21st Century Policy Project

Trends and Strategic Issues

What is a "Trend"?

A trend is a change in pattern; an evolving change in the world, the industry, or the organization that will impact how CIWMB fulfills its mission.

A trend can often be stated as something that is increasing, decreasing, or shifting:

• Increasing home waste production.
• Increasing inventory of recycled material in warehouses.
• Decrease in the need for new landfill space over last five years.
• Increasing consumption of convenience foods and other highly packaged products.
• Increasing population in California.
• Aging of the population.
• Political mood shift--less trust in government institutions, call for more "accountability."

Trend Analysis: The distillation of a global trend to a specific waste management-related trend. Also, determining which trends are most likely to have the greatest impact on CIWMB.

What is a "Strategic Issue"?

A strategic issue is a fundamental policy question or dilemma CIWMB faces in fulfilling its mission.   A strategic issue sometimes arises as a conflict between two trends, or between the current situation and a trend.

An issue is best stated as a question:

• How will CIWMB continue to reduce the flow of waste to landfills, given that recycled materials are piling up in warehouses?
• How will the consolidation of solid waste operations impact solid waste management?
• What is government's role in sustainable development?
• What do we do about the integrated waste management hierarchy? How do we use it? What priority?

Last updated: October 18, 2007