Local Government Challenges, Opportunities, and Tips: Solid Waste Assessments

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California Integrated Waste Management Board

Local Government Challenges and Opportunities

Local governments need to develop procedures to incorporate the waste reduction assessment into a part of a normal way of doing business in their community. These procedures should apply to both construction and demolition projects as well as to regular ongoing business activity. Local agencies should avail themselves of technical assistance and waste assessment services presently offered by outside agencies such as the CIWMB.

Efforts should be made to partner with other local governments in formal (joint power authorities) or informal groups to achieve economies of scale and shared burden of cost for staffing and carrying out waste reduction assessments. Efforts should be made to partner with private and nonprofit entities, especially businesses and business associations, to integrate waste assessments into regular business practices. Databases developed locally and databases of other agencies and locations should be integrated to be of practical use to businesses and institutions in the local community.

Tips for Replication

Access the CIWMB web site to familiarize your community with technical services available. Use this as a jumping-off point for exploring other sites for available educational materials and training manuals for carrying out waste reduction assessments.

Form alliances with relevant agencies concerned with energy, water quality, air quality, and hazardous material mitigation to develop a more comprehensive environmental assessment service that may be more attractive to local businesses and institutions. San Francisco State University, San Diego State University, and the University of Nevada- Reno offer free energy, waste reduction, and productivity assessments under a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Contact the Industry Assessment Center at any of the three institutions for more information.