Title
Approve the Go Green! Monterey County Program Waste Reduction Policy to be included in the Board Policy Manual.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a Waste Reduction Policy to be included in the Board Policy Manual.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County General Plan, Public Service Element, provides that the County will maximize the amount of solid waste diverted from local landfills through recycling, composting, and source reduction (Goal PS-5). Additionally, Goal PS-5.5 specifies that the County shall adopt a 75% waste diversion goal and support future efforts to promote organic waste composting. These goals are aligned with State regulations to divert waste and increase statewide recycling and organic composting.
On August 24, 2017, the Alternative Energy and Environment Committee directed staff to bring the draft Waste Reduction Policy (the "Policy") to the Board of Supervisors for adoption. The Policy was drafted through a collaborative effort between the Go Green! Monterey County Program and staff from the CAO-Contracts/Purchasing Division, Health Department-Environmental Health Bureau, and RMA-Facilities Management. The Policy was created to be used as an administrative guide in the Board of Supervisors Policy Manual to reduce waste from day-to-day County operations and to reflect the goals of the County's General Plan and the State's requirements.
The draft Policy provides for the following waste reduction strategies:
1. Source Reduction - Reduction of waste through smart purchasing practices, paper reduction strategies (i.e. going paperless or using duplex printing), and reuse of office equipment.
2. Appropriate Purchasing Decisions - Requirements for "green" product purchasing to reduce the environmental impact of purchased items, reflecting the County's previously adopted Climate Friendly Purchasing Policy strategies.
3. Source Separation of Commercial Waste - Mandatory separation of so...
Click here for full text