This July San Juan County residents will have the opportunity to participate in a survey that will help guide the development of the County’s updated solid waste management plan.

“We currently have an expensive solid waste system that does not satisfy residents’ expectations, nor, in some instances, the requirements of the State Ecology Department,” said Solid Waste Program Manager Steve Alexander. “While we are required to meet minimum state requirements, we also need to know what the people who live here need and want so that we can provide a service they are willing to pay for.”

The survey will address garbage collection and transfer, waste reduction strategies, techniques of recycling, levels of local control and funding. Survey results will help to define the type and quality of services the County’s solid waste program develops and offers in the future.

A paper survey form will be mailed to 4,000 randomly selected household addresses, in proportion to the population of each island. Survey forms will be mailed to the randomly selected recipients before July 20, to be returned between July 21 and midnight, August 2. Participants can fill out the paper survey or use an electronic form online.

Households that do not receive a survey questionnaire in the mail can fill out the public survey at http://sanjuanco.com/ between July 23 and August 2. Results will be tallied and analyzed separately.

“The mailed survey will produce responses from a broad, statistically valid sample of county residents,” said organizers. “Both surveys will be managed by an independent pollster to insure the questions are formulated without bias and individual responses are fairly and confidentially analyzed.”

Survey results will be presented to the County Council in August or early September.