Title
Agenda Item:
Resolution Accepting the Thurston County Solid Waste Management Plan of 2009
Body
Issue:
City Council adoption of the Thurston County Solid Waste Management Plan fulfills Olympia's statutory requirements for solid and hazardous waste management.
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager's Recommendation:
Move to adopt the resolution accepting the Thurston County Solid Waste Management Plan of 2009-2013 and authorize the Mayor to sign.
Staff Contact:
Dan Daniels, Director of Waste ReSources, 360.753.8780
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Under Washington State law, all counties and cities must develop a plan that provides a framework for the management of community-generated solid and hazardous waste. Several elements are mandated for inclusion within the plans, such as the identification of disposal facilities to accommodate for a 20-year planning period, waste reduction and recycling goals, proper hazardous material handling, and the funding mechanism for the jurisdiction's overall management systems. Although each community is required to maintain a plan for solid and hazardous waste, state law allows the flexibility to develop plans jointly with other communities.
The updated plan will replace the current Thurston County Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) implemented in 2002. The Plan is updated pursuant to RCW 70.95.080 and affirms the direction of proper management of solid waste, fundamental financing of the system, and availability of adequate resources for that cause.
The SWMP includes an Action Plan identifying priorities for existing system improvements. The Action Plan focuses on consistent tracking of solid waste data; the need for additional recycling and disposal facilities to provide adequate capacity and reliable service; increased attention to diversion and recycling programs lessening the demand for disposal capacity; increased recycling services to commercial, industrial and governmental sectors; full recovery organics programs; and development of a Construction and Demolition waste recycle/recovery program.
From the Action Plan, a series of objectives with supporting actions were developed as targets to be implemented over the planning period. Each action includes a statement defining the method used to measure outcomes and the basis for judging its success.
State law requires jurisdictions to review plans every five years. If amendments are needed due to changes in law or policy, a revision process is initiated through the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC). Public meetings follow to ensure interested groups and citizens have an opportunity to provide input on the current solid and hazardous waste plans, and more importantly, to propose changes. After the public comment period concludes, the plans are revised to incorporate suggested changes and sent to the SWAC for consideration. Once approved by the SWAC, it is forwarded to the Thurston County Board of Commissioners for adoption and routed to each participating municipality for adoption. The Department of Ecology receives the final plans after all participants have approved the solid and hazardous waste documents. The Thurston County Board of Commissioners recently adopted the updated SWMP by resolution (No.14791).
Efforts towards the update of this plan began in 2008. However, in 2009, a reorganization of County departments and staffing changes, together with a need for major revisions to financial elements of the plan, caused a delay in the completion of the plan update. The County has been implementing the plan direction since 2009, and it also reflects the direction set in Olympia's 2008-2013 Toward Zero Waste Plan.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
No known concerns.
Options:
1. Adopt by resolution the Thurston County Solid Waste Management Plan of 2009.
2. Reject the resolution and prepare a plan for the City's own solid waste management for integration into the comprehensive County plan.
Financial Impact:
No impact on the utility budget.