Waste Removal & Cleanup
Prepared by Alyson Meister (she/her)
MPH Candidate at the OHSU - PSU School of Public Health
Wildfire Cleanup
Cleanup after a wildfire is one of the first steps on the road to recovery of wellbeing for those impacted. The mental, physical, and financial strain that wildfire disasters impose on those affected is immense. Therefore, ensuring that the process of rebuilding can be done in a safe and timely manner is essential to maintaining livelihoods. These cleanup efforts require the coordination of state, federal, local and community agencies to safely and effectively restore impacted areas. The removal of household hazardous waste (HHW) comes first in order to minimize exposure of hazardous substances to the public, followed by the removal of other materials, such as hazard trees, ash, and debris, in order to prepare sites for rebuilding.
Cleanup Occurs in Two Steps
Step 1: Household Hazardous Waste Removal
In Oregon, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are tasked with the removal of household hazardous waste (HHW) following a wildfire disaster.
They are concerned with removing items such as: fuel, car batteries, paint, bleach, fertilizers, pesticides, solvents, ammunition, asbestos, and more (Oregon Department of Emergency Management, 2020).
This step helps minimize exposure of these materials to the public and protects the workers that are performing step 2. This step typically takes 3-6 months to perform.
Step 2: Removal of Other Materials
In Oregon, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and state hired contractors lead the effort in the removal of hazard trees, ash, and debris to prepare for rebuilding. This step follows the conclusion of Step 1.
They first remove any metal, followed by the ash and debris, and then the concrete footings. Once that is complete, they perform testing for heavy metals.
This step preps the site for rebuilding and typically takes 6-18 months to perform.
Step 1: Household Hazardous Waste Removal
Exposure to materials collected during step one pose serious threats to human health and are prioritized in order to limit exposure to the occupational groups completing step two of the cleanup process as well as the general public. There are safety considerations during both the removal and disposal process to protect workers and the surrounding areas.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that has been widely used in the industry and is associated with adverse effects on human health including: lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012). Due to its heat resistant properties it has applications in a number of building materials such as: roof shingles, ceiling and flooring tiles, textured paints, and insulation. Exposure to asbestos-containing materials is regulated by Oregon DEQ and there is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos (DEQ, 2022).
During the cleanup process, asbestos and other hazardous materials are collected and delivered to a staging site. At the staging site, wastes are categorized, placed into appropriate containers, and then transported to approved disposal facilities (EPA Regions, 2020).
Removal, Storage, Transport and Disposal
Friable: asbestos-containing materials that can be crushed, crumbled or pulverized
Non-friable: asbestos-containing materials where the fibers are held together and will not easily release. Non-friable material may become friable during any part of the cleanup process if mishandled or damaged.
Removal: These materials must be properly packaged before they are taken outside and requirements for removal include proper HEPA filtration, ventilation, and wet methods to keep the fibers from being released into the air.
Storage: Asbestos-containing waste material may not be stored in the open and must be packaged in leak-tight plastics bags or similar packaging. It must also have an asbestos warning label attached, the name of the person doing the removal, and the address from where it was removed.
Transport and disposal: The waste must be taken to a DEQ approved disposal facility and a completed Asbestos Waste Shipment Report Form (ASN-4) must be presented at the time of disposal. Landfills and transfer stations in Oregon that accept asbestos waste can be found on the DEQs website (DEQ, 2020c).
(DEQ, 2020b)
Crystalline Silica
Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in the earth's crust and can be found in building materials like stone, concrete, mortar, bricks, and artificial stone (Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], n.d.). Respirable crystalline silica are very small particles at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand and is created when cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing the materials mentioned above.
According to OSHA, occupational exposure to silica impacts over 2.3 million people in the U.S. Workers who inhale crystalline silica particles are at increased risk of developing serious diseases including:
Silicosis
Lung cancer
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Kidney disease (OSHA, n.d.)
The CDC's Health Hazard Evaluation Program (HHE) examined possible health hazards of workers during cleanup after the Carr Fire cleanup in Northern California. One of their major findings was that "some employees were overexposed to respirable crystalline silica" (Beaucham & Eisenberg, 2019). Recommendations to address this were made following the framework of the hierarchy of controls which orders actions by their likely effectiveness starting with the elimination of hazards and ending with personal protective equipment.
Soil Testing
Once hazardous materials have been removed from a site it is important to do soil testing to make sure it is not contaminated before moving forward in the cleanup process. While this is listed in step one, soil should also be tested once materials are removed in step two and prior to starting rebuilding. At a minimum, DEQ requires that impacted areas be sampled and analyzed for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act's (RCRA) 8 metals:
The table below from (DEQ, 2020a) shows the guidelines for concentrations of these metals after wildfire. If the concentration of at least one of the metals exceeds the health screening level, DEQ recommends that an additional six inches of soil be removed and testing be repeated until the guidelines are met (DEQ, 2020a).
Step 2: Removal of Other Materials
During cleanup, many different materials are collected and removed from impacted sites. The nature of each material determines how it will be removed and where it will go. Many materials are able to be recycled and reused in new ways. This not only helps communities rebuild by providing access to materials, but it also diverts materials from being sent to landfills which is costly both financially and for the environment.
Ash
Ash may contain hazardous waste materials such as asbestos and RCRA's 8 metals which can be harmful to health if inhaled. Therefore, care is needed when cleaning up and handling these materials.
Objects may be buried under the piles of ash so take caution when walking around.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as: sturdy footwear, eye goggle, N95 respirator, work gloves, and disposable coveralls. If disposable coveralls are not available, dispose into clean clothes afterward.
DON'T use a leaf blower as it can cause more particles to become airborne. If possible, use water to wet the ash to prevent more particles from becoming airborne.
DON'T let children in or around the area.
Wash any recovered items with water and ensure that the water is not directed into stormwater or surface water as it can impact water quality.
(DEQ, n.d.)
Concrete
Concrete removed from sites affected by wildfire can be recycled. Prior to transport it should be cleaned with water to reduce the spread of asbestos and other contaminants.
After the 2017 wildfires in Sonoma County, Pacific Recycling Solutions, accepted recoverable fire debris such as concrete, metal, and burnt vehicles. Large pieces of concrete are broken into smaller pieces, fed into a mobile crusher, and then ground to meet requirements for reuse in sidewalks, roads, and driveways.
The repurposed material provides an inexpensive, local resource for rebuilding the community. Providing both a literal and metaphorical foundation for recovery.
(Brown, 2018)
Hazard Trees
Trees damaged by wildfire are at risk of falling unpredictably and causing injury or death to people and damage to property. Additionally, if the damaged or felled trees are not removed they may prevent ecosystem restoration.
What happens to the trees once they're cut?
Left on-site
Used for restoration projects
Shared for cultural or community use via firewood, etc.
Commercial use
(Mt. Hood Forest Service, 2020)
Biomass One, L.P. turned wood debris from the Almeda fire into electricity that powered local homes. (OregonDOT, 2021c)
Metal
Metal removed from sites affected by wildfire can be recycled. Prior to transport it should be cleaned with water to reduce the spread of asbestos and other contaminants.
After the 2020 wildfires in Oregon, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Cherry City Metals, and PNW Metal Recycling recovered over 5,440 tons of metal debris from wildfire damaged homes.
Once it is received by one of these recyclers, it is inspected, processed, melted, and turned into a new product in under 60 days. Similarly to recycled concrete, this new material is often used to help rebuild the affected communities.
Diverting these materials from a landfill when possible is important to further reduce the impacts of the wildfire on our resources.
(OregonDOT, 2021b)
Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery
Debris management dashboard for 2020 wildfires
Making Connections
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References
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