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Solid Waste Management District Initiatives

The Solid Waste Management District (SWMD) is working on the following initiatives:

• The Recycling Challenge for Local Governments helps cities and counties work towards the district?s goal of diverting 80 percent of our region?s waste from landfills by 2023. Through this initiative, the district provides guidance on how to put the 80x2023 vision into practice over the coming years. Participating communities are given resources and technical assistance to help them lead regional waste diversion efforts. Challenge members can select any number of activities from a list of actions that focus on education, services, policies and programs ? all of which are designed to address local waste management needs and issues.
• Solid Waste Survey
  During fall 2008, the MARC Solid Waste Management District, in partnership with Leavenworth, Johnson, Miami and Wyandotte counties, conducted a follow-up survey of residents in the Kansas City metro area (Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, Ray, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte). The survey compares changes in citizens’ values, behavior and awareness levels since the 2005 survey and assesses citizens’ desire for solid waste services.
• By-Product Synergy
  The district is working with a team of consultants to determine the feasibility of launching a by-product synergy project. The project would focus on turning one company's waste into another company's resources in the Kansas City region. Private and public sector leaders have expressed strong support for a year-long implementation project to target 10 potential industries. Efforts are underway to secure public and private sector funding and industry participation commitments.
• Environmental Education
  District staff and a group of volunteers organized a successful Environmental Educators roundtable, bringing together teachers, school administrators, non-formal educators and agency representatives to network and discuss ways to improve and expand environmental education for school children. Since the roundtable, organizers have formed the KC Environmental Educators Network (KCEEN), a group of educators who meet to plan subsequent actions in this arena. The district supported the development of a regional environmental education study completed by MARC in May 2004.
• Regional Solid Waste Management Plan
  The district funded a status report of the Kansas City metropolitan area to obtain initial information about 1) waste generation, diversion and disposal data rates, 2) emerging trends in solid waste management, and 3) recommendations for future planning and decision making. The district is initiating steps to create a regional plan that involves Kansas, creates more proactive local government and works toward integrated solid waste services.

For more information, contact Tom Jacobs at 816/701-8352.