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Benton County work group frames sustainable materials management plan; commissioners budget $500,000 for consultant
Summary
At a Dec. 7 joint session of Benton County's Solid Waste Advisory Council and Disposal Site Advisory Committee, work group members said they are finalizing an outline for a Sustainable Materials Management Plan and that county commissioners have budgeted about $500,000 for a consultant to prepare the plan.
At the Dec. 7 joint SWAC/DSAC session, the sustainable materials management plan (SMMP) subcommittee reported it is finalizing an outline that will be used to scope a county request for proposals and to inform a future consultant's work. Committee members said the county commissioners have set aside roughly $500,000 to support development of the plan.
"The county commissioners had strongly wanted this to be about Benton County," said Marge (work group member), stressing that the RFP should reflect local core values rather than simply copying other counties' plans. She and other members urged that the county use the RFP to attract a consultant capable of forward-looking analysis, including alternatives to landfilling such as recycling, reuse, composting and potential waste-to-energy options.
Members said the draft outline incorporates examples from other Oregon plans, including Portland Metro, but cautioned that a "me-too" approach would not reflect Benton County's stated sustainability goals. The subcommittee intends to submit edits to the outline by an immediate deadline referenced in the meeting (members cited a near-term Friday deadline for input to the work group).
Daniel Redick, identified as Benton County staff, confirmed the board of county commissioners approved a work plan that includes SWAC and DSAC feedback on a draft by Feb. 10. Several members asked that the RFP scope include long-term scenario analysis of legislative trends, methane-management technology, and regional coordination with neighboring jurisdictions.
Committee members said a separate selection process will later procure the consultant who will prepare the formal plan; the work group has already engaged a facilitator and is drafting the RFP language. Subcommittee members asked county staff to circulate the outline URL and to accept written input according to the announced deadline.
Next steps: The SMMP subcommittee will finalize recommendations for the RFP scope and return the draft to SWAC/DSAC for comment in advance of county action. Members recommended emphasizing Benton County's core values in the RFP and prioritizing consultants with experience in long-term, innovation-focused waste planning.
