The sale of Sonoma County’s solid waste system is now off the table. The County has 3.5 months to make set of crucial interrelated decisions. It is believed that to reopen the landfill each of the cities must commit their waste stream. A new task force, the Solid Waste Advisory Group (SWAG), is being organized which will provide a highly structured community forum to discuss and plan long-term solid waste management strategies. Led by Supervisor Zane, the group will include Supervisor Carrillo and a representative from each city council, assisted by a large advisory group with members from the business community, environmental groups, the Local Task Force for Solid Waste, city managers and county staff.… Read More »

Dear Santa Rosa City Council, Please consider slowing the waste contracting process down, do an inventory of all local discard related activites and then hold a series of town hall meetings where all voices are welcome. Diversion First:  The 2007 Sonoma County Waste Characterization Study reports that 70% of what was still being discarded is Compostable (32%), Divertible (25.4%) or Potentially Divertible (12.3%). This suggests that 90% diversion is within our reach and the long haul impacts of the remainder… Read More »

Here are a few ideas to get this “What Next” discussion rolling. Though they may not directly help with landfill repair or closure, these suggestions could reduce system costs and free up money for planning.
1) Apply our existing landfill material bans to our trash carts and out-haul vehicles.
2) Implement mandatory recycling 5 years early.
3) Recycle Better – At Home, Work, School And Play.… Read More »

Yesterday afternoon, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on selling the Sonoma County solid waste system to Republic Services of Arizona. After more then 3 hours of very pertinent public testimony, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors unanimously directed staff to address a handful of important wording clarification issues and put the divestiture decision on the next meetings consent calendar. Please educate yourself on this matter, read the related entries and links listed below under Zero Waste, http://livinggreen.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/category/zero-waste/, and contact your supervisor and city councils asap.… Read More »

Climate Protection Campaign, Sierra Club – Redwood Chapter, Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy, Sonoma Ecology Center, Sonoma County Conservation Action, Sonoma County GoLocal Cooperative, LITE Initiatives and Accountable Development Coalition recommend that the Board and cities reject the proposed Purchase and Sale Agreement with Republic Services for the Central Landfill because the deal undermines this community’s long term environmental and economic goals. Selling the solid waste system would permanently transfer an irreplaceable asset from public to corporate ownership. The proposed contract could increase costs to residents and thwart this community’s ability to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets. It would also remove options for the future and diminish this Board’s reputation and legacy.

Many of our reasons to oppose divestiture are aimed at the proposed Agreement’s financial weaknesses because long term economic goals align with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
… Read More »