Solid Waste
Majority of Waste Exported to the Central Valley
Why is it important?
The amount of solid waste generated and disposed is increasingly important as population rises in the Sierra Nevada. The proper diversion and disposal of waste is vital to maintaining healthy air and soil. Much of the solid waste generated in the Sierra Nevada is exported to landfills in the Central Valley, rather than taken care of locally. Waste diversion programs are another way to decrease waste disposal through recycling, source reduction, and composting, among other means.24
How are we doing?
Waste in the Sierra Nevada is being exported out of the area in the North, North Central, and South Central Sierra. The East Sierra generates the largest amount of waste per capita by far, but is able to landfill nearly all of it. Both scenarios have both advantages and disadvantages in regards to the natural capital of their respective regions, as waste management has not yet reached a point of maximum efficiency.
24 California Integrated Waste Management Board. Retrieved May 19, 2005 from http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGCentral/Glossary.htm#DRS
