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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:
- Moving toward Beyond Waste with Industries
- Reducing small volume hazardous materials and wastes
- Establishing a recycling system for organic materials
- Moving toward Beyond Waste through “Green Building” practices
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.