damage to our community (air quality, noise, roads, soil and water contamination and risks to our health).
False Allegation: Now, County Supervisors want to make the landfill five times bigger to accommodate more garbage from Silicon Valley. Response: This is incorrect. The County’s objective is not “to accommodate more garbage from Silicon Valley.” The objective is to create a financially sustainable facility that will allow the County to control its waste management for over 50 years, while providing much needed revenue for the County.
DDOSB Response: The current in county waste stream is less than 250 tons per day. The expansion of up to 2,300 tons per day would be consumed by out of county waste. Tipping fees are defined NOT by the County but rather the Landfill operator. The additional waste is not a financial windfall of funds for the County but is a windfall that benefits the landfill operator.
False Allegation: Traffic, noise & air pollution from a constant flow of semi-trucks hauling Silicon Valley garbage to our landfill. Response: This is incomplete and misleading. The EIR requires the landfill to comply with comprehensive mitigation measures to reduce all potential landfill impacts to the environment, including the community.
DDOSB Response: Increasing from approximately 230 tons a day to 2300 tons per day will lead to 95 out-of-county semi trucks per day (20 tons each) driving into our county to dispose of their haul and drive out of our county to return to the home base. That is 190 out of county truck trips per day for 361 days a year. Appendix C, in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) state that Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the landfill expansion will be significant and unavoidable. This is just one example of a potential impact for our county, further discussion will be held with the County and residents.
False Allegation: Roads damaged by heavy garbage trucks. (Revenue from out of county garbage is not enough to repair all the road damage.) Response: This is incorrect. Revenues will be ten times greater than the cost to improve and maintain County roads. (San Benito County Landfill Expansion Road Impact Analysis and Code 9111 Evaluation of Proposed Initiative to Amend General Plan, both prepared for San Benito County)
DDOSB Response: 2020/2021 roadway repairs to Fairview Road entailed 2.5 miles of a 2 lane road at a cost of $3 Million dollars. Today’s cost for a similar roadway repair would be substantially more and the haul route to JSRL is much more than 2.5 miles.
False Allegation: Lower property values on the east side of Hollister. Response: This is incorrect. There is no evidence to support this.
DDOSB Response: According to Pennsylvania State University Study landfills that accepts high volumes of waste (500 tons per day or more) decrease adjacent residential property values an average of 12.9%. Source Pennsylvania State University Study, May 2005.
False Allegation: Toxic chemicals leaking from Landfill into our groundwater (PFAS is a
recent leak). This is incorrect. Existing impacts to groundwater are from the old unlined
area that existed prior to Waste Connections’ operation of the landfill. The expanded landfill area will be required to include multiple tiers of environmental protection that this older area did not have. Monitoring data shows that the groundwater corrective action program (approved by the Page 3 of 3 Regional Water Quality Control Board) is effective in capturing and reducing prior groundwater impacts. In addition, groundwater monitoring data shows that PFAS in groundwater are part of the impacts from the old unlined area and that the groundwater corrective action program is effective in capturing and reducing these impacts, also.
DDOSB Response: Excerpt from Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board July 14, 2021 Potential PFAS groundwater impacts have been identified in the PFAS Report at and around the landfill. Additional groundwater evaluation and delineation of the extent of groundwater impacts is required to determine if the landfill is impacting groundwater quality of adjacent properties, especially those with drinking water wells. Therefore, by October 12, 2021, Waste Connections is required to submit a workplan including the information listed above in an effort to delineate the extent of PFAS impacted groundwater; consideration should be given to all potential contaminant transport routes (e.g., groundwater, stormwater, surface water, and sewer or onsite wastewater system).
The PFAS Report summarizes PFAS monitoring, required by the State Water Board’s Water Code Section 13267 Order for the Determination of the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Order WQ 2019- 0006-DWQ, and documents the detection of PFAS in landfill leachate and groundwater downgradient from the John Smith Road Landfill. These PFAS monitoring results are similar to other landfills in our region with parts per billion concentrations of PFAS in landfill leachate and low parts per trillion concentrations of PFAS detected in some downgradient groundwater monitoring wells. The presence of PFAS in landfill leachate and downgradient groundwater monitoring wells at John Smith Road Landfill indicates a potential release from the landfill and a potential threat to drinking water resources in the area. Waste Connections must take actions to determine if the detections are in fact a release from the landfill and implement measures to prevent impacts to groundwater, drinking water users, and surface water from landfill activities, The PFAS Report is available on GeoTracker website at: https://documents.geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/esi/uploads/geo_report/9
562612712/L 10008478954.PDF Mr. John Rodgers – 2 – July 14, 2021
False Allegation: Methane leaks from Landfill. Response: This is incorrect. Perimeter monitoring for methane leaks from the landfill show that there are no leaks.
DDOSB Response: “Municipal solid waste landfills are the 3rd largest source of human related methane emissions in the United States” Source: Waste Methane 101: Driving Emissions Reductions from Landfills dated June 14, 2023 author Ellie Garland, Olivia Alves. According to the EPA, Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG Summary Report) annual report in 2015 states that JSRL Methane Production was 776.06 Metric Tons of Methane Gas.
False Allegation: Damage to the reputation of our beautiful County. Response: This is incorrect. There is no evidence to support this. Summary In 1968 the County created John Smith Road Landfill as part of its critical infrastructure to protect human health and the environment. Since that time, JSRL has fulfilled its purpose and provided dependable, cost-effective solid waste disposal for County residents. Now, in the face of Federal regulations intended to force closure of these essential rural facilities, Waste Connections has worked with the County to provide not only continued long-term waste management under County control, but also a badly needed revenue source for the County. The County should not let NIMBY’s, many of whom arrived in the County recently, to attack and sabotage a County asset that has provided an essential service since 1968.
DOSB Response: The JSRL was opened as stated in 1968 to serve Hollister and the San Benito County at large. The landfill was for the use of San Benito County. In 2005, Waste Solutions entered into an operating agreement with SBC to operate and manage the JSRL. In 2010, our county leaders entered into an amended agreement to increase the daily tonnage acceptable from 500 to 1,000 tons per day. The current rate of disposal from San Benito County is less than 250 tons per day. The amended contract in 2010 allowed Waste Solutions the opportunity to bring in approximately 750 out of county tons per day. This additional usage of our county landfill began the rapid depletion of usable space. When the JSRL was approaching the 15 year capacity, Waste Solutions went to the San Benito County for approval to create a “trash slope” which allowed Waste Solutions to continue to accept out of county waste even though the 15 year threshold had been reached. This was a backdoor agreement allowing waste solutions to continue to accept out of county trash after the 15 year threshold was reached. In March 2022, the JSRL was regulated to accept only in-county waste per a State of California law. For 12 years, 750 tons over 361 days per year equates to 270,750 tons per year for a total of 3,249,000 pounds of trash. If we maintained an in-county waste disposal only, the residents of San Benito County would not only have the current 14 remaining years, but we would have HAD an additional 36 years of landfill life for in-county use.
San Benito County does not need a landfill expansion. Don’t Dump on San Benito is a grassroots San Benito County group of concerned citizens against the proposed massive expansion of the John Smith Road Landfill. www.dontdumponsanbenito.org.