Oregon State Integrated Resource & Solid Waste Management Plan 1995-2005

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OREGON STATE INTEGRATED RESOURCE & SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN Oregon adopted a Solid Waste Management Plan in 1979, required under the federal- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The plan set clear priorities for managing both municipal solid waste and hazardous waste. During the next ten years, the state's municipal solid waste efforts concentrated on closing dumps, bringing landfills into compli- ance, and increasing residential recycling participation. With these programs underway, it was clear in the 1,991 legislative session that a state plan was needed for integrating the facets of waste generation, recycling and disposal in the next decade. The 1991 Oregon Recycling Act requires the Environmental Quality Commission, DEQ's governing board, to adopt an Integrated Solid Waste Management, Plan by January 1, 1994. The statute also requires that the plan cover aten-year period and that it address all facets of solid waste management. A review of solid waste planning issues is mandated by law every two years and the plan is required to be updated as needed. Development of the plan was atwo-year process. To solicit a range of public input, DEQ staff organized 13 local work groups comprised of both public and private solid waste and recycling professionals and interested local citizens. At the outset of the planning pro- cess, staff met with these groups to assess critical solid waste issues that needed to be ad- dressed in the plan. The local work groups were instrumental in keeping urban and rural'. issues identified separately and ensuring that the plan included measures to address them. The local work groups met three times and received all DEQ mailings related to the plan. The Department's Solid Waste Advisory Committee provided invaluable input and , review into the overall policy direction for the plan and its goals, objectives and strategies. 3