The League of Women Voters of Vermont endorses the policy and purpose of the Act Relating to Solid Waste adopted in 1987 by the Vermont General Assembly. Specifically, the League supports:

1. State technical and financial leadership for a program of waste reduction and management.
2. A waste management program which is sustainable, environmentally sound, and economically beneficial over the long term.
3. A waste management program which gives priority to reducing the waste stream through recycling and through the reduction of non-biodegradable and hazardous ingredients.
4. A program which requires that all generators of waste pay the real costs to society of waste management and disposal.

The LWVVT advocates a major educational campaign which we feel is essential for the implementation of such programs. The objective of the campaign must be to assure that everyone understands the problems, dangers and costs of our out-of-control proliferation of waste; to guarantee that everyone is aware of what measures and schemes are available to effectively deal with the crisis; and to encourage in the strongest way possible that everyone voluntarily and willingly participates in and complies with these schemes.

The League supports the following specific measures:

1. Ban hazardous products and packaging for which alternatives are available, beginning with:

   a. Products with chlorinated organic compounds such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

   b. Household cleaners containing synthetic organic solvents, since these are toxic.

2. Ban non-recyclable products for which recyclable alternatives are available, especially multi-material packaging (aseptic juice cartons.)
3. Labels giving a "seal of quality" for reusable, recyclable and/or biodegradable products or packages; adversely, warning labels on those that are not.
4. Standardization of containers by type (soda, beer, shampoo, catsup, etc.) with the objective of eventually having them be returnable to manufacturers to be sterilized and directly reused (rather than reprocessed for recycling.)
5. Expansion of existing deposit return program to cover:

   a. Beverage containers not now included in Vermont's "bottle bill," i.e. wine, fruit juices, wine coolers, milk jugs, etc.

   b. Tires, which present special problems for disposal.

   c. Dry cell batteries, which now introduce into landfills heavy metals which could be recovered if the batteries were separated from the general waste stream.

6. Vermont participation in industrial waste exchanges such as the Northeast Industrial Waste Exchange, which puts generators and users of waste/resource materials in contact with one another by means of catalogs, a call-in search service, and an on-line computer database.
7. Municipal or waste district control of carters to discourage inefficient service and to facilitate collection of recyclable and reusable materials.
8. Mandatory source separation of hazardous wastes and of recyclable, reusable and biodegradable (compostable) materials.
9. Recycling programs for waste generated in state and municipal offices and plants to set good examples and to serve as pilot projects with which to solve problems inherent in such programs.
10. State fostering of markets for recycled materials by:

    a. Government purchase of goods made from recycled materials Financial incentives for manufacturers using recycled goods

    b. Favorable publicity for commercial firms which use recycled materials.

Regarding waste treatment and processing and disposal, the League affirms the national League position which states (in summary) that "The League supports policies to... ensure safe treatment, storage, and disposal of all wastes in order to protect air, water, and land resources." We advocate having municipal or waste district programs to separate and shred yard wastes, especially autumn leaves and tree trimmings, for reuse as mulch or for composting. The complexity of more comprehensive composting endeavors, incinerators, and landfills requires technical knowledge beyond the scope of this study; no specific advocacy, therefore, is recommended beyond the national position guideline above.