Waste to Energy, Landfill, and Recycling Facilities

For over 25 years, RMM has advised public and private entities, including Waste Management of California, Inc., the Merced County Regional Waste Authority (MCRWA), and Californians Against Waste (CAW), regarding legislative enforcement actions as well as the permitting, expansion, and operation of individual municipal solid waste and hazardous waste landfills, bioreactors, organic recovery facilities, landfill gas to energy projects, transfer stations, and material recovery facilities throughout California.

RMM advises public agencies and project proponents on compliance with CEQA, the Integrated Waste Management Act (AB 939), the Tanner Act, the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA), the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act, the state and federal endangered species acts, and the Ralph M. Brown Act, among other related statutes.

RMM successfully obtained a writ of mandate requiring the City of Thousand Oaks to hold a new public hearing on the award of a franchise agreement to Athens Services on behalf of petitioner G.I. Industries.

RMM filed a petition for writ of mandate on behalf of CAW against the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to compel the agency to comply with its ministerial duties under the Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act (“Act”) and reimburse curbside and collection programs for underpayments in 2024.

On behalf of Waste Management, RMM successfully defended the approvals for operational updates to a large-scale composting and anaerobic digestion facility at the Davis Street Transfer Station in San Leandro, both at trial and on appeal.

RMM successfully defended the approvals and the related EIR for the expansion of the Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Facility, one of the two remaining permitted hazardous waste facilities in California. RMM represented Chemical Waste Management, Inc. during the administrative process, at the trial court, and on appeal.

RMM continues to work on various landfill-related projects in Marin County, Alameda County, the City of Irwindale, and the City of Simi Valley, among others.