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Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency

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LEA Frequently Asked Questions

General Solid Waste Questions

Waste Tire Enforcement Questions

General Solid Waste Questions

The Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) is a program within the City's Development Services Department that is certified by the state Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)* to implement and enforce state laws and regulations at solid waste facility sites throughout the City of San Diego.

Solid waste sites include active and closed landfills, former disposal sites (including burn sites), transfer facilities, composting facilities, waste tire facilities, and waste haulers. The LEA issues permits to the above facility types and conducts routine inspections to monitor sites for compliance with state laws and regulations. The overall purpose of these laws and regulations is to protect public health and safety and the environment.
*formerly known as the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)

Landfills, both active and closed, produce methane gas and other gases. Methane is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas which is highly explosive in concentrations of 5% to 15%, and combustible in concentrations > 15%. Methane gas readily migrates off site through either the air or soil.

Ash from old burn sites typically meets the criteria for classification as a hazardous waste, primarily due to heavy metals such as lead. Therefore, disturbing the ash could have health impacts on the community if not properly managed. Further, ash removed from the site must be properly handled and disposed, which can significantly increase project costs.

  • Active landfills (two currently operating)
    • Sycamore Landfill (north of state Route 52, at Mast Boulevard near Santee)
    • Miramar Landfill (north of state Route 52, at Convoy Street)
  • Closed landfills (18 sites)
  • Burn ash sites (17 known sites)
  • Composting facilities (four permitted facilities and operations)
  • Transfer facilities (four permitted facilities and operations)
  • These sites are identified on the GIS - Solid Waste Site Layer of the City's Project Tracking System (PTS).

  • Any development project proposing to handle, transport or dispose of solid waste, recyclable materials, waste tires, organic materials, or construction and demolition debris.
  • Any development project on or through an active or closed landfill (the site itself).
  • Any project which proposes new structures (either habitable or non-habitable) within 1,000 feet of a closed or active landfill.
  • Any project which includes grading or excavations within 1000 feet of an active or closed landfill.
  • Any change in land use activity or proposed additional new activity on top of a landfill, active or closed (example: golf course, paint ball business).
  • Any development proposed on a burn ash site, including change in land use designation or zone.
  • Any development immediately adjacent to a burn ash site that includes excavations or soil disturbance. Interior Tenant Improvement projects (TIs) are not included in this.
  • Developments in the vicinity of composting facilities may be impacted by odor, dust, vectors and traffic.
  • Developments adjacent to solid waste transfer stations may be subject to odors, dust, vectors and traffic.

  • Prior to finalizing design and cost estimates for the project, check to see if your project site is within 1,000 feet of the boundary of any landfill (active or closed), or on or immediately adjacent to an old burn site.
  • If your proposed project is on or within 1,000 feet of a landfill or on or immediately adjacent to an old burn site, composting or transfer facility, and meets any of the criteria present in the previous question, submit project description and site development plans to the LEA for review as early in the project planning process as possible. This will prevent/minimize unpleasant surprises and delays later on. Allow at least three weeks for review by the LEA.
  • Please do not hesitate to contact LEA staff if questions about solid waste site locations and/or potential impacts to your project. The earlier in your project planning process, the better!

Waste Tire Enforcement Questions

  • The Tire Program Identification (TPID) Number is a unique number assigned by CalRecycle to each participant (generator, hauler, and end-use facility) in the waste tire manifest system.
  • Any business, residence or location needs a TPID if a registered waste tire hauler is used, the pickup or delivery of more than nine used or waste tires occurs, or there are more than 499 waste tires stored.

  • Call the CalRecycle waste tire hotline at 1-866-896-0600 (toll free)
  • Call the CalRecycle waste tire hotline from Mexico at 001-866-389-1073
  • Complete Form CalRecycle 690.

  • A waste tire generator is anyone who contracts with a registered waste tire hauler or causes the transport of more than nine used or waste tires per trip.
  • Obtain a Tire Program Identification (TPID) Number.
  • Post the TPID certificate at all times.
  • Verify manifest is complete and correct before signing or initialing.
  • Retain all manifests for three years at place of business.

  • A waste tire end-use facility is anyone who receives used or waste tires from a registered waste tire hauler and/or accepts the delivery of more than nine used or waste tires per trip.
  • End-use facilities that accept waste tires must be an authorized or permitted waste tire facility under regulations administered by CalRecycle
  • Obtain a Tire Program Identification (TPID) Number.
  • Post the TPID certificate at all times.
  • Verify manifest is complete and correct before signing or initialing.
  • Retain all manifests for three years at place of business.

  • A waste tire hauler is anyone who transports more than nine used or waste tires per trip.
  • A waste tire hauler must be registered with CalRecycle before transporting used or waste tires.
  • Obtain free Waste Tire Hauler Registration every calendar year by completing form CalRecycle 60.
  • Provide a $10,000 surety bond by completing form CIWMB 61.
  • Obtain a Tire Program Identification (TPID) Number.
  • Post the TPID certificate at all times at place of business.
  • Place Registered Waste Tire Hauler decal on the lower passenger side of windshield.
  • Carry a valid CalRecycle waste tire hauler registration certificate in vehicle.
  • Carry a completed manifest during transport of any number of used or waste tires.
  • Deliver tires to an approved CalRecycle end-use facility
  • Supply generator and end-use facilities with a completed Manifest.
  • Submit copy of manifest to CalRecycle within 14 days.
  • Retain all manifests for three years at place of business.

  • A common carrier exemption is a commercial hauler who delivers a product other than used or waste tires and back-hauls used or waste tires without being a registered waste tire hauler. The revenue derived from transporting the used or waste tires must be incidental when compared to the revenue earned by the common carrier.
  • Obtain free common carrier exemption every calendar year by completing form CalRecycle 241.
  • Carry a valid letter of exemption during transport of used or waste tires.
  • Obtain a Tire Program Identification (TPID) Number.
  • Post the current TPID certificate at all times.
  • Manifest all loads of more than nine used or waste tires.
  • Supply generator and end-use facilities with a completed manifest.
  • Carry a completed manifest during transport of more than nine used or waste tires.
  • Submit copy of manifest to CalRecycle within 14 days.
  • Retain all manifests for three years at place of business.

  • A manifest details who is hauling used and waste tires, where the trip started, the date, how many tires, and the destination point.
  • A manifest is also known as the Comprehensive Trip Log (CTL) or Electronic Data Transfer Form (EDT) and must only be versions approved by CalRecycle.

  • The general public may transport up to nine used and/or waste tires per trip.
  • A registered waste tire hauler may transport any number of used and/or waste tires per trip as long as all Waste Tire Manifest System requirements are followed.

  • You may store up to 499 waste tires on your property without needing a Waste Tire Facility Permit or TPID.
  • If you are a tire dealer or auto dismantler, you may store up to 1,499 waste tires for less than 90 days on your property without needing a Minor Waste Tire Facility Permit.
  • If you are an agricultural facility, you may store up to 4,999 waste tires on your property as long as the waste tires are used for agricultural purposes and the waste tires have been rendered incapable of holding accumulations of water.
  • If you are a tire treading facility, you may store up to 3,000 waste tires onsite before needing an additional permit.
  • Tire storage may be subject to local land use and fire safety requirements.