The Solid Waste Alternatives Program will hold an organizational meeting to adopt permanent bylaws and elect board members on Sept. 24 from 7-9 p.m. at the library meeting room. Members of the managing board of the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District will be on hand as well to present an update about plans for the Lopez Dump, which the district will take over in January 2013.

SWAP was founded in December 2011 as a nonprofit organization with provisional bylaws and directors, and with a mission of establishing a locally-controlled solid waste operation on Lopez. With the formation of the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District, the focus of SWAP shifted to that of a support organization dedicated to helping the district through promotional and educational activities and funding. In the last several months, SWAP volunteers organized a community potluck at the Take-It-Or-Leave-It, a July 4 parade entry, a highly successful Trashion-Fashion Show, and an end-of-summer Labor Day Street Dance. One of the immediate activities for the new board will be to begin the application process for 501(c)3 tax-exempt status.

Any person interested in serving as a SWAP director should send a letter expressing interest to SWAP, P.O. Box 457, Lopez 98261; or email to larry@epcodesign.com. A draft version of permanent by-laws and other information about SWAP and the Solid Waste Disposal District can be viewed online at www.lopezsolidwaste.org.