By George Post
What is Proposition 2 really about?
This issue is not the result of public complaints. Remember, we have a waste system that allows us to haul our own garbage to our public transfer stations or have it picked up by the private franchise hauler, San Juan Sanitation.
This proposition was put on the ballot by the County Council because they can no longer avoid the long known fact that funding our waste system solely with income from the volume of garbage we export does not work and that some form of public funding is required.
Over the past 30 years, there have been multiple recommendations from both the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and county staff to the Commissioners and Councilpersons to address this fundamental funding flaw; but they all hoped that another tipping fee increase or service decrease would keep them from having to ask the citizens to help fund their own waste system.
Had we all chipped in even a fraction of the $100/year from the beginning we would never have amassed today’s deficit.
We long ago abandoned the National, State and County goals of reducing the amount of waste we export, after all, that is our source of income. Curiously, all of the surveys and public meetings around county waste policy indicate a high level of support for reuse, recycling, self hauling, hazardous waste programs and ecological concerns. Why is it that one of the wealthiest, lowest taxed, politically progressive, self governed, environmentally aware communities anywhere is unable to successfully fund and manage it’s most basic public service?
First and foremost, we are not one community. We are separate, rural, island communities each with its unique facilities and social characteristics. So we require multiple transfer stations and transportation costs are higher and we need additional waste capacity to accommodate seasonal tourists.
Like gas and food, waste too costs more than in other places. Thinking it can be otherwise is foolishness and has led us to this funding crisis.
Our island parochialism also keeps us from acting together in our collective best interests. Some on Lopez would like to go it alone, with the county’s facilities and its “Take it or Leave It.”
Orcas has the Exchange, a transfer station and ample space for more reduction opportunities.
San Juan is pretty much wedded to the Town’s facility, such as it is, and their limitations are threatening to become everyone’s.
These differences are real and suggest that more island control is needed, but privatization will result in nothing left to control, especially waste reduction efforts. We need to keep our waste system in public hands, fund it adequately and, yes, see that it serves our needs.
If we are willing because of past mistakes to abandon our community infrastructure investment and our waste reduction goals and trade them for the profit motives of a trucking company, what does that reveal about our future ability as a county to adapt to challenges to our collective best interests?
George Post is an Olga resident and one of the authors of the supporting statement for County Proposition 2 in the Voters Pamphlet.
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Mr. Post:
Thanks for your enlightening and informative comments. I have been a critic of the current waste disposal system, at least as found on Orcas, as it is environmentally destructive to have a majority of residents burning fuel and polluting the environment to travel to a single location in order to perform an environmental good (recycle).
This criticism is furthered by constant reduction of hours the facility is available and the recent fees imposed on recycling, a desired behavior. As we all know, taxing an activity reduces its practice, and subsidizing an activity encourages it. Accordingly, non-recyclable material needs to be adequately taxed, and recyclable material needs to be subsidized.
If the residents in the SJI are being asked to tax themselves for waste management, it would be reasonable to follow the above principle, increase the days available for recycling AND reduce the need to travel to a single location to deliver recyclable material.
Nelson
Orca
George:
First – credit to all you do at the Exchange. Most of us will agree this is valuable (and valued) by the Orcas Community.
But I ask if you really believe this to be true (your words): “….. but privatization will result in nothing left to control, especially waste reduction efforts.”
Is it not possble that what you fear most may never fully materiallize? Is it POSSIBLE that what we really VALUE may be maintained under a ‘new system’?
For another view please visit https://planbanotherway.com (Plan B: Another Way). Scroll to the bottom and click the White Paper Handout link. The White Paper explains some of the background of the SJC Solid Waste problem(s) and an alternative to the ballot measure/ordinance.
The ordinance itself is also posted on the site, just above the White Paper.
On the reduce/reuse/recycle issues that George raises, I don’t agree our County is up to the task – no matter how much funding they receive.
Here’s why: The County has done little to for the Three Rs in the past, and Plan A has ZERO additions to their past approaches.
The Exchange is a non-profit enterprise that’s filled a need not provide by the County system. On Lopez, Neil’s Mall is amazing, and (and can continue under Plan B). SJI has bmore reuse use than the other two combined-none of which are operated by the County. What’s the point? A super majority of Reuse options will be around if a NO vote is cast on Prop. 2.
For Recycling, Plan B offers roadside service, something not offered under Plan A. Many communities mention this as the number one reason for high recycling rates.
Progress doesn’t come from the status quo. It emerges from innovative, outside-the-box ideas, just as The Exchange did before.
Plan A is more of the same.
Plan B is an opportunity to progress ideas.