December 20, 2000

Dear Citizen:

I am pleased to present the final Beyond 2000 Solid Waste Master Plan - A Policy Framework. This Plan lays out the Commonwealth's long term goals for solid waste management, and features the most aggressive goals for waste reduction in the country:

• reducing the waste we produce by 70% through recycling and source reduction;
• removing toxics from the waste stream before recycling or disposal; and
• launching a new Institute (with the University of Massachusetts) to work with manufacturers on product stewardship.

While we are making progress towards meeting the goal of 70% waste reduction, our growing economy has resulted in a waste generation rate that has outpaced our efforts to recycle solid waste. Thus, we are now faced with a need to add capacity for waste disposal. The Plan allows for some measured, and more tightly controlled, additional landfill capacity, with a preference for facilities designed to handle residuals from recycling and other waste reduction efforts. No new incineration capacity will be allowed.

Our vision for the coming decade calls for continuous work to reduce the quantity and toxicity of our waste to the maximum extent feasible, so that we only dispose of the irreducible minimum. Adopting this vision is critical to protecting public health and the environment, and moving toward a more sustainable future. Importantly, our vision will require strong partnerships. Residents, businesses, institutions, and all levels of government must take increased responsibility for reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. The waste industry will play a key role in ensuring that all recyclable material is recovered. Manufacturers will need to take more responsibility for their products so that they are less toxic, create less waste, and are easier to recycle.

The Plan's vision and policies are based on advice from participants in the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, which includes a broad spectrum of stakeholders, and input from all those who participated in the public hearing process. Stakeholder advice will continue to be important as we develop implementation strategies, and evaluate our results. I would like to thank the Committee for its hard work on this Plan, and I look forward to working together with this Committee, and all of you, as we move forward.

Sincerely,

Lauren A. Liss
Commissioner