Agenda Packets - 1986/11/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LUEET-3. solid and Hazardous Waste Management (B) The lea ue supports state programs designed to minimize or eliminate need to landfill solid and hazardous waste. The problem of regulating, controlling, and disposing of solid and ..azardous waste will be one of the major environmental issues of the next decade, both nationally and locally. Major state legislation addressing this issue has been enacted annually since 1980. These acts responded to the concerns and issues raised by the League and local government and we commend the Legislature for its actions. The existing waste management and control system for the handling and disposal of hazardous materials centralizes responsibility at the state level but requires the cooperation and support of all levels of government. The system established for solid waste is more diffuse, relying on cities to control and regulate collection, counties to regulate or operate existing landfills, and the state to coordinate responsibilities and plan for future disposal needs. Both systems have been designed to foster and encourage abatement, recycling, and resource recovery for as much of the waste stream as possible and then to assure environmentally sound disposal for the remaining waste. The system has not been entirely implemented as yet, but it appears to be working and therefore the League does not perceive a need for major changes to existing legislation at the present time, but any future legislation that may be considered should enhance and not diminish the emphasis on these concerns: 1. Effective Planning. To the greatest extent possible, all levels and units of government and the private sector should be involved in p..l phases of planning and managing the solid and hazardous waste streams to assure a cost-efficient and environmentally sound solid waste and hazardous waste disposal system. 2. Alternatives to Landfills. The League strongly endorses abatement, recycling, and resource recovery activities and programs to reduce the need for the land disposalof waste. The goal should be to reduce to the maximum extent practical the need fer land disposal of unprocessed solid waste, and to totally avoid the land disposal of hazardous waste. The League would support the eventual prohibition of Jisposal of unprocessed solid waste in landfills as cost-efficient alternatives are developed site funding is provided to cities to implement their responsibilities in a revised solid waste management system. A tax on solid waste deposited in landfills would be supported by the League it the funds derived from the tax would be used to establish a fund to pay for post-clnoure costs of landfills and to finance recycling sod abatemment programs in the political jurisdiction where the tax is derived. .n order to make local waste programs viable, a process for regulating the flow of solid waste must be available to provide a sufficient source of waste for any recovery program or facility. The Leagup also supports the concept that producers of solid waste should pay the true and full costs of solid waste disposal and commends the Legislature for its forward looking initiatives during -33-