The County’s public works department wants to hear a little trash talk from residents and business owners.
Specifically, County officials have set up a series of public meetings this month to let people in the county’s unincorporated communities share ideas about how to keep stuff out of local landfills. Enough stuff to reach the state’s goal of diverting 75 percent of all trash by 2020 — and maybe even enough to reach the loftier goal of 90 percent or more by 2040.
“Diverting” trash like green waste, food, packaging materials and other stuff by recycling, composting and re-thinking consumer and business practices can help the environment, cut the need for new landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The County meetings will be held at separate times for business owners and residents on Monday, May 23 in Fallbrook; Wednesday, May 25 in Ramona; and Thursday, May 26 in Bonita.
Public works staff will use the ideas and information collected at the meetings to create a draft trash-reduction plan for the unincorporated county to be unveiled at a public workshop in October, with the ultimate goal of being brought to the County Board of Supervisors for consideration.
Because County officials recognize the public knows their communities best, they’re anxious to get their ideas and feedback.
Topics scheduled to be discussed at the meetings include:
- The challenges to reducing waste in the county
- Trash and recycling services
- Easy tips to reduce waste
- Economical solutions
The Department of Public Works has also created an online survey, so that people who cannot go to the meetings can still take part.
The survey includes general questions about what kind of housing you live in or business you own, whether you have trash and recycling services or prefer to drop off these materials at a facility yourself, if you compost at home or your business, and what kind of trash and recycling services you’d like to have that you don’t have now. Take the survey.
The meetings will be held:
- Monday, May 23, Fallbrook High School Cafeteria, 2400 S. Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook.
Businesses: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Residents: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 25, Ramona Library, 1275 Main St., Ramona
Businesses: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Residents: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday, May 26, Bonita Library, 4375 Bonita Road, Bonita
Businesses: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Residents: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
More information about the County Department of Public Works Recycling Strategic Plan can be found at its website.
