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Landfill Regulations

Federal and state regulations ensure that landfill operations minimize impacts to public health and safety, and the environment. An important part of the Department’s mission is to apply sound environmental practices to ensure compliance with these regulations.

The Department is required to obtain permits to operate their active landfills in Riverside County. These include: a Solid Waste Facilities Permit; Waste Discharge Requirements; a Stormwater Discharge Permit; and permits to construct and operate gas management systems, and leachate collection systems. These permits are issued and enforced by multiple regulatory agencies. The regulatory agencies for the Department's landfills include the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the South Coast Air Quality Management District (enforces air quality regulations), and the California Regional Water Quality Control Boards (enforce water quality regulations). The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health is the local enforcement agency (LEA) for CalRecycle. California Code of Regulations, Title 27 and AQMD Rule 1150.1 are the main regulations.

In addition to the above-referenced permits, certain projects may fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Fish and Game.

The Department evaluates all projects for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This ensures that any project which could have an impact on the environment is fully analyzed, and that any impacts are mitigated to the fullest extent possible.