SACRAMENTO -- The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has increased enforcement of air quality regulations that reduce health-damaging smoke from diesel-fueled waste collection trucks.

"Our enforcement staff has started making regular inspections of trash trucks and terminals where these trucks are housed to ensure that waste collection companies are complying with California's air quality regulations," said ARB Executive Officer, Catherine Witherspoon.

ARB passed the Solid Waste Collection Vehicle regulation (SWCV) in September, 2003. This regulation requires waste collection fleets to upgrade their diesel-fueled trucks with technology that reduces toxic particulate matter (PM) from the vehicle exhaust. The rule also requires that proper doorjamb labels be applied to each truck to verify that the vehicle is complying with the regulation.

ARB staff continues to conduct intensive outreach to the state's waste hauling companies. Educational outreach for the regulation began with a series of workshops soliciting public comments before the regulation was adopted. After adoption, the staff hosted five implementation workshops across the state in the summer of 2004 and set up an Internet site with extensive information about the rule. Outreach continues in 2006 with ARB staff presenting information about the rule at various industry meetings and answering any questions that are phoned or emailed to ARB.

Enforcement efforts were stepped up when it became apparent that some hauling companies and municipalities were not complying with the rule. Violations of the rule can bring penalties ranging from $300 to $10,000 per violation.

More information on the Solid Waste Collection Vehicle rule, including forms necessary for compliance, are available on the SWCV web page at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/swcv/swcv.htm.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy cost, see our website at http://www.arb.ca.gov.