HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCW 70A.205.005RCW 70A.205.005 Legislative finding—Priorities—Goals. The
legislature finds:
(1) Continuing technological changes in methods of manufacture,
packaging, and marketing of consumer products, together with the
economic and population growth of this state, the rising affluence of
its citizens, and its expanding industrial activity have created new
and ever-mounting problems involving disposal of garbage, refuse, and
solid waste materials resulting from domestic, agricultural, and
industrial activities.
(2) Traditional methods of disposing of solid wastes in this
state are no longer adequate to meet the ever-increasing problem.
Improper methods and practices of handling and disposal of solid
wastes pollute our land, air and water resources, blight our
countryside, adversely affect land values, and damage the overall
quality of our environment.
(3) Considerations of natural resource limitations, energy
shortages, economics and the environment make necessary the
development and implementation of solid waste recovery and/or
recycling plans and programs.
(4) Waste reduction must become a fundamental strategy of solid
waste management. It is therefore necessary to change manufacturing
and purchasing practices and waste generation behaviors to reduce the
amount of waste that becomes a governmental responsibility.
(5) Source separation of waste must become a fundamental strategy
of solid waste management. Collection and handling strategies should
have, as an ultimate goal, the source separation of all materials with
resource value or environmental hazard.
(6)(a) It should be the goal of every person and business to
minimize their production of wastes and to separate recyclable or
hazardous materials from mixed waste.
(b) It is the responsibility of state, county, and city
governments to provide for a waste management infrastructure to fully
implement waste reduction and source separation strategies and to
process and dispose of remaining wastes in a manner that is
environmentally safe and economically sound. It is further the
responsibility of state, county, and city governments to monitor the
cost-effectiveness and environmental safety of combusting separated
waste, processing mixed municipal solid waste, and recycling programs.
(c) It is the responsibility of county and city governments to
assume primary responsibility for solid waste management and to
develop and implement aggressive and effective waste reduction and
source separation strategies.
(d) It is the responsibility of state government to ensure that
local governments are providing adequate source reduction and
separation opportunities and incentives to all, including persons in
both rural and urban areas, and nonresidential waste generators such
as commercial, industrial, and institutional entities, recognizing the
need to provide flexibility to accommodate differing population
densities, distances to and availability of recycling markets, and
collection and disposal costs in each community; and to provide county
and city governments with adequate technical resources to accomplish
this responsibility.
(7) Environmental and economic considerations in solving the
state's solid waste management problems requires strong consideration
by local governments of regional solutions and intergovernmental
cooperation.
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(8) The following priorities for the collection, handling, and
management of solid waste are necessary and should be followed in
descending order as applicable:
(a) Waste reduction;
(b) Recycling, with source separation of recyclable materials as
the preferred method;
(c) Energy recovery, incineration, or landfill of separated
waste;
(d) Energy recovery, incineration, or landfill of mixed municipal
solid wastes.
(9) It is the state's goal to achieve a fifty percent recycling
rate by 2007.
(10) It is the state's goal that programs be established to
eliminate residential or commercial yard debris in landfills by 2012
in those areas where alternatives to disposal are readily available
and effective.
(11) Steps should be taken to make recycling at least as
affordable and convenient to the ratepayer as mixed waste disposal.
(12) It is necessary to compile and maintain adequate data on the
types and quantities of solid waste that are being generated and to
monitor how the various types of solid waste are being managed.
(13) Vehicle batteries should be recycled and the disposal of
vehicle batteries into landfills or incinerators should be
discontinued.
(14) Excessive and nonrecyclable packaging of products should be
avoided.
(15) Comprehensive education should be conducted throughout the
state so that people are informed of the need to reduce, source
separate, and recycle solid waste.
(16) All governmental entities in the state should set an example
by implementing aggressive waste reduction and recycling programs at
their workplaces and by purchasing products that are made from
recycled materials and are recyclable.
(17) To ensure the safe and efficient operations of solid waste
disposal facilities, it is necessary for operators and regulators of
landfills and incinerators to receive training and certification.
(18) It is necessary to provide adequate funding to all levels of
government so that successful waste reduction and recycling programs
can be implemented.
(19) The development of stable and expanding markets for
recyclable materials is critical to the long-term success of the
state's recycling goals. Market development must be encouraged on a
state, regional, and national basis to maximize its effectiveness. The
state shall assume primary responsibility for the development of a
multifaceted market development program to carry out the purposes of
chapter 431, Laws of 1989.
(20) There is an imperative need to anticipate, plan for, and
accomplish effective storage, control, recovery, and recycling of
discarded tires and other problem wastes with the subsequent
conservation of resources and energy. [2002 c 299 s 3; 1989 c 431 s
1; 1985 c 345 s 1; 1984 c 123 s 1; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 41 s 1; 1969
ex.s. c 134 s 1. Formerly RCW 70.95.010.]
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