Transcript Washington State: The Next to Legislate?

Local Governments:
Breaking Through the Ice for Producer Responsibility
Product Stewardship Forum
June 15, 2006
Chicago, IL
Sego Jackson, Principal Planner
Snohomish County, WA
Lesson One: Engage in Processes!
“If you are not at the table, you are probably
on the menu.” – quote by ?
• Product manufacturing is global, product
pollution and problems are local.
• These problems can not be solved within our
own cities/counties.
• So why is it difficult to provide local
government representation in processes?
Example: NEPSI
• National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative
– Initially, some state and federal entities thought
the “problem” getting agreement was covering
collection costs (local government and
community costs).
– Persistence by local governments and other
multi-stakeholder allies succeeded in drawing
the line: Collection, Transport and Processing
to be covered.
• Collection Incentive Payment concept.
– Now covering collection costs is incorporated
into California ARF system and Washington
Producer Responsibility system.
A Good Investment of Local Dollars!
Potential value to local governments
across U.S.?
Estimate low of $.10 per lb. (collection cost)
X 2.5 lbs. per capita X U.S. population
(269 M) =
$67,250,000 per year!
Was our engagement in the national
negotiations worthwhile and cost effective?
Lesson Two: Engage Locally to Change
Globally!
Some think there is nothing local
governments can do on a local level,
programmatically.
Context and experience is everything!
Building local on-the-ground experience
and relationships is essential.
Example: Take it Back Network
• Network of private sector collectors of electronics
in Snohomish/King Counties.
• Counties assisted in establishment and
promotion.
• All charge end-of-life fee.
• Includes many small neighborhood computer
stores.
• Some criticized that this wasn’t product
stewardship.
• Entire program established with understanding
that EOL fees were INTERIM to front-end
financing system.
Example: Take it Back Network
• Take it Back Network provided experience and
legitimacy to work with Big Box Stores and
EPA on local, regional and national pilots.
• Discussions with charities and retailers showed
that all collectors have similar challenges and
concerns. Unity among collectors.
• Relationships with retailers, charities and
others resulted in potent group of proponents
for Washington E-waste legislation.
• Now, private sector collection system is poised
to serve and benefit from system established
by Washington E-waste law.
Example: Pharmaceuticals
• Analysis of e-waste collection options showed
importance of retailer involvement and
developing retailer relationships.
• Short cut to strategy: retail pharmacy return
financed by pharmaceutical manufacturers.
• All local parties understand from beginning that
that is the end game.
• Government is financing the start-up expenses
of the pilot to demonstrate system, work out
regulatory issues, and provide information to
industry for program refinements and cost
savings.
Lesson Three: You Can’t Do This Alone!
• These are complex issues involving… lots
of players who are not local!
• You can’t get Wal-Mart and Apple to play
locally.
• There has to be engagement at a higher
level.
• You NEED the Product Stewardship
Institute for that national engagement.
• The Product Stewardship Institute needs
you for the local on-the-ground expertise!
It Takes a Village…
• You can’t be in every negotiation.
• Nor does that build local/state capacity
within the public sector professionals.
• You need a group to work with.
• You need to share the information,
challenges and strategies.
• You need someone else to fly to
Boston when you can’t.
It Takes a Council!
• You need a state/regional product
stewardship council similar to the Northwest
Product Stewardship Council.
• Take turns in national PSI and other
negotiations.
• Bring information and decisions back to
broader group.
• Dialogue on approaches and implement
strategies and pilots.
• Propose smart policy.
You need a Product Stewardship Council!
To Build
Capacity
Knowledge
Relationships
Your Steady and Intentional Collaborative
Efforts Will Prevail When the Time is Right!
Your council and others will know it when you see the
break in the ice and it is time to accelerate. Keep a clear
vision of the destination and chug along!
Get ready to throttle up!
Example: Northwest Product Stewardship
Council and WA E-Waste Legislation
• Built experience, relationships, capacity for years.
• With charities, recyclers, private collectors,
retailers, manufacturers, NGOs, Eastern WA and
rural governments, State Department of Ecology,
and each other.
• Worked cooperatively together on many issues,
pilots, documents and processes.
• Those relationships pay off when its time for the
hard work of legislation.
You need a Product Stewardship Council!
Time to Coordinate
and Bring
Producer Responsibility
and
Product Stewardship Systems
to the U.S.
and our Communities
Here’s How
• The Product Policy Institute has
launched an effort to help local
governments form state/regional
Product Stewardship Councils and
formulate local resolutions in support of
Extended Producer Responsibility.
• These Councils and local efforts can
feed expertise to Product Stewardship
Institute dialogues, negotiations, pilots
and policy development.
A Local Government Grassroots
Campaign!
• A Local Government Grass Roots Campaign
is developing.
–
–
–
–
–
Local resolutions
Local and national pilots
State legislation
State/Regional Stewardship Councils
Engagement in national dialogue, negotiations,
and policy.
This is happening NOW and needs your
thoughtful attention and participation.
Summary
• Engage in state, regional and national processes
and pilots.
– Coordinate with PSI.
• Consider formation of regional product
stewardship council to expand knowledge,
effectiveness and influence.
– Coordinate with PPI.
• Engage in useful local and national pilots with
clarity on how they pave the way for future
product stewardship programs.
• Be part of the local government grassroots
movement for product stewardship!
What’s Next?
Additional Information
Sego Jackson, Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division
[email protected], 425-388-6490
•
Northwest Product Stewardship Council http://www.productstewardship.net/
•
Product Stewardship Institute
http://www.productstewardship.us/
•
Product Policy Institute
http://www.productpolicy.org/
•
Take it Back Network
www.takeitbacknetwork.org/
•
Pharmaceutical Project
http://www.productstewardship.net/
•
WA State Department of Ecology E-waste information
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/ewaste/
•
Washington’s Electronics Recycling Bill
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6428
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