It is important that property owners remove all burn debris from their properties in a timely manner to ensure the health and safety of the community. To ensure the safety of workers, the public, and the environment, certain protocols should be followed after a wildfire disaster when removing structural ash and debris from a fire. Cleanup activities should follow the standards that were established to protect public health.

The guidance below is provided to ensure that all mixed burned debris and ash generated by the disaster will be transported, handled, and managed in a manner that will protect public health and the environment. Property owners should ensure that contractors are licensed for the work they will perform. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including respiratory protection, should be used by anyone who handles ash or burned debris or who may come into contact with these materials during transport or management.

The County is available to answer questions by calling (707) 565-6565 or emailing EHDebrisRemoval@sonoma-county.org.

Private Debris Cleanup Process Overview

The information below was adapted from various sources and includes “best practices” in debris removal operations and protocols.

Background Sampling

As no regional background data exists for this event, baseline sampling should be conducted under the supervision of a professionally licensed civil engineer, petroleum engineer, or geologist to determine background conditions in the vicinity of the cleanup. These results will establish site specific cleanup levels that may be in excess of published health screening levels for the site.

The establishment of background conditions should take into consideration site specific data relative to local geology, and the geologic chemical data in the background data.  Results within 20% of the background data set are considered acceptable.

Site Specific Background Data Collection and Analyses

• Three sampling locations should be identified away from the impacted/cleanup area, such that minimal air blown ash or debris may disturb the desired samples. Locations should be staggered to represent the area. Please note, these should be three discreet samples analyzed separately and should not be composited into one.
• In order to assure a “clean” or “native” sample, the first 3 inches of dirt should be removed from the ground surface.
• Samples should be collected from 3 to 9 inches and placed in appropriate containers for transport to an analytical laboratory.
• Samples should be analyzed for metals under either EPA 6010 or Method 6020 and Mercury by EPA Method 7471A. Confirmation samples taken later should use the same analytical method as used for determining background.
• Analytical results should be reviewed and compiled by the licensed professional, and a determination made if the results are representative of background for the subject site.

Confirmation Sampling

Confirmation sampling should be conducted by a licensed professional after fire-related debris has been removed from a property. Representative soil samples should be collected and analyzed to determine compliance with cleanup goals.  The total number of samples to be collected is based on estimated square footage of ash footprint as follows:

All confirmation samples should be collected from a depth of 0-3 inches using a dedicated 4-ounce plastic scoop and be placed in 8-ounce jars.  Samples should be sent to an approved laboratory for analysis of Title 22 Metals including antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium, vanadium, and zinc by either EPA Method 6010 or 6020, and mercury by EPA Method 7471A. Although either EPA Method 6010 or 6020 may be used, the same lab method should be used for baseline and confirmation samples.

Steps to Follow

1. Remove vehicles for recycling. Collect, stockpile, and remove metals, appliances, and similar items for recycling.
2. Trees that pose a hazard to the home site or to workers during debris removal activities, or that will pose a hazard during reconstruction activities, should be removed. Trees may be cut and set aside for firewood or taken off site and recycled.
3. Hazardous materials should be properly disposed of.
4. Remove all structural ash and debris from the impacted property.
5. Remove structural foundation and associated concrete. Driveways may stay in place, when appropriate, to aid in erosion control during the rebuilding phase. They can be removed and replaced, as necessary, as one of the last steps to reconstruction.
6. Dust control and erosion protection measures should be incorporated as follows:
   1. Ash and debris should be thoroughly wetted prior to removal. Hoses with fine spray nozzles should be used to apply water to the work site prior to and during active debris removal. The materials should also be wetted while being loaded into trucks to prevent visible dust from crossing property lines. Care should be taken to avoid excessive use of water in order to prevent runoff. Any runoff produced should be contained onsite.
   2. Silt fences, fiber rolls, erosion control blankets, and other best management practices should be used to prevent ash or soil from washing into the street, drainage courses and culverts, or into neighboring properties. A copy of the County’s storm water best management practices may be found at: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Eng-and-Constr/Grading-and-Storm-Water/Best-Management-Practice-Guide/
   3. Stockpiled materials that are not immediately loaded for transport should be handled and stored on site in such a manner as to avoid offsite migration. This may include wetting and covering the waste until it is loaded and transported.
7. Structural ash and debris should be transported to, and disposed of, at an approved landfill.
   1. Ash and debris should be wetted, wrapped with plastic sheeting, taped closed, and covered with a tarp to eliminate the release of dust during transport (burrito wrapping).
   2. Mixed burned debris and ash shall be transported to a permitted landfill. Property owners or contractors should contact the landfill operator prior to hauling the waste to ensure its acceptance. Note that waste characterization testing may be required by the landfill that is the final point of disposal.
   3. Best management practices should be used to prevent tracking ash and debris into the roadway.
8. Transport and disposal of recyclable materials – concrete, metal, etc., should be handled as follows:
   1. Trees and wood waste, metal, vehicles, appliances, and aggregate material (concrete, etc.) may be recycled locally.
   2. These materials must be cleaned sufficiently of ash and debris at the site to allow safe transportation. Staff may reject loads that appear to be contaminated.
   3. If recyclable materials cannot be cleaned of ash and debris, they must be handled and disposed of as mixed burn debris.
9. Soil should be sampled and analyzed to verify that cleanup standards have been met.
   1. Following removal of all debris and impacted solid from the site, soil samples should be collected from the impacted structure area. Sample collection should be performed under the supervision of a California licensed Professional Civil Engineer, Petroleum Engineer, or Geologist. A report of analytical results should be prepared by this engineering contractor.
   2. Confirmation samples should be collected from the impacted structure area (burn footprint) in native soil, to effectively represent the cleanup area. The selection of sample locations should be based on a 10 by 10-foot grid overlay of the impacted area with the number of samples to be collected based on the square footage.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Property owners and their contractors should use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling burn debris and ash (Level C protection). This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Respiratory protection – such as a N-95 or P-100 particulate mask or other NIOSH approved respirator
• Eye protection – safety goggles or safety glasses
• Chemical resistant clothing (one piece coverall, hooded two-piece chemical splash suit, chemical resistant hood and apron, disposable chemical resistant coveralls.)
• Hand protection – heavy work gloves
• Head protection – hard hat
• Foot protection – shoes or boots with heavy lug soles
• Clothing – long pants and long-sleeved shirts, Tyvek or similar protective, disposable clothing
• Hearing protection – if working in an area with excessive noise from equipment such as chain saws, backhoes, tractors, or other heavy equipment

General Guidance for Handling or Removal of Ash

• Wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and avoid skin contact.
• If you do get ash on your skin, wash it off as soon as possible.
• If you have a vegetable garden or fruit trees, wash the fruit or vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
• Avoid getting ash into the air as much as possible. Do not use leaf blowers or take other actions that will put ash into the air.
• Shop vacuums and other common vacuum cleaners do not filter out small particles, but rather blow such particles out the exhaust into the air where they can be breathed. The use of shop vacuums and other non-HEPA filter vacuums is not recommended. HEPA filter vacuums could be used, if available.
• Well-fitting dust masks may provide some protection during cleanup. A mask rated N-95 or P-100 will be more effective than simpler dust or surgical masks in blocking particles from ash. In general, many ash particles are larger than those found in smoke; thus, wearing a dust mask can significantly reduce (but not completely eliminate) the number of particles inhaled.
• Persons with heart or lung disease should consult their physician before using a mask during post-fire cleanup.
• If ash is wet down, use as little water as possible.

Debris Removal Recycling and Disposal Resources

Please note – Information listed below may change without notice

Concrete/Asphalt

Concrete and asphalt are crushed to use for road base. Contractors and haulers are advised to call and verify requirements of any facility where concrete material is to be taken.

Cotati

Stony Point Rock Quarry
http://www.stonypointrockquarry.com
7171 Stony Point Rd
(707) 795-1775
Mon-Fri 7:00-3:30 – Drop-off and fee; asphalt chunks, grindings, concrete (rebar okay)

Forestville

Canyon Rock
http://www.canyonrockinc.com
7525 Highway 116
(707) 887-2207
Mon-Fri 7:00-5:00, Sat 7:00-12:00 – Drop-off and fee; asphalt grindings and clean concrete and/or asphalt chunks (rebar/wire okay)

Jerry Krahne’s Hauling
(707) 887-1253
By appointment – Pickup and fee, call for a quote

Graton

AC Hauling
http://www.achauling.com
(707) 824-0640
By appointment – Hauling services, see website for details

Healdsburg

Vulcan materials – Healdsburg
https://www.vulcanmaterials.com/construction-materials/facilities/healdsburg-recycle
13666 Healdsburg Ave
(707) 433-3366
Mon-Fri 7:00-3:00 – Drop-off fee; asphalt grindings and clean concrete and/or asphalt chunks (rebar up to 1 inch okay); loads inspected

Petaluma

 1-800-ECOHAUL
https://ecohaul.com/
(800) ECO-HAUL or (800) 326-4285
Mon-Sat 8:00-5:00 – Pick-up and fee, call for a quote; servicing all of Sonoma County

Santa Rosa

1-800-GOT-JUNK?
https://www.1800gotjunk.com/us_en
(800) GOT-JUNK or (800) 468-5865
24 hours – Pick-up and fee, call for a quote

BoDean Company, Inc. (Santa Rosa Asphalt Plant)
https://bodeancompany.com/
1060 Maxwell Dr
(707) 576-3048
Mon-Fri 7:00-3:30 – Drop-off and fee; asphalt grindings and asphalt chunks 3ft or less

Global Materials Recovery Services
https://www.industrial-carting.com/global-materials-recovery-services
3899 Santa Rosa Ave
(707) 585-8246
(Main drop-off) Mon-Sat 7:00-5:00 – Drop-off and fee; clean concrete and/or asphalt chunks 3ft or less; no rebar or wire
(Recycling Center) Tues-Sat 8-3 – Non-ferrous scrap metals; See Metal/ Scrap Section Below

Industrial Carting
https://www.industrial-carting.com/industrial-carting
3899 Santa Rosa Ave
(707) 585-0511 o (707) 529-9206
Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00 – Offers a variety of debris box services; call at least 24 hours in advance

Recology
https://www.recology.com/recology-sonoma-marin/debris-boxes/
3400 Standish Ave
(800) 243-0291
Mon-Fri 7-6, Sat 7-3 – Offers a variety of debris box services

Wheeler Zamaroni
http://www.wzsupply.com
3500 Petaluma Hill Rd
(707) 543-8400
Mon-Fri 7:00-4:30, Sat 8-4 – Drop-off and fee; clean concrete and/or asphalt chunks

Sonoma

Soils Plus
https://soils-plus.com/
4343 Stage Gulch Rd
(707) 996-3400
Mon-Fri 7-3:00, Sat 8-12:30 – Drop-off and fee; asphalt chunks and grindings, and concrete; rebar okay

Windsor

Pacific Sanitation
https://www.pacificsanitation.com/recycle-facility/
590 Caletti Ave
(707) 838-2697 or (877) 698-8473
Mon-Fri 7:00-4:30, Sat 7:00-12:00 – Pick-up and fee; All types

Other

Hurricane Hauling & Demolition, Inc.
http://www.hurricanehauling.com
55 De Luca Place, Suite B, San Rafael
(415) 456-3407
Mon-Fri 8-5 – Pick-up and fee

Metal/Scrap

Ferrous metals contain iron (e.g., steel); magnets stick to ferrous metal.

Non-ferrous metals do not contain iron (e.g., brass, aluminum, copper). Recology customers may place small household scrap metal items (not smaller than 4 inches long and not larger than 2 feet in any dimension and weighing less than 25 pounds) in their blue recycling bin.

How to prepare the metal items for disposal: Remove textile, rubber, and plastic components. No freon-containing appliances. Metal items must fit loosely in the cart.

Recyclable scrap metal (ferrous and non-ferrous metals) is banned from disposal at County refuse disposal sites. All County refuse disposal sites, as well as a number of other locations, offer recycling for scrap metal.  

*Satellite Dish: Remove plastic components first, then recycle according to the rules above.

Forestville

Jerry Krahne’s Hauling
(707) 887-1253
By appointment – Pickup and fee, call for a quote; mixed ferrous and non-ferrous metal (unstripped electrical wire okay)

Guerneville

Guerneville Transfer Station – Recycling
13450 Pocket Dr
(707) 869-3878
Mon-Tues 8:00-4:00, Thurs-Sat 8:00-4:00 – Drop-off; ferrous and non-ferrous metals smaller than 4 feet x 8 feet

Healdsburg

Healdsburg Transfer Station
166 Alexander Valley Rd
(707) 433-5631
Mon-Sat 8:00-4:00 – Drop-off; ferrous and non-ferrous metals smaller than 4 feet x 8 feet

Petaluma

1-800-ECOHAUL
https://ecohaul.com/
(800) ECO-HAUL or (800) 326-4285
Mon-Sat 8-5 – Pick-up and fee, call for a quote; ferrous and non-ferrous metals, insulated wire accepted

Central Disposal Site – Recycling
500 Mecham Rd
(707) 795-3660
Mon-Sat 7-3 – Drop-off; ferrous and non-ferrous metals smaller than 4 feet x 8 feet

Petaluma Junk Company
http://www.maselliandsons.com/
519 Lakeville St
(707) 778-7432
Mon-Fri 8-12, 1-4, Sat 8-11:30 – Drop-off and buyback; ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Santa Rosa

1-800-GOT-JUNK?
https://www.1800gotjunk.com/us_en
(800) GOT-JUNK or (800) 468-5865
24 hours – Pick-up and fee, call for a quote, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, insulated wire accepted

Bataeff Salvage Company
https://www.bataeffsalvage.com/
250 Mountain View Ave
(707) 584-8401
Mon-Sat 7:30-5:30 – Drop-off; ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Cream’s Dismantling and Scrap, Inc.
https://creamswrecking.co/
3621 Copperhill Ln
(707) 546-7553
Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00, Sat 9:00-3:00 – Drop-off and buyback; ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Global Materials Recovery Services
https://www.industrial-carting.com/global-materials-recovery-services
3899 Santa Rosa Ave
(707) 585-8246
(Main drop-off) Mon-Sat 7:00-5:00 – Drop-off and buyback; ferrous and non-ferrous metals; call for more information
(Recycling Center) Tues-Sat 8-3 – Non-ferrous scrap metals

Recology
https://www.recology.com/recology-sonoma-marin/debris-boxes/
3400 Standish Ave
(800) 243-0291
Mon-Fri 7-6, Sat 7-3 – Pick-up and fee, call for a quote; mixed ferrous and non-ferrous metals, insulated wire accepted

Redwood Gospel Mission
https://www.srmission.org/
1821 Piner Rd
(707)578-1830
Mon-Sat 8:00-5:00 – Drop-off; small household/kitchen metal items

Sonoma

Sonoma Transfer Station – Recycling
4376 Stage Gulch Rd
(707) 795-1693
Mon-Sat 7:00-3:00 – Drop-off; ferrous and non-ferrous metals smaller than 4 feet x 8 feet

Windsor

Pacific Sanitation
https://www.pacificsanitation.com/recycle-facility/
590 Caletti Ave
(707) 838-2697 or (877) 698-8473
Mon-Fri 7:00-4:30, Sat 7:00-12:00 – Pick-up and fee, call for a quote; ferrous and non-ferrous metals, insulated wire accepted

West Coast Metals
470 Caletti Ave
(707) 838-9731
Mon-Fri 7:00-3:30, Sat 7:00-2:30 – Drop-off; ferrous and non-ferrous metals, insulated wire accepted

Other

Hurricane Hauling & Demolition, Inc.
http://www.hurricanehauling.com
55 De Luca Place, Suite B, San Rafael
(415) 456-3407
Mon-Fri 8-5 – Pick-up and fee

Sims Metal- Richmond
https://www.simsmm.com/locations/richmond-california/
600 South 4th Street, Richmond
(510) 412-5300
Mon-Fri 6-3:30 ferrous metals; 7- 3:30 non-ferrous metals – Drop-off and buyback; ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including grape stakes; no fencing, razor wire, or barb wire

Sims Metal- Hayward
https://www.simsmm.com/locations/hayward-california-industrial/
30104 Industrial Parkway SW, Hayward, CA
(510) 400-4679
Mon-Fri 6-3:00 – Drop-off and buyback; ferrous and non-ferrous metals, appliances accepted for free

Landfills