THE COUNTY OF IMPERIAL SOLID WASTE LOCAL ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (LEA)

Enforcement of federal, state, and local laws and regulations within the juristiction of the County of Imperial protect public health safety and the environment by ensuring safe and proper solid waste management practices.


State law (Public Resources Code) requires every local jurisdiction to designate a solid waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA), which is certified by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), to enforce federal and state laws and regulations for safe and proper handling of solid waste.


WHAT IS SOLID WASTE?
Solid waste includes household trash and garbage, construction and demolition debris, commercial refuse, sludge, ash, discarded appliances and vehicles, manure, landscape clippings, and other discarded wastes.

Responsibilities of the LEA include accepting and processing all new and revised solid waste facility permits, issuing permits, and conducting regular inspections of permitted facilities. The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) must concur with the solid waste facility permit before it can be issued by the LEA. Any development plan proposing to handle, process, transport, store, or dispose of solid wastes including household trash and garbage, construction debris, commercial refuse, sludge, ash, manure, landscape clippings, and other discarded wastes shall contact the LEA for determination of the need for a solid waste facility permit.

Along with inspecting solid waste landfills, the LEA conducts inspections on transfer/processing facilities and operations, construction and demolition sites, and composting operations. The LEA also inspects and monitors closed, illegal, inactive and abandoned solid waste disposal sites, responds to complaints of illegal disposal of solid waste and conducts waste hauler inspections.