There is a grant opportunity being offered by the state’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) that is eligible to fund the collection and disposal of expired marine flares. This grant isdesigned for smaller projects that complement existing and/or regional Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) programs in California. DDSD operates the East County HHW facility, partnering with the Cities
of Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley and Pittsburg, as well as the County. This partnership helped establish and build the HHW facility that serves East County residents.
CalRecycle offers the HHW grant program pursuant to Section 47200(a) of the Public Resources Code. The purpose of the HHW grant program is to assist local governments in safely implementing HHW programs, which may include public education, source reduction, reuse, recycling, load checking, and collection components. Approximately $1.0 million in funding is available for Fiscal Year 2020/21 Small Project Grants. Regional groups (two or more cities/counties) may request up to $100,000 for small projects that complement existing and/or regional HHW programs. DDSD is submitting a regional grant application as the lead agency that will act on behalf of itself and participating agencies with jurisdiction over East County. In order to complete the application process for regional grants, the lead agency is required to submit authorization letters signed by each participating agency by August 18, 2020. If DDSD is awarded this regional grant, the term will be approximately November 2020 through September 2024. The attached letter would authorize DDSD to submit the regional grant application and act as the lead agency on behalf of the County, as a participating agency, as well as authorize DDSD to execute all documents necessary to implement the grant.
DDSD's HHW service area covers all of East County and borders the Delta and its associated waterways, home to a significant number of recreational boaters. In the unincorporated East County area, from Bay Point to Byron, there are approximately 40 private marinas (does not include marinas within city limits). All of the marinas have on-water boat berths/slips and many have dry land storage as well. Many recreational boaters are required to possess marine flares in the event a vessel may need to signal for emergency response. Because the most common flares have a mandated 42-month expiration date from the date of manufacture, these flares need to be replaced after approximately three boating seasons. East County has the highest concentration of marinas and therefore has the highest need for boaters to properly dispose of expired marine flares.
Expired marine flares pose significant disposal challenges for local boat owners. According to DDSD, there are only two collection sites in California that accept and dispose of expired marine flares, neither of which is located in Contra Costa County. Standard HHW facilities are not permitted to accept flares because of the associated potential safety hazards they present. If DDSD receives this regional grant, it will determine and implement the most safe and cost effective methods for collecting marine flares. In collaboration with the District's HHW agency partners (Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg, and the County), the District intends to hold two marine flare collection events for local recreational boaters and conduct associated education and outreach.
If unapproved, unincorporated area boaters/marinas would not be eligible to participate in special events to properly dispose of their expired marine flares.