Advisory committee flags seasonality, SB 54 implications in transfer‑station data

Members of the El Dorado County Solid Waste Advisory Committee reviewed recent transfer-station tonnage graphs and questioned why some diversion rates and customer counts had dropped. An agency official who presented the graphs said, “In August, we saw a 150 less customers come through the facility altogether,” and warned that lower customer volume can depress nearly all reported tonnage figures even where diversion percentages shift.

The discussion focused on seasonality as a principal driver of monthly swings — especially in Tahoe, where presenters said volumes are ‘‘extreme’’ — and on longer-term policy drivers such as SB 54. A presenter cautioned that SB 54 is designed to pull more recyclable material out of the waste stream and “in the long term, SB 54… you might be able to see that as well,” but added that short-term effects are uncertain. Committee members asked staff to include explanatory notes and year‑over‑year reference points on future graphs to make comparisons clearer for board members and the public.