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County sustainability task force names four SMMP subcommittees; Benton County bill proposed to carry work forward
Summary
NRAC members received an update on the regional Sustainability Materials Management Plan (SMMP): the task force confirmed four subcommittees — food and organics, built environment, products and packaging, and regional solid waste management — and staff reported a Benton County representative introduced legislation to create a regional solid waste
NRAC members received an update on the regional Sustainability Materials Management Plan (SMMP) during the meeting, and staff reported the SMMP task force has established four subcommittees and is starting prioritized workstreams; a Benton County representative has introduced legislation to continue and expand regional coordination.
The task force’s four subcommittees are food and organics, built environment, products and packaging, and regional solid waste management. Staff said each subcommittee has begun meeting and using facilitated tools (a shared Canva board) to identify three to five focus areas per group and to develop strategies appropriate to the region.
“We identified and confirmed 4 subcommittees and just kinda had an overview of where we’re going and the structure,” staff said, adding that several subcommittees have already held two meetings and are pulling in regional experts.
NRAC members discussed priorities for the food-waste subgroup and regional composting, and noted that the SMMP effort is intended to be a springboard for subsequent work rather than the final implementation plan. Sean, a county staff member, said the SMMP contract or phase ends on June 30 and that the intent is to document findings and hand them to the next entity for implementation.
Rebecca Finger McDonald — referenced in the discussion by staff as the county’s Benton County representative — dropped legislation that staff said would create a regional solid waste task force and pick up work after the SMMP concludes. “Our Benton County Representative, Finger McDonald, dropped a bill in that will create a regional solid waste task force, and it explicitly says in the legislation to pick up what we leave off,” staff said.
Members noted that Oregon DEQ and the governor’s office are participating in the SMMP process and that Marion, Lane and Metro jurisdictions have previously been active on similar issues. NRAC members said increased regional coordination and sharing technical expertise across counties is a key intended outcome.
Staff and members agreed to continue monitoring subcommittee progress and to use the SMMP work products to inform NRAC recommendations on county waste policy where appropriate.
