The HWMA was formed through a joint powers agreement in 1999, and is comprised of six municipal jurisdictions (“Member Agencies”): the cities of Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Rio Dell and Humboldt County.

Today, HWMA owns and operates the Hawthorne Street Transfer Station, the Eureka Recycling Center, The Household Hazardous Waste Facility and the Cummings Road Landfill.  Member agencies direct their respective franchise solid waste haulers to deliver curbside collected solid waste to the Authority, or to one of HWMA’s contracted satellite facilities, so that material can be transported and solid waste disposed at a landfill.

In addition, the HWMA manages a number of waste reduction programs on behalf of its member agencies, operates a variety of collection and diversion programs, and manages contracts for those related activities.