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About the plan

The Beyond Waste Plan, issued in November 2004, is a long-term strategy for systematically eliminating wastes and the use of toxic substances. Beyond Waste meets state law requirements for statewide solid- and hazardous-waste plans for the state of Washington.

Five Selected Initiatives

Based on research, it was decided that the first steps for progressing toward Beyond Waste should focus on the following five areas or initiatives:

1. Moving toward Beyond Waste with Industries
2. Reducing small volume hazardous materials and wastes
3. Establishing a recycling system for organic materials
4. Moving toward Beyond Waste through “Green Building” practices
5. Measuring progress toward Beyond Waste

In addition to these five future-directed initiatives, a number of additional recommendations are included to address pressing issues in the existing solid waste and hazardous waste management systems.

The plan consists of the 75-page summary document, PLUS 13 in-depth background papers. Navigate to a specific section of the summary or Download a 9-page guide to the Beyond waste recommendations.

Transforming to Beyond Waste

Here’s why Beyond Waste will be brought to fruition with a major change in the way we think and act.

Beyond Waste will transform the environmental regulatory climate in Washington as toxic ingredients or wastes are eliminated at the source by either safely returning materials to the environment or efficiently recycling them into industrial processes. This transformation will slowly do away with the hidden cost of hazardous materials that are paid by society in the form of increased health costs, environmental clean-up costs, and degraded ecosystems. The production of new goods and services that are designed to be reused and not thrown away will reduce waste management and liability costs, improve the bottom line for business and it has the potential to create whole new markets for products and services designed to be non-toxic.

If wastes and toxics aren’t generated in the first place, then nothing is left to regulate. The result will be less cost for industry, less government regulation, new global markets, a very competitive market economy and a better, cleaner environment.

Additional thinking behind the Beyond Waste Plan.

1. The Beyond Waste Project is a strategic response to a long-term problem.
   We have good waste management in the state of Washington. Many businesses work hard to comply with environmental regulations. The waste management haulers and companies have put in place an excellent disposal infrastructure for Washington. Many citizens choose to recycle. But in the long-term, what we are doing is not nearly enough. Reputable studies increasingly point to the health impacts of industrial waste and hazardous materials on human beings. We can no longer “afford” as a society to produce toxic materials and wastes that are causing increasing health problems and learning disabilities in our children.
2. The Beyond Waste Project is built on a long-range vision.
   This project is designed around a 30-year vision to greatly reduce and—where possible—eliminate waste and the use of toxic materials in manufacturing processes. It focuses on building the partnerships and infrastructure to make changes in an orderly, effective and economically viable manner.
3. Much scientific and policy research have gone into the Beyond Waste approach to the future.
   Ecology staff and consultants spent several years researching science and policy to identify the actions that would be of greatest benefit to public health and long-term economic and environmental sustainability. The project recommendations build on areas where we have already had success.
4. The vision is multi-dimensional.
   The Beyond Waste vision does not focus just on environmental protection. Rather, the vision calls for the elimination of waste within a framework of “economic, social and environmental vitality.”
5. Washington citizens, businesses and local governments worked in partnership with Ecology to give the project its 30-year vision.
   Ecology staff has spent months talking to diverse stakeholders throughout the state. People told us that we have to move beyond the idea of waste and into a way of living which sees most wastes as resources to fuel a healthy economy, a healthy environment and a good standard of living.
6. The focus is on fewer regulations over time.
   The focus is on environmentally-sound practices through the use of positive tools such as: collaborative agreements to reduce wastes; possible incentives to business; better measurements; infrastructure and market development; and using state purchasing power and leadership to promote best practices.
7. Ecology listened to many stakeholders before developing any draft recommendations.
   Ecology staff has solicited feedback regarding proposed initiatives from literally hundreds of people. We have worked with the State Solid Waste Advisory Committee, the Solid Waste Policy Forum, Public Health officials and other groups representing both public and private sector interests. We surveyed businesses and conducted focus groups to better understand businesses’ needs in these challenging times.