Agenda - Council - 08/26/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-6- IV. MAJOR ISSUES RELATING TO THE WORKABILITY OF POTENTIAL STRATEGIES WASTE DISPOSAL CHARGE Should waste disposal charges be implemented by local govern- ments to finance other solid waste reduction? processing, separation and resource recovery? A waste charge is a fee levied on each ton or cubic yard of waste being disposed. The fee could be collected at the landfill or other facility as part of the "tipping fee." Although there is little information to date as to the impacts of waste charges on waste reduction And saved landfill space, the waste charge may be an appropriate mechanism for local governments to finance other solid waste reduction, processing, separation and resource recovery meth- ods. Increasing the costs of disposal will increase the economic competitiveness of alternative recovery options. Such an action can minimize risks to the private sector and may encourage development of resource recovery systems. Another variation of a waste disposal charge is a waste tax imposed at the point of generation. Some of the issues pertinent to a waste disposal tax are whether the fee should be based on a per capita basis, per household basis or the number of refuse containers? Should the tax be incorporated on utility bills, separate billing or through hauler licensing? PUBLIC EDUCATION AND VOLUNTARY WASTE REDUCTION To what extent i~s public education an effective means of waste reduction? Should government become involved~ for example~ by providing funding? What role should the metropolitan counties have in providin~ and coordinating public education? The thrust of voluntary waste reduction is to reduce waste through increased consumer education and advertising. Education programs may provide the most effective means of waste reduction because of poli- tical and economic problems with regulatory approaches. Informa- tional aids, such as requiring data relating to cost of the package, whether the container is made out of recycled material, composition of the product, and whether the package and product is recyclable, may enhance consumer education efforts. Currently, there is still little information as to the effectiveness of public education pro- grams on reducing wastes. The federal or state governments may encourage more public education by funding the appropriate state agencies to operate and maintain a consumer education campaign. The Legislature may also include grants or loans to business and industrial associations for the purpose of educating industry to the need for waste reduction° The waste charge may be an appropriate funding mechanism for these education pro- grams. Local governments should become actively involved in public education programs and activities that implement appropriate land abatement strategies.