Laserfiche WebLink
IJ <br />M. Waste Diversion Characterization: <br />IA. Data Collection: <br />According to the 1990 census figures, the County has <br />a population of 480,628, with 124,747 residents in the <br />unincorporated area. The rural nature of the County has <br />resulted in a voluntary program of garbage collection in <br />the unincorporated area. In the vicinity of Stockton, most <br />of the residents use refuse collection companies. However, <br />some residents take their waste directly to the landfills <br />in their own vehicles. Low population density in the rural <br />areas makes curbside collection programs and community <br />recycling centers impractical. Residents can use the <br />recycling facilities available in the cities where they <br />shop and use other services. <br />It is difficult to locate all of the existing <br />recycling operations and to obtain quantitative data. Most <br />recyclers do not obtain from their customers or <br />contributors the information necessary to determine whether <br />recyclable materials are coming from a city or from the <br />unincorporated area. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary <br />to apportion the contributions of County unincorporated <br />area residents and those of city residents by population. <br />For the initial waste generation study no attempt was <br />made to include the recycling that was being done by <br />numerous charitable organizations and for-profit second- <br />hand businesses which divert sizable quantities of clothes, <br />linens, furniture and appliances from the waste stream. <br />They are too numerous and their records are too inadequate <br />to properly quantify their activities. They may be added in <br />future updates if better data collection systems are <br />implemented. <br />Appendix I 27 <br />