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Waste Reduction, Recycling, and the Technical Nutrient Cycle

Introduction

Solid waste handling includes management, storage, collection, diversion, transportation, treatment, use, processing, and final disposal. It is governed by the laws and regulations of federal, state, and local governments. The U.S. Congress has typically left issues relating to managing solid waste to state and local governments. In Washington State, statute gives primary authority to local government.

County governments develop policies and procedures to manage the municipal solid waste stream primarily through their local, comprehensive, solid waste management plans (CSWMP), as required by Chapter 70.95 RCW. Cities can choose to sign onto the county CSWMP, or they can create their own plans. State law also requires local planning jurisdictions to develop local hazardous waste management plans (RCW 70.105.220).

The local plans represent a cornerstone for reaching many of the Beyond Waste goals, as major investments, decisions, infrastructure, and programs must be consistent with them. Additionally, local plans must be complete and in good standing to receive grant monies from the Coordinated Prevention Grant (CPG) program, an important source of local funding for non-disposal-related programs and activities. Solid waste and hazardous waste planning at the local level can identify and plan for important investment and decision-making opportunities, such as for needed facilities and establishing service levels and programs offered to households and businesses. Ecology and others encourage and assist local jurisdictions to adopt and implement the Beyond Waste recommendations. This involves seeking opportunities to incorporate the Beyond Waste vision, goals, and recommendations into local solid waste and hazardous waste management plans.

It isn’t realistic to expect all jurisdictions to take the exact same steps. Progress in each jurisdiction is different based on unique characteristics and needs of each area, including population, distance to recycling markets, existing infrastructure, and local economy. What is important, however, is a commitment to the Beyond Waste vision.

The Beyond Waste Plan is not mandated by law nor is it a regulation requiring specific actions. It’s a combination of the state Solid Waste Plan and Hazardous Waste Plan updates, which state law does require and which guide the future management of solid and hazardous waste in Washington. Success relies on creating opportunities to advance plan goals through coordinated actions across the state. An important role for local and state government is to bring together partners with mutual interests to collaborate on implementation of the recommendations. Relying on leadership and action from the private, non-profit, and educational sectors, as well as from all levels of government, is essential to meaningful progress. The guidelines for local solid waste and hazardous waste planning have been or are being updated to ensure they reflect the Beyond Waste vision and goals, and provide local governments with ideas and opportunities.

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