So far, the City Council has agreed to negotiate with Ukiah Solid Waste to develop a curbside program, and to study the Recycling Action Group's extensive proposed Ordinance to Require Recycling of Waste Entering the Landfill. But with the petition signature deadline for the initiative set at March 8, R.A.G. workers need all the help we can get gathering valid signatures, since there's no guarantee the City will soon develop an effective ordinance of its own.
R.A.G. Ukiah Landfill Initiative coordinators Gael Kreider, Susan Field, and Jamie Connerton state: "The only way to ensure significant reduction of waste currently being buried in the Ukiah landfill is for the City to commit to and invest in required recycling at the dump gate, and a county-wide curbside pickup program with significant financial incentives. If the City's ready to do that, great; if not, we feel the voters must get it done."
Currently, a healthy majority of the waste entering the dump comes from outside the City limits. But the City owns the landfill, and is under pressure from newly-passed state law to significantly cut down its wastestream in short order. It's estimated that at present wastesteam flow rates, the landfill will be full in 8-10 years, and that vigorous recycling can double that figure, buying precious time to develop a county-wide land plan and establishing a perpetual recycling system.
For more information, and to volunteer to help with the petition drive, call Jamie at 468-9644 or Sue at 463-0736, or the M.E.C.
If you're a registered voter living within the Ukiah City limits, we can use help carrying, or at least signing, the petition. Please get in touch.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2004
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