Monterey County Landfill Operators Provide Critical Public Health Services Through COVID-19 Crisis Landfills Remain Open to the Public; Curbside Sanitation Services Continue

(Monterey County, CA)  The statewide shelter-in-place order announced by Governor Gavin Newsom last Thursday excludes the most essential businesses, and like other public utilities, waste recovery and recycling services are vital to public health, maintaining sanitary conditions and safe disposal of solid waste throughout the County. Landfill operations will remain open until further notice, and garbage/sanitation services will continue to provide uninterrupted curbside pickup through the COVID-19 health crisis, though this remains a dynamic situation.
Monterey Regional Waste Management District (MRWMD) operates the landfill and resource recovery operation for western Monterey County just outside of Marina. The landfill, materials recovery facility (MRF) and household hazardous waste (HHW) facility are open for normal business, however the administrative offices, Last Chance Mercantile retail store and donation center, CRV bottle/can buy back center and landscape product sales are temporarily suspended. Current hours of operation are available at www.mrwmd.org.
Salinas Valley Recycles operates the Sun Street Transfer Station and HHW facility in Salinas, the Jolon Road Transfer Station in King City, and the Johnson Canyon Landfill in Gonzales, serving all eastern Monterey County communities. HHW facility hours have been temporarily reduced to Tuesday-Saturday, and administrative offices are closed. Up to date hours and facilities information are available at www.SalinasValleyRecycles.org.
Facilities for both agencies remain open for business with additional safety and social distancing measures in place for both staff and customers.  While administrative offices are closed, key personnel are working from home to observe the shelter-in-place guidelines while maintaining the highest levels of safety and service.  Administrators will continue to adapt as needed to the developing situation.
Citizens of Monterey County must continue to do their part to observe shelter-in-place orders and maintain sanitary conditions in their homes, and this includes properly using garbage, yard waste and recycling carts, and/or self-hauling waste and recycling to the landfill and transfer station facilities. Handwashing stations are available at Salinas Valley Recycling facilities.  Please observe the six-foot social distancing recommendations from facility staff and from curbside collection drivers.
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As an added precaution, if you or someone in your household are ill or believe to have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, please bag trash before placing it in the cart to prevent the spread of the virus, for the safety and health of the trash haulers, truckers and landfill and transfer station workers who may come into contact with the trash. The Centers for Disease Control has indicated that the virus may be active and communicable for up to three days while it remains on materials, so please be mindful of others downstream of the waste and prevent exposure.
“We would like to encourage the public to keep recycling, using their curbside carts while the shelter-in-place order is in effect,” states Patrick Mathews, General Manager for Salinas Valley Recycles. “With a surge in home deliveries, it’s important to recycle those cardboard boxes so new boxes can be created, and future orders packaged and shipped.” As of today, recycling is still being diverted from landfills so proper recycling remains essential to maximize local landfill lifespans.
Tim Flanagan, General Manager for MRWMD reminds residents and businesses to use the free recycling app for Monterey County “What Goes Where” available at www.WhatGoesWhere.info or at mobile app stores. “It is important to keep items going into the recycling cart empty, clean and dry to avoid contaminating materials,” says Flanagan. “Make the most of these important services.” 


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Monterey Regional Waste Management District (MRWMD) is located just north of Marina at 14201 Del Monte Blvd., Monterey County, CA 93933-1670, serving a population of approximately 170,000 in 853 square miles, including the cities of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Sand City, Seaside, and the unincorporated areas of Big Sur, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Castroville, Corral De Tierra, Laguna Seca, Moss Landing, Pebble Beach, San Benancio, and Toro Park. Call 831-384-5313 for information or visit www.mrwmd.org 

Salinas Valley Recycles (SVR) has three locations including Sun Street Transfer Station (and HHW facility) at 139 Sun Street in Salinas, Johnson Canyon Landfill at 31400 Johnson Canyon Road in Gonzales, and Jolon Road Transfer Station at 52654 Jolon Road in King City.  SVR serves a population of approximately 244,000 along 95 linear miles designated as the Highway 101 corridor, including the communities of Aromas, Bradley, Chualar, Gonzales, Greenfield, Jolon, King City, Lockwood, Prunedale, Royal Oaks, Salinas, San Ardo, San Lucas, Soledad, and Spreckels. Call 831-775-3000 or visit www.SalinasValleyRecycles.org for information.