2020 Approved and Adopted  Solid Waste Implementation Plan

 

SWAC has rewritten its Solid Waste Implementation Plan (SWIP) to comply with the new Vermont Materials Management Plan (MMP). The MMP contains performance standards, including those focused on implementing Act 148 (Vermont’s universal recycling and composting law), that each solid waste entity must meet to achieve the following goals:

•Prevent waste from being generated.

•Promote sustainable materials management, with a preference for highest and best uses.

•Minimize reliance on waste disposal (landfilling and incineration).

•Conserve resources, minimize energy consumption, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other adverse environmental impacts.

The State approved SWAC's last solid waste implemented in 2015 (2015 Solid Waste Implementation Plan).  The plan provides a history of SWAC and its activities, how each waste stream was managed at the time, and the 5-year plan for increasing diversion and improving management of certain waste streams.

Using the new approach and format provided by the State, SWAC's new SWIP provides the following information:

•How the SWAC towns will educate the public on the reduction and diversion of recyclables, yard trimmings, food scraps, clean wood, hazardous waste, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and construction and demolition debris.

•How the SWAC towns will work with schools and businesses to improve their waste diversion programs including food waste.

•How the SWAC towns will improve waste reduction at events and public spaces.

•How recyclables, organics, hazardous waste, textiles, construction and demolition debris, and biosolids are managed in the SWAC towns.

•How the SWAC towns will implement variable rate pricing for residential trash and recyclables.

•Criteria for siting solid waste facilities in the SWAC towns and procedures for including solid waste facilities in the plan.

•Solid waste facilities and haulers that operate in the SWAC towns.

 

Thank you in advance for your help in responsibly and economically managing the solid and hazardous waste in your community.