Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Heather Forshey, Director, Environmental Health Services
Subject: Authorization to Apply for and Accept Household Hazardous Waste Program Funds from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) The County of San Mateo to apply for and accept all available Household Hazardous Waste funds from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery for Fiscal Years July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030; and
B) The Chief of San Mateo County Health or designee to execute in the name of San Mateo County all necessary applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, and all other documents necessary for the purposes of securing grant funds, implementing the approved grant projects, and carrying out the purposes specified in the grant applications for Fiscal Years July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.
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BACKGROUND:
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) awards grants that provide San Mateo County Health’s Environmental Health Services Division (EHS) with funding to provide important education and environmental protection programs for the public. This item is being brought to this Board for approval because CalRecycle requires a Board resolution to authorize the County’s annual grant applications. Over the past fifteen years, this Board has approved three consecutive five-year resolutions authorizing the Chief of San Mateo County Health to apply for and accept these funds.
The County of San Mateo serves as the lead for all the unincorporated and incorporated cities in the County for the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program, which is partially funded by CalRecycle grants. EHS manages this program on the County’s behalf and ensures that HHW does not pose a threat to public health or the environment.
EHS has received or participated in 15 CalRecycle HHW grants in the last 35 years. Among them includes creating and expanding the County’s fluorescent light take-back program; completing capital improvements to EHS’s HHW facility; piloting a program to educate the public to purchase the appropriate amount of material to prevent waste; and piloting a marine flare collection event at two harbors.
DISCUSSION:
CalRecycle generally allows a three-week turnaround to execute a grant agreement. Authorization is therefore being requested to allow the Chief of San Mateo County Health or designee on behalf of the County to approve all documents necessary for the purposes of securing grant funds, to implement approved grant projects, and to carry out the purposes specified in the grant applications beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
It is anticipated that 9,000 households will be served by the HHW program by the end of FY 2024-25.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2023-24 Actual |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
|
Number of households served by the HHW program |
8,500 households |
9,000 households |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
This resolution will positively impact all residents of San Mateo County because all residents generate HHW, and the program provides the only legal and safe option for many types of HHW to be disposed of properly. Acceptance of State grant funds allows the program to improve the operations and provide direct, unique, and local services to residents. EHS notifies the public about upcoming events and waste education through various outreach methods, ensuring accessibility by using multilingual communications, visuals, and browser translation tools. EHS identified the need for additional resources, such as expanded translation services and outreach partnerships, to ensure equitable access to HHW Program information and services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The anticipated appropriations and grant revenue are included in EHS’ FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made in future years. There is no Net County Cost associated with this resolution.