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Review of Changes: 11/23/2011 Page 1 Klickitat County Solid Waste Management Plan Review of Changes Introduction The new Klickitat County Solid Waste Management Plan is a relatively simple update of the existing plan. The solid waste system is working well in Klickitat County, but a periodic review of solid waste plans is required by state law. Chapter 70.95.110 RCW states that “…county solid waste management plans … shall be maintained in a current condition and reviewed and revised periodically by counties and cities as may be required by the Department of Ecology.” Overview The Klickitat Solid Management Plan has been reorganized and updated. Some items have been moved around and new sections have been added. The current (2000) plan contains a chapter that fulfills the requirements for a Moderate Risk Waste (MRW) plan, but this was not updated in the new solid waste plan. Instead, the MRW chapter from the 2000 Plan is attached as an appendix to the new plan and is considered to be still applicable. New chapters added to the proposed plan include: an Executive Summary that summarizes the recommendations and other key aspects of the new plan. a new chapter (Chapter 5) on Organics, which contains some material taken out of the recycling chapter and also contains some new material. an Implementation Chapter, which provides details about costs, schedules and responsible parties for the recommended actions. Specific Changes in the New Plan The recommendations contained in the previous solid waste plan have been revised extensively, but most of those revisions are quite minor. The wording for many of the recommendations in the 2000 plan was revised simply to update the language or clarify various points. Some of the recommendations were also deleted altogether because they were directed at activities that are no longer being practiced or were no longer applicable for other reasons. A few recommendations were added to several of the chapters. The following summary concentrates on the most significant of the new recommendations being added to the plan. In addition to revisions to the recommendations, information in the plan was also updated for legislative changes, recycling and disposal data, and other basic information. State statutes, rules and local ordinances have been updated and in some cases have been moved to new sections of the plan. Information on the State’s Beyond Waste Plan (revised in 2009) has been included. The costs for maintaining Horsethief landfill, closed in 1994, as well as other costs, have been updated. Recycling and disposal data, population data, and other information throughout the plan have also been updated. ---PAGE BREAK--- Review of Changes: 11/23/2011 Page 2 In Chapter 3, Waste Reduction, new recommendations include: The primary efforts of the County will be to promote existing programs, facilities and other opportunities for waste reduction, including programs that reduce the volume and/or toxicity of hazardous wastes. The cities, towns and Allied Waste will assist the County by, at a minimum, including waste reduction messages in information provided to their residents or customers at least annually. County staff will conduct workshops on yard debris and food waste composting. Backyard composting of yard debris and food scraps will be promoted by the County, with assistance from the cities, towns, and Allied Waste as appropriate. The Model Recycling Plan should be fully implemented, including speakers, brochures and radio ads. Chapter 4, Recycling: Although the current recycling rate is low the SWAC advised keeping the recycling and waste reduction goal at 50%. New recommendations for recycling include: Continue the curbside recycling program. Install better signage on and near recycling drop boxes. Cities should provide more outreach and other assistance in promoting recycling and related programs. Chapter 5, Organics: the new plan contains a recommendation for reinstating the brush chipping program, as well as the following new recommendations: The cities, towns and Allied Waste will assist the County in promoting backyard composting and, unless or until the wood waste chipping program is begun again, will also assist with promoting proper onsite handling of wood waste. Other proposals or recommendations that may arise in the future for diverting organics should be considered based on their relative merits such as cost effectiveness and other factors. Chapter 6, Waste Collection: There is one new recommendation proposed for waste collection activities: Service-providers should provide information to new customers, and to existing customers at least annually, that describes the available waste collection and recycling services. Chapter 7, Transfer Facilities, Chapter 8, Waste Import/Export, Chapter 9, Disposal, and Chapter 10, Administration: There re no new recommendations being made for transfer facilities, waste import and export, disposal, or administration.