President's Column

by Jim Clark

Solid Waste Reduction: Who Wants What?

I have represented Redwood Region Audubon Society (RRAS) on the Humboldt County Integrated Solid Waste Task Force for 5 years. Other than the process of selecting suitable areas for additional landfill capacity, very little ofthe task forceís activity has been directly related to what most of our members consider CONSERVATION. My primary motive for participating in the task force was not to protect theenvironment from those big dirty landfills (although I carefully watched the landfill site selection process), but to help coordinate National Audubon Society ís prioritized solid waste policy with the Stateís, as implemented in Humboldt County. How fortunate that the priorities were identical! "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," the fourth and unmentioned priority is "Return" as in return to the earth via landfill, which ties back to "Reduce," as in reduce what goes to landfill.

I believe that most Audubon members define "Reduce" in the context of solid waste as reduced packaging which leads to reduced use of natural resources which helps preserve wildlife habitat. A nifty side benefit is reduced cost of disposal and fewer landfills.

I credit the staff of the county and city agencies with doing a great job of diverting over 50% of the waste stream from our land fill, establishing a household hazardous waste collection facility, and greatly increasing public awareness of the solid waste situation. Some of this reduction has been through reclassification of waste and some of the new awareness has come about through higher fees, but on the whole, the effort has been successful.

True to State and Audubon priorities, the highest emphasis has been on reduction of solid waste. Unfortunately, much of that reduction has been accomplished by post-consumer "diversion" to solid waste that is now called something else and can be recycled. This is how the first priority becomes the last, and the last becomes the first; a type of recycling in itself.

On May 10, the fifth annual Waste Reduction Awards will be given to those who have made a significant contribution to Reducing, Reusing and Recycling what was once thought to be solid waste. These individuals and groups are providing practical, transferable solutions to solid waste by keeping their priorities straight.

Next time: Reducing Recycling. Be sure to bring a reusable cup or mug to the next meeting!

Redwood Region Audubon Society
P.O. Box 1054, Eureka, CA 95502
Last updated March 1997