By Cali Bagby
Public Works Director Frank Mulcahy predicts county residents should see changes in the solid waste system around the end of August.
The changes follow the Nov. 8 election when voters rejected a proposal for a parcel fee to help fund the financially troubled county solid waste utility. The rejection was construed as a vote for “Plan B” — which ends the county’s operation of solid waste facilities and moves to roadside pickups for almost all residential trash and recycling.
Since the vote, Public Works, a council subcommittee, and Administrator Pete Rose have worked to flesh out Plan B and create a time table.
“It’s not quite as easy as just throwing a switch,” Mulcahy said. “We want to make sure we have a smooth transition to the new system, which means we have to coordinate with a lot of agencies and entities.”
What this means for Lopez
Major stakeholders in the transition include the Port of Lopez, which may take over the Lopez facility, the operator of the Exchange at the Orcas facility, and the Town of Friday Harbor — owner of the county-operated facility on San Juan.
About two years ago a group called Take Back The Dump formed and studied the Lopez Transfer Station operations and financial feasibility of local control.
Later, islanders suggested that the Port of Lopez could get involved as it is a locally elected body with a mandate giving them the authority to take on such a task, said Port of Lopez Commissioner Dan Post.
Then the Port of Lopez formed the Citizens Advisory Committee to create a plan and financial model. The CAC put out a poll with 750 responses with what Post calls “an overwhelming desire by the people of Lopez for local control of the solid waste transfer station.”
Post said the port has been in negotiations with the county for several months and further negotiations should be simple as a plan has been worked out, which includes self haul garbage at a reasonable rate, self separated recycles at no cost, and an improved “Take It Or Leave It.”
The Port of Lopez is scheduled to have an agreement with the San Juan County Council approving the lease terms by the first week of February, probably taking over operations by the end of summer, according to Post.
County’s involvement
If the port takes over the transfer station, the county’s role in the solid waste system will be reduced, but it will have responsibility and costs for monitoring decommissioned landfills, and providing services not offered by the waste hauler throughout the islands.
“Under state law, San Juan County remains responsible for insuring that the trash, recycling and hazardous wastes generated in this county are taken care of properly,” Mulcahy said.
Lopezians can get involved by attending port meetings, or by visiting http://portoflopez.com/commission.htm to contact local port commissioners.
Read more about the rejected parcel fee at http://www.sanjuanjournal.com/news/134044483.html.
