Citizens will have a chance to input at a community planning meeting led by the Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Update team on Feb. 24. The meeting will be at the Orcas Senior Center from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“This is an opportunity to speak for local values, present an organized message, and help design the future of waste management for Orcas and San Juan County,” organizers say. “The results of this discussion will be presented to decision-makers to clarify issues and local goals about garbage and recycling.”

After a short review of the current county systems, participants will be asked to help develop a list of priorities and to work through goals and objectives specific to Orcas’ conditions and values.

Comments and ideas from previous meetings will be reviewed and identified as to how they can work in the plan. Copies of notes from the previous Orcas solid waste meetings are available on the County website.

“It is important to note that specific goals and objectives must be in the final plan to make changes in our system, such as facility improvements, public-private partnerships, or local control,” organizers say. “Also, listing in the plan is required to make programs eligible for funding.”

Organizers offer the following definitions for meeting purposes:

“Goals” are broad and overarching, guiding development of policy objectives. “Policy Objectives” are more specific, used as the basis for recommended strategies or activities. When an action is considered but has not been listed in the plan, policy objectives will guide decisions. “Recommended Strategies” are specific action-oriented tasks designed to achieve goals and policy objectives.

Past Orcas solid waste meetings have yielded the following suggestions:

Goals: reduce waste leaving the island.

Policy Objectives: The County will maximize support for programs to improve waste reduction; programs will promote composting.

Strategies: provide multi-family/individual/regional/neighborhood composting opportunities and public education; develop composting activities with trained volunteers.

For more information about this meeting, visit www.co.san-juan.wa.us/SWMP/SWMPCalendar or call 370-0531.