The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Cleanup Project Nov 2011

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) is responsible for investigation, cleanup, and enforcement of illegal solid waste disposal sites in California. Through its Solid Waste Disposal Site Cleanup Program, CalRecycle recently took on the challenge of removing abandoned vessels from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, which provides drinking water to two-thirds of the state. Along the way, CalRecycle discovered the remains of an important World War II Coast Guard cutter, and helped preserve its place in history as the only Coast Guard vessel to host a Japanese surrender at the end of the war. The cleanup program is funded through tipping fees collected when non-hazardous waste is deposited in landfills, currently $1.40/ton. About $5 million is allocated annually for a variety of program activities to clean up or prevent illegal dumping throughout California and encourage environmental preservation.