County staff outline regional sustainable materials management task force and subcommittee plan

Sean Maguire and Bailey Payne presented an overview of Benton County's Sustainable Materials Management Plan (SMMP) task force and described objectives, subcommittee structure and scheduling.

Maguire said the task force will pursue four outcomes: provide context on current sustainable materials management in northwest Oregon, compile success stories and case studies, identify resources and opportunities for the region, and produce findings and recommendations for next steps. The facilitator-led process will use the county website to host materials, and include three full task-force meetings and several subcommittee meetings between now and a targeted June 30 completion.

Staff identified four proposed subcommittees: food and organics, built environment, products and packaging (a catchall), and regional solid waste management. They noted DEQ participation, regional coordination (including coastal jurisdictions), and an evolving regional solid-waste landscape as key drivers for the task force.

Commissioners praised the regional approach and the use of a neutral facilitator to broaden participation and reduce the sense that the county is "running the ship." Staff said the next full task-force meeting is planned for late January and will be followed by subcommittee and public engagement sessions.

What happens next: task-force facilitator and staff will hold operational and subcommittee meetings, publish materials on the county website, and work toward the next full meeting in late January and a final deliverable June 30.