Solid Waste and Debris The removal and safe disposal of solid waste, ash, or debris may be a daunting element in the recovery process. Recovery and removal of solid waste following a wildfire often involves not only damaged homes and buildings but also impacted trees and brush, especially to clear roadways and bridges. Of equal importance is to evaluate and determine how the wildfire may have impacted the delivery of services from waste haulers to landfills. For a number of reasons, governmental entities will want to remove debris as quickly as possible from impacted areas. Government led programs may help expedite the removal and cleanup of hazard - ous waste and debris from private homes when needed. Considerations for seeking government assistance with debris might include: • The magnitude, location, and nature of the debris • Whether the debris poses an imminent threat to public or environmental health • Will failure to completely remove the debris create long-term threats to public health? For example, elevated levels of a chemical that might lead to future restrictions on recovery activities • Whether the magnitude of the debris creates potential economic threats to the community if not removed in a timely manner • If resources are available to run a public assistance program • If funds and assistance are available from state or federal resources 55 Complex legal, logistical, and insurance challenges must be overcome with government led solid waste and debris removal. The staff and resource needs may be extensive and long-term. One challenge is in the line drawn between a government led program and relying on private citizens to work within their own means to mitigate their properties. This alternative could be accom - plished when the number of impacted homes is small and with local guidance and assistance. For example, household hazardous waste programs could be used for its disposal, especially in partial burn areas. Assistance with private citizen work may involve communications with contractors and ensuring removals are done properly and within the law. Either option (owner option or government program option) will require a certain amount of
oversight and direction from environmental public health staff. Health Impacts of Cleanup General trash collection, storage, and disposal delays throughout a populated area could result in public health concerns. Special considerations must be given to the large volume of debris following a wildfire, including impacted vegetation, that must be removed as soon as possible. This may include a process to manage the volume of waste before it reaches an ultimate disposal location. An exam - ple might be staging areas to receive solid waste before hauling the materials to landfills. Local staff should consider their involvement at these loca - tions. While discouraged, mixed debris piles may contain hazardous waste that cannot be separated easily. Local or state oversight authorities might need to consider conditional waivers for specific local land - fills. Local enforcement agencies must consider if landfills can handle the disaster debris volume and also consider transportation plans when limited landfills are available. Other conditions of operation may be reviewed for consideration of waivers such The process to remove remaining debris and ash (called Phase II) after all hazardous waste and hazardous trees are removed, begins long before Phase I is completed. This might include activities to alert private property owners of their options for cleanup. There might be a public assistance program available, where property owners will be asked to sign Right of Entry (ROE) agreements as tonnage and hours of operation. Assistance for Property Owners
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