Beyond Waste home > Navigate to a plan section > Recommendation SW15 — Continually reduce disposal impacts on human health and the environment

Recommendation SW15: Continually reduce disposal impacts on human health and the environment. Coordinate with efforts on climate change, Puget Sound and other Washington waters, and reducing toxic threats work.

Ensure that disposal facilities, including waste-to-energy facilities, do not pose threats to human health and the environment by reducing the toxicity of disposed wastes and by closely monitoring and continually improving operation, closure, and post-closure practices over time. Specific steps include:

• Address emerging disposal impacts of both new and existing materials.
• Develop a long-term strategy to ensure that disposal fees reflect complete costs and that no costs (such as future cleanup) are passed on to future generations.
• Establish a schedule to regularly assess disposal facility requirements and propose changes, as needed, to ensure adequate public health and environmental protection.
• Have a regularly updated inventory of infrastructure for waste disposal and transfer, including environmental impacts.
• Incorporate into local plans the goal of minimizing impacts of waste disposal and transfer.

Milestone SW R: Research and recommendations on long-term waste disposal and transfer impacts and requirements is ongoing.

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