Ecology seeks public comment on Beyond Waste Plan update

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - March 4, 2009

09-053

Ecology seeks public comment on Beyond Waste Plan update

OLYMPIA – Beyond Waste is the state's plan for managing hazardous and solid waste. It has a clear and simple 30-year goal — eliminate wastes and toxics whenever possible and use the remaining wastes as resources.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking public input as it prepares a five-year update of Beyond Waste. The plan focuses on five initiatives:

Eliminating industrial waste.
Reducing hazardous waste from households and small businesses.
Establishing a closed-loop reuse and recycling system for organic materials.
Making green building mainstream.
Tracking overall progress toward the Beyond Waste vision.

The initiatives were chosen as starting points to move Washington State beyond waste because they represent large portions of the waste stream and they impact human health and the environment.

The plan also addresses hazardous and solid waste system issues, including permitting, regulations, recycling and disposal.

"The Beyond Waste Plan still provides good direction as written," said Laurie Davies, Solid Waste Program manager. "So we're not proposing major changes. We looked at Washington’s progress over the first five years to set the direction for the next five years. We adjusted some recommendations and set new five-year milestones. Connections to current issues, such as climate change and Puget Sound health, were also given more focus."

Washington residents, businesses and organizations interested in waste- and toxics-related issues can provide feedback on the plan in one of two ways:

Send comments to Ecology by the Internet.
An electronic comment form is linked to the Review Document at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/beyondwaste/bw_comments/comments_menu.html (Link removed 05/20/09).
Send comments to Ecology staff.
Hazardous Waste Contact: Chris Chapman, ccha461@ecy.wa.gov, 360-407-7160
Solid Waste Contact: Janine Bogar, jabo461@ecy.wa.gov, 360-407-6654
Mailing Address: PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA, 98504-7600
Ecology will accept comments through March 31, 2009. (Comment extensions arranged upon request to Ecology staff.)

Ecology will issue the final updated plan in December 2009.

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Media Contacts:
Kathy Davis, Ecology media relations, 360-407-6149
Janine Bogar, Solid Waste Program, 360-407-6654
Chris Chapman, Hazardous Waste Program, 360-407-7160

For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/beyondwaste