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SMMP subcommittee recommends third‑party consultant, two‑year timeline and circular‑economy focus
Summary
The sustainable materials management plan (SMMP) subcommittee recommended hiring a third‑party consultant and proposed a roughly two‑year development timeline for a county plan focused on waste reduction, circular‑economy principles and climate considerations.
The Benton County SMMP (sustainable materials management plan) subcommittee reported it has prepared a comprehensive table of contents and a set of consultant questions intended to guide a third‑party contractor that would develop a countywide plan over roughly two years.
The subcommittee said it is looking for a consultant to produce a forward‑looking plan that emphasizes alternatives to landfilling, circular‑economy approaches and climate‑informed strategies. One subcommittee member quoted another participant’s summary: "If you can sum this up in 2 words, it's beyond landfilling," the member said, reporting a framing attributed to John Duell.
The group discussed contracting a third‑party consultant; one participant reported an approximate budget figure for consultant work of about $500,000. The subcommittee said its deliverable will include a prioritized set of questions the county should ask potential consultants and recommended that findings be structured so each recommendation links directly to subcommittee evidence and background materials.
Why it matters: the SMMP will shape long‑term county policy on waste diversion, materials reuse and producer responsibility. The subcommittee stressed that the plan should be adaptive, enabling county leaders to update strategy as technologies and markets evolve. The group estimated the plan development process would take about two years after the consultant is engaged.
Next steps: the subcommittee will finalize the consultant materials and questions for the request for proposals and coordinate with county staff on procurement. Members said they expect to use subcommittee meetings and the Feb. 8 SWAC/DSAC session to gather additional input for the consultant scope.
