Goals, Benefits and Expected Results

The project has the following goals:

Goal #1: Develop a long-term integrated waste management plan for Sullivan County that emphasizes waste reduction, recycling and toxics management.
Goal #2: Implement selected high priority, publicly supported innovative pilot projects to field test their feasibility and applicability to the region.

The benefits of this project include:

Reduced disposal costs for residents and businesses through reduced quantities of waste, particularly reduced costs for low-income residents;
Potential reduction in incineration of products containing lead, mercury, and cadmium with a subsequent decrease in the release of these toxic metals to air and water;
Increased number of jobs for the region;
Model recycling-based waste management plan for other counties in the United States;
Increased education of general public and businesses that will build support and participation in waste reduction and recycling efforts; and,
A publicly supported and improved decision making process for resource management in Sullivan County.

The project is expected to achieve the following results:

Model integrated waste management plan based upon reduction and recycling;
Pilot waste reduction and recycling projects implemented with carefully documented results;
Guidebook on how to develop a recycling-based waste management program for communities and counties in transition from disposal-based programs.