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Memo to: Mayor and Council <br />From: Joyce Brown, Council Member <br />Date: June 22, 1992 <br />AGENDA U.,26 <br />SOLID WASTE XANAGWMNT PLAN BASED ON WASTE REDUCTION <br />BACKGROUND <br />The Draft Scope of Work for Solid Waste Plan was recently presented <br />to the Landfill Owners' Group (LOG) by the LOG staff . The Scope of <br />Work focuses on studies of engineering and volume reduction <br />solutions to our solid waste problem with these technologies given <br />considerable funding through staff and consultant time. Waste <br />reduction as opposed to volume reduction programs are relegated to <br />citizens' committees with little or no noticeable funding. <br />As an elected official who believes that a waste reduction program <br />is economically and environmentally preferable to a volume <br />reduction approach, a challenge was given to me to develop a <br />different plan. This is that plan. Because of time constraints it <br />is intended to focus on philosphy and policy. While the LOG Staff <br />has been working on their plan for considerable time, this waste <br />reduction plan was developed by myself with help from like- minded <br />citizens in a matter of a few days. It is, therefore, a framework <br />and a direction, with work yet to be done, but it needs as careful <br />consideration as the LOG staff proposed study. <br />OVERVIEW <br />Citizen acceptance is essential with solid waste matters, and <br />citizens much more easily accept that which they play a strong role <br />in developing. The process outlined in this plan deals with <br />lifestyle changes and costs that will affect every household and <br />taxpayer, and citizen involvement in every step is important. This <br />waste reduction plan, therefore, has citizen participation as an <br />essential element. And as indicated at two public hearings in 1988 <br />and one in 1992, citizens of Orange County are ready for a plan <br />based on waste reduction, not volume reduction. Expertise is <br />necessary and our staff is particularly competent to provide that <br />knowledge. More time would be available for planning and <br />management with additional staff. <br />This plan would also look at solid waste from a broad perspective <br />including economic, environmental and public health aspects of <br />solid waste planning. As the search for additional landfill space <br />continues, causing pain and division within our County, and as <br />awareness grows about the seriousness of our solid waste problem, <br />this plan based on waste reduction, not volume reduction, will have <br />considerable appeal. <br />This plan outlines steps to be taken in a designated sequence to <br />establish and carry out the long term goals of Orange County <br />citizens and elected officials regarding solid waste. This plan <br />establishes, as well, a commitment to a cost - benefit ratio that <br />includes dollar cost and possible cost to human health and the <br />environment. <br />1 <br />