Solid Waste Collection Vehicle Rule

This page last reviewed February 28, 2008

California's solid waste collection vehicle rule was passed in September 2003 to reduce the harmful health impacts of exhaust from diesel-fueled waste collection trucks. The solid waste collection vehicle regulation (SWCV) will reduce cancer-causing particulate matter and smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions from these trucks by requiring owners to use ARB verified control technology that best reduces emissions, following a phased-in schedule from 2004 through 2010.

Basic Explanation of the SWCV Rule

Are you a waste hauler? If you wish to receive notices regarding the California Air Resources Board Solid Waste Collection Vehicle Rule, sign-up to the SWCV listserve

The following What's New links provides the latest information regarding the SWCV regulation.

What's New...
February 29, 2008:
Mailout MSC 08-05 is now available - ARB issued an advisory to provide guidance for differentiating solid waste collection vehicles (SWCV) from transfer trucks, which are not subject to the SWCV regulation.
November 19, 2007:
Mailout MSC 07-32 is now available - ARB issued an advisory notifying owners and operators of vehicles subject to the Solid Waste Collection Vehicle Rule December 31, 2007 compliance deadline for implementing best available control technology for Groups 1, 2a, and 2b. 
October 21, 2007:
Reminder Letter to Municipalities- Municipalities are required to submit an annual report to the Air Resources Board listing their contracted waste haulers information by January 31 of each year through 2010. 
September 17, 2007:
"Retirement" of a Solid Waste Collection Vehicle- The Air Resources Board has developed documents for Solid Waste Collection Vehicle (SWCV) fleet owners to insure the proper "retirement" of a SWCV vehicle. 
August 30, 2007:
Solid Waste Collection Vehicle Rule Vehicle Applicability- Advisory number 368 is now available. The advisory clarifies the applicability of the rule based on the type of work the vehicle does. A "solid waste collection vehicle" includes both vehicles specifically-designed to collect residential and commercial solid waste for a fee, as well as those vehicles not specifically-designed to do so, if it is used to collect solid waste for a fee. 
August 28, 2007:
California Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle and Engine Labeling Requirements- Revised enforcement advisory number 354 is now available. Owners/operators of on-road heavy-duty diesel vehicles should be aware of the engine, vehicle, and verified diesel emission control strategies labeling requirements of the Air Resources Board's programs and regulations.
June 4, 2007:
An updated municipal SWCV company reporting form now available- An updated form for municipalities to report their solid waste collection vehicle companies is now available. This form will replace the previously available form that is used by municipalities to provide the list of companies that perform solid waste collection operations with in their jurisdiction. A new contact name has been provided for reporting and for follow-up information. 
May 11, 2007:
A revised Enforcement Advisory number 331 is now available- Solid waste collection vehicle (SWCV) owners/operators must have 100% of all their 1988-2002 model year (MY) engines (Group 1) and 60% of all their 1960-1987 MY (Group 2a) engines compliant with the SWCV regulation by December 31, 2007. Compliance for multi-terminal solid waste collection fleets is determined at each terminal. In addition, the regulation is applicable to vehicles based on the type of work the vehicle performs (e.g. a dump truck that hauls waste for a fee is subject to the regulation), not the vehicle body type. 
May 10, 2007:
Mailout MSC 07-15 regarding the proper selection of ARB verified diesel emission control strategies (DECS), is now available- Before purchasing an ARB verified DECS, it is highly recommended that fleet operators read the applicable verification Executive Order for the DECS to be purchased. DECS installed on inappropriate engines, vehicles, and/or applications, or operated in a manner that is not compliant with the Executive Order are not verified configurations. Such configurations will not satisfy the BACT requirement of ARB fleet rules, and could expose owners of affected vehicles or equipment to potentially significant civil penalties and fines. 
March 29, 2007:
On March 6, 2007, ARB posted MSC 07-09, an advisory on Diesel Emission Control Strategies (DECS) is now available for Solid Waste Collection Group 2 Vehicles. In that posting, there was an error in the description of Group 2 vehicles.
MSC 07-12 replaces MSC 07-09 that was canceled on March 9, 2007. 
March 6, 2007:
Verified diesel emission control strategies are now available for Group 2 engines to meet BACT- ARB has recently issued an advisory, MSC 07-09, concerning compliance extensions for Group 2 solid waste collection vehicle engines. ARB will not be providing a blanket compliance extension based on section 2021.1(d)(2)(A) of the Regulation, "no verified diesel emission control strategy available for the engines", as it has for the past two years for solid waste collection vehicles.

 
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