Dear Editor:
Thank you for your excellent article re. the San Juan County’s Vendor Selection Committee’s meeting about the Solid Waste proposals submitted by Orcas Recycling Services/The Exchange and Cimarron.
My question is: Why is the SJ Vendor Committee thinking Cimarron should be responsible agent for running Orcas’s solid waste system and handling the contract with ORS? In my view, logic seems to dictate it should be other way around!
ORS/The Exchange is local. ORS has a demonstrated commitment to the Orcas community and a history of serving the community. ORS has a thirty year unblemished record…no litigation. It is non-profit, in fact, It contributes money and tangible goods for reuse and good works IN the Orcas community.
And the way a sustainable waste stream works (thus far) is: Have goal of Zero Waste. User sorts and recycles everything that user can–at source– then tips what’s left…Hopefully, less and less! So if Zero Waste is goal, the organization responsible for that directive needs to be the organization that is devoted to maximum recycling and reuse…NOT the one that makes it’s money from hauling waste!!!
I’m an island visitor, working with a number of people in our Salish Sea basin to support thriving communities of all kinds. You all have in your grasp a model system that could be implemented in any small city, town, region of the country for maximum sustainable benefit of all concerned. I encourage you to actually choose it and help it work well for everyone’s benefit!
Sincerely yours,
Anne M. Stadler
Lake Forest Park, WA
Anne,
Thanks for your wisdom. I would like to talk with you about what you do. Would you call ma at 360-376-2985.
Thanks, jay
I say Lets have an online vote on the matter. It will be obvious what the citizens of Orcas Island want. We need to hold our “decision makers” accountable to us! They Must represent the wishes of Orcas Islanders, or knowingly go against the wishes of the people who elected them.
Let San Juan Sanitation owner Dan Liedecker go out of business when ORS gets the contract. Let’s not let a private enterprise push our Island around. The fact that SJS cares more about making themselves money than about the values and desires of the Orcas Public disqualifies their voice! We Can give the contract to The Exchange/ORS and SJS will be forced to play along or go out of business. Simple.
Beautifully written, intelligent, and thoughtful letter. Thank you, Anne, for the work you do and for your vote of confidence in ORS and zero waste goals not only being possible but sustainable. Would you please send your letter to Council if you haven’t already?
council@sanjuanco.com
And yes, we would like to know more about your work with the Salish Sea Basin; and thank you for doing it.