RESOLUTION NO. 36423

Adopt new goals for a sustainable solid waste and recycling system and direct the Office of Sustainable Development to prepare a Solid Waste Management Plan. (Resolution)

WHEREAS, the City Council in February 2005 directed the Office of Sustainable Development and the Noise Control Office to review the commercial waste and recycling system and report back on potential changes to address not only complaints about nighttime collection but broader environmental and economic issues. City Council requested that a discussion paper be developed providing an analysis of various alternatives and a process for proceeding forward. That discussion paper is hereby submitted as an attachment to this resolution,

WHEREAS, by Ordinance 171067, in April 1997, the Council set the City’s waste recovery goals at 54% in 2000 and 60% in 2005. Portland met the 54% goal but has not reached the 60% goal set for 2005,

WHEREAS, recovery rates have leveled off since 2000, but the amount of garbage disposed of in landfills continues to grow, increasing more than 7% in 2004 alone,

WHEREAS, these trends, if they continue, will make it very difficult to achieve higher performance and long-term sustainability of the solid waste and recycling system,

WHEREAS, the greatest opportunities to reduce the environmental impacts associated with the generation and management of waste occur before those resources enter the solid waste system. Instead of focusing on avoided disposal, waste prevention in all phases of production and consumption should be the prevailing management strategy,

WHEREAS, Extended Producer Responsibility is a policy approach in which producers assume responsibility for the management of post-consumer products, so that those who produce and use products bear the costs of recycling and proper disposal. When brand owners are responsible for ensuring their products are recycled and the associated costs are included in the product price, there is a strong incentive for producers to design, and consumers to purchase, goods that are more durable, easier to recycle, and less toxic,

WHEREAS, there are significant economic, social and environmental benefits associated with greater recovery and waste prevention including energy savings, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, air quality improvements, resource conservation, job growth and economic development opportunities,

WHEREAS, the City’s efforts to initiate a new voluntary food waste recovery program in the commercial sector have produced limited results due to economic barriers and a lack of incentives inherent within the current system of regulations and collection programs,

WHEREAS, changes must be made to the programs, policies and regulatory framework for solid waste and recycling collection and disposal to produce necessary gains in waste prevention and recovery and lessen the environmental and human health impacts of the system as a whole,

WHEREAS, the Sustainable City Principles adopted in 1994, require that the City promote a sustainable future and follow a set of comprehensive principles incorporating environmental quality, social equity and economic vitality,

WHEREAS, the Local Action Plan on Global Warming adopted by the City of Portland and Multnomah County in 2001 directs the City to “promote solid waste management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote community understanding of the relationship between solid waste reduction and global climate change,”

WHEREAS, the City in its own operations should lead by example,

WHEREAS, it is expected that any changes in policies, programs or regulatory framework for the solid waste and recycling system will significantly influence the noise issues related to nighttime collection. Further action to resolve the noise issue should be considered in light of any proposed system changes,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council adopts the following goals:

a)  promote sustainability of the solid waste and recycling system that includes maximum efficiency, equity and economic vitality, improved worker safety and reduced environmental and human health impacts over the entire life cycle of the materials, and

b)  minimize the impact of harmful wastes by targeting toxicity and reducing greenhouse gases emissions, and

c)  reduce per capita waste generation below 2005 levels by the year 2015, and

d)  maximize recovery of all waste with a target of 75% by the year 2015 and promote highest value use of the recovered materials.

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Office of Sustainable Development is hereby directed to prepare and submit to the Council a Solid Waste Management Plan and conduct a planning process to solicit input from the public and stakeholders in developing proposed solutions. In the planning process, a variety of strategies shall be considered, including Extended Producer Responsibility policies. The Plan shall address ways to reach new recovery and waste prevention goals, minimize harmful wastes and improve the performance and long-term sustainability of the solid waste and recycling system. The Plan shall include recommendations for both the residential and commercial sectors as well as City government operations.

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution constitutes non-binding city policy, in directing the development of further policies to be brought back before the Council.

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 888-2006

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 36423