Boone, NC Zero Waste Plan

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 10/19/06

Source File: http://www.townofblowingrock.com/supdoc/waste04-07.htm

Text:

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A ZERO WASTE PLAN

WHEREAS, Boone is our home where we live, work, and raise our families; and

WHEREAS, A pristine environment is both desirable and essential for a sustainable community; and

WHEREAS, We have enormous natural capital resources in our backyard; and

WHEREAS, Zero Waste provides educational opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Zero Waste events have been done locally and we desire to see these expanded; and

WHEREAS, The disposal of discards into waste stream end-of-pipe facilities that bury or burn wastes causes environmental damage and such wrong placement causes long-term pollution liabilities and concerns; and

WHEREAS, Source pollution is a resource out of place; and

WHEREAS, A responsible disposal hierarchy encourages us to reduce, reuse, compost, or recycle; and

WHEREAS, A Zero Waste Plan will promote the proper disposal hierarchy of reduce, reuse, compost, recycle of our discards (paper, reusables, polymers, putrescibles, construction/demolition/ceramics, wood, plant debris, textiles, soils, metals, glass, chemicals) into processes that will address local problems with local solutions, employ local people in new jobs, and enhance our community and environment; and

WHEREAS, Waste stream reductions of 80% for composting organics, 40% for recycling, and 20% for reusing are possible; and

WHEREAS, Facilities for these activities are demonstrated to be safe and effective; and

WHEREAS, These integrated facilities protect and enhance the environment, provide local jobs, sustainable economic opportunity and security; and

WHEREAS, Material sources are finite; and

WHEREAS, Fossil energy sources are finite; and

WHEREAS, Taxpayers bear the cost of collection, transportation, disposal, and environmental damage; and

WHEREAS, Tax subsidies for virgin materials and waste send the wrong message to both consumers and producers; and

WHEREAS, Disposal bans for some materials already exist and will expand creating the demand for alternative methods and facilities; and

WHEREAS, Producers should design products to minimize disposal and Zero Waste encourages producer responsibility; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing that voluntary recycling goals have not, and in all probability cannot, achieve waste elimination; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Boone has adopted the U. S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement; and

WHEREAS, The understanding that government is ultimately responsible for leading by example and establishing criteria needed to eliminate waste, so that manufacturers produce and businesses sell materials that can be safely recycled or composted;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOONE TOWN COUNCIL supports the creation of a Zero Waste Plan in order to eliminate waste and pollution in the manufacture, use, storage and recycling of materials.