Turning down the ill-conceived Solid Waste Parcel Fee the County Council put before the voters was only the first step in rationally addressing and fixing our solid waste disposal system. The county’s touted alternative to the Parcel Fee was complete privatization of the Solid Waste collection system, leading to “curbside pickup.” While curbside pickup of our waste may seem attractive to some, it is not a satisfactory alternative to many Islanders.
Too many island roads are narrow with little to no turn around at their ends. Damage would be done to private roadways by heavy solid waste service trucks, and who would pay for such damage? And refuse cans blowing in the wind, or worse, refuse spilled from such cans and blowing in the wind, would likely be a frequent problem. It is expected that many islanders who currently self-haul their waste to the county transfer station or drop-off sites would choose to continue self-haul. Any contract let for privatization of our system needs to ensure that self haul capability will be maintained with at least the ease and surety it now has.
Access to reuse facilities like the Lopez “Take-It-Or-Leave-It” or the Orcas “Exchange” must be maintained and their continuation cultivated and encouraged. Some improvements are warranted at drop-off sites on all islands, but this is not the economic climate for unnecessarily large major expenditures – or for that matter, parcel fees. However, working with a well publicized plan, fiscal transparency and cost cutting management, these services and modifications can be made at minimum cost if the county chooses to continue management of the system, or can be insured by careful negotiation with whatever private entities are selected to provide solid waste services.
The voters have spoken intelligently in voting down the parcel fee. Now they must tell their council representatives to manage intelligently and with complete fiscal transparency in maintaining solid waste services. Much can be learned by studying the solid waste systems available in neighboring counties.
Frank Stratton
Orcas Island
