MSW Management | Editorial

SUBSCRIBE

Keeping the Big Picture in Focus

By Andrew H. Quigley

I don’t know if you noticed, but something really strange occurred back in December. Sitting here in the Midwest, sometimes the world kind of passes you by, you know. But something just felt different. Perhaps it was the holiday season or the unseasonable period of warmth we were experiencing—all I know is that it was something very different from what I’ve experienced before. It was kind of like the moon, the earth, and the sun were all aligned to create some special, strange synergy.

What was it? Well, actually it was a joint statement, issued by the Integrated Waste Service Association, the National Recycling Coalition, the National Solid Waste Management Association, and SWANA. That’s right. All the organizations were on “the same sheet of music,” all aligned properly, like the planets sometimes do. Planetary alignment is a function of geometry and astronomy. Unfortunately, aligning these organizations takes much more effort.

First, let’s talk about this important statement. We are seeing today a piecemeal approach to managing electronic wastes. Each state is going through this process because we have no national electronic leadership. It is like death by a thousand cuts. We are cumulatively spending thousands of hours working on these state bills. We are creating, at best, a patchwork system for managing electronics, which has to be confusing to manufacturers, processors, retailers, and collectors. California, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, Washington, and countless others in state legislatures throughout the country are working to put these systems in place.

Earlier, we had the USEPA-NEPSI approach, which worked to reach out to every conceivable group for input and a solution. It finally ended when the electronics industry just couldn’t make the commitment because the solution didn’t fit its individual business model. What is lacking is leadership from the electronics industry on the matter. It needs to bury its hatchets, be given competitive protection from anti-trust issues, and work toward a solution. When I go to a state hearing and listen to the industry, I am impressed on how articulate the spokespersons are in addressing the issue. What is lacking is the production of a policy and procedure with which the industry can live. It doesn’t seem that it wants to reach a consensus.

A national solution is the preferred approach. Manufacturers, retailers, processors, and, most importantly, collectors would all understand their roles. Our national lawmakers don’t seem to be too interested in this idea. Perhaps they are awaiting some consensus, some planetary alignment to move the process, or some sort of media event to spur on a federal legislative interest.

On the disposal side, we seem to be doing “too good a job” of managing electronics disposal. A well-designed and well-operated MSW landfill can manage these devices. However, we all know that these resources shouldn’t be wasted in some lined landfill. If we are really serious about developing a sustainable environment, we should be managing these things differently. Let’s continue this momentum and get the electronics industry to work with our joint statement. How come we were able to deal with “white goods” 20 years ago but just can’t seem to get it together concerning electronics? Today, by and large, we pay someone $25 and white goods are collected from the curb and forgotten.

Let us now focus on the bigger picture. I have been involved in waste management for over 30 years (I’m starting to sound like my father). I can’t recall when these four groups have come together to agree on even the time of day. This process all started with Waste Management, which attempted to put a statement on electronics together. Waste Management began the process by reaching out to the other organizations to achieve this consensus in a rational manner. I worked with the SWANA Board to get our buy in. It wasn’t easy, but it was important.

I can’t help but think that there is much more that binds us together on solid waste issues than separates us. There have to be several areas where, if we tried, we could become an effective force on such waste issues as resource conservation. It takes the leadership of these groups to get together and discuss and focus on what we want to achieve. By leadership, I don’t mean staff. I mean the leaders: the presidents and the board members. They must try reaching out to share a vision and to reach a consensus.

On individual issues, each of these organizations has strength. Each of us has a membership that can bring an important perspective on waste management. We can sometimes be all too quick to call each other out on issues, and we tend to refer to each other as the “the landfill guys” or whatever. Also, I realize that there will be issues where we may have to go our separate ways, but still I think it is worth it to work together when we can. Our first reaction to every issue should be to build a consensus and achieve a greater good by bringing more voices to its support. You know sometimes the planets can align. Isn’t that the age of Aquarius?

Andrew H. Quigley is executive director of the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, IL and the immediate past president of SWANA.

MSW - May/June 2007