Background

In 1990, Alameda County voters overwhelmingly approved Measure D, a County Charter amendment known as the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act. Measure D established two things that remain central to StopWaste's work today: the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board (Recycling Board), and a per-ton surcharge on solid waste disposed at local landfills to fund recycling and waste reduction programs.

Measure D was a response to growing concerns about limited landfill capacity and the environmental impact of waste disposal. It gave Alameda County one of the most robust, voter-mandated funding mechanisms for waste reduction in California — a model that has supported nearly 35 years of environmental programs.

The Recycling Board

Measure D created the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board, an eleven-member body consisting of six citizen experts appointed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and five elected officials from the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (ACWMA).

The Recycling Board is responsible for programs that promote:

  • Source reduction
  • Recycling
  • Recycled product procurement
  • Market development
  • Grants to nonprofit waste reduction enterprises

Funding Mechanism

Measure D established an $8.23-per-ton surcharge on waste disposed at the Altamont and Vasco Road landfills in Alameda County. This surcharge generates approximately $9.7 million annually in what is known as the Recycling Fund.

StopWaste also levies two additional per-ton disposal fees that, together with Measure D, fund approximately 90 percent of the agency's discretionary budget:

Measure D Landfill Surcharge: $8.23/ton — Waste disposed at Vasco Road and Altamont Landfills
AB 939 Facility Fee: $4.34/ton — All Alameda County waste landfilled in California; all waste landfilled in Alameda County
Import Mitigation Fee: $4.53/ton — Out-of-county waste landfilled in Alameda County

The AB 939 Facility Fee supports compliance with California's AB 939 waste diversion requirements, originally adopted in 1989. The Import Mitigation Fee, in place since 1994, offsets the environmental impact of waste imported from outside the county for local disposal.

For current fee details, see Disposal Fees.

Fund Allocation

Measure D revenue is allocated as follows:

  • Approximately 55 percent is distributed to participating member agencies for local waste reduction and recycling programs
  • Approximately 45 percent funds countywide programs, including grants to nonprofit waste reduction enterprises, administered by the Recycling Board

These funds support a wide range of activities including public education and outreach, source reduction programs, recycling market development, and direct grants to organizations working on waste prevention and reuse.

Learn More

  • Policies & Disbursements — detailed allocation formulas, member agency disbursement structure, and eligible expenditures
  • Five-Year Audit — audit requirements, current audit cycle, and reports
  • Revenue & Fees — overview of StopWaste's full fee structure
  • Annual Budget — how Measure D and other funds are allocated across programs