Articles and Reports from Recent Issues of the Focus

Reports of meetings, forums, field trips during the past several months.

Agri-Plas.  Integrated Waste Management--Introduction.  Integrated Waste Management--Part 1.  Integrated Waste Management--Part 2.  Garten Services Recycling Facility.  Geren Island Water Treatment Plant.  Unit Meeting Report: Integrated Waste Management.  Panel: Marion County Governance.  Immigration--Facts, Misconceptions, & the Media.  China--Changes & Challenges.  The United Nations Today.

Agri-Plas (April 2007)

Ellen Twist

Agri-Plas, as the name implies, is a common-sense blend of the worlds of agriculture and plastic. Ten years ago the company started its second business in Marion County specifically to recycle the millions of plastic plant containers used by nurseries. It also recycles twine and plastic feed sacks used by the livestock producers. The only unacceptable plastic is PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

From a humble beginning in an old shed on Chemawa Road, the company has moved to a ten-acre location on Waconda Road with a building containing conveyer belts and the equipment to shred the plastic containers into bits and pieces ready to recycle into new products.

Agri-Plas now has seventy employees working full time, and the company is increasing to two shifts a day, seven days a week. Two Agri-Plas trucks work full time picking up plastic from companies for a fee. For no charge, companies can haul in their own plastic waste. In addition, there are bins in the front of the building for individuals' to drop off plastic items.

Roughly 23 million pounds of plastic were recycled through Agri-Plas last year! That's 12,000 tons that wasn't sent to the Brooks Incinerator.

This number became even more significant when the owner showed us a vial of highly refined oil that had been reconverted from plastic. A new process to extract oil from plastics exists in Washington State. 10,000 pounds of plastic can convert to 7,000 pounds of oil. It looks like plastic has become an `unnatural resource'!

Integrated Waste Management--Introduction (February 2007)

Our League is conducting a 2-year study to update our current Solid Waste position. This is the first of the Every-member Materials to be provided before we reach consensus.

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC,#3)

PVC is an amazing material and has made incredible in-roads into most walks of our lives: construction, packaging, hospital products, food preparation and storage, etc. It is lightweight, durable, flexible, inexpensive, easy to transport, and long lasting.

Upon closer observation, PVC is not without a major flaw. Any time it is incinerated, it forms dioxin. (Waste Incineration, A Dying Technology, Neil Tangri, p.1) Dioxin is a toxic pollutant linked with numerous health issues including cancer. (2006 National Academy's Review of EPA's Dioxin Reassessment, p. 108).

Be aware of products with PVC and avoid them wherever possible. Look for clues:

1=Recycling #3, (inside the arrowed logo on container bottom)

2=An `off-gas' smell (such as in a new car or shower curtain).

3=PVC containers always have a line or seam, and

4=Creasing the plastic creates a white line.

Marion County provides a free drop-off site at Minto Brown Landfill and has a website, http://www.co.marion.or.us/PW/ES, where you can type in "PVC" to find other places for disposal as well as ideas for reusing the item.

CONSTRUCTION WASTE

There are two major issues in construction waste:

1=How to deal with the waste from demolished construction

and

2=How to build new structures in a more environmentally friendly way.

Marion County encourages recycling and reuse of construction materials. A link on their web site at http://publicworks.co.marion.or.us/es/ helps people find out how to dispose or recycle a particular material.

For used construction materials, the county operates a special landfill on Browns Island so that toxic items can be contained, kept out of the burner, or await recycling.

To reduce future waste the County encourages sustainable building practices through the use of "green" construction techniques. A number of resources have been compiled in the pamphlet Sustainable Building Guide. This free book includes ideas for using recycled or salvaged materials; solar energy (both passive and active); thinking smaller; buying locally; avoiding PVC and plastics that might produce toxins; using organic or natural materials; and avoiding waste during the construction process.

E-WASTE (ELECTRONIC)

One of the emerging problems in waste disposal and recycling is the proliferation of electronic gadgets and machines. As technologies create new and more sophisticated e-machines, yesterday's machines are ending up in landfills or refuse burners. (It is estimated that by the end of 2006, Americans will have disposed of 300 million obsolete computers!¹)

There are emerging ways of addressing this problem:

1= Some states charge a disposal fee at point of sale; California is an example.

2=Manufacturers of TVs, etc., are responsible for collecting and recycling their products; Maine is an example.

3=Creating a fund via manufacturing fees to be used for e-waste disposal; Maryland, for example.

4=Banning e-waste from incineration; Massachusetts and Minnesota have this ban.

5=Individual disposal sites charge a fee for handling e-waste. 6=Requiring buy back by manufacturers--product stewardship.

At the present time, Marion County is studying and reviewing various options, but as of February 2007 has not adopted a policy. There is an attempt to promote reuse and recycling. The 2007 Oregon State Legislature has three pending bills proposed to deal with e-waste that require manufacturers to finance or provide a recycling program.

¹ http://www.Nsc.org

Integrated Waste Management--Part 1 (March 2007)

Sally Hollemon

Excellent presentations on Part 1 of our local League two-year study of Integrated Waste Management were given by Deanie Anderson, David Phelps, and Ellen Twist at March 2007 Unit Meetings. Other members of the study committee are Susann Kaltwasser and Tina Hansen. Other League members interested in this topic are invited to join the committee to help with the research for next year's unit meetings. Contact Ellen Twist, chair of the committee, at http://Solidwaste@marionpolk.or.lwvnet.org.

The emphases in the March Unit presentations were construction waste, E-waste, and PVCs.

David said that people planning to remodel or build should obtain a free copy of the Sustainable Construction Guide from Marion County Public Works, 5155 Silverton Road NE, and give the booklet to their contractor. The Guide contains suggestions for "green" building as well as places to recycle used cement and other construction materials. Sheetrock or other materials should be removed whole so they can re-used.

David said that E-waste is a world-wide problem since electronic equipment, including TVs, cell phones, and computers, are numerous, become obsolete quickly, and contain toxic materials. A national program of standards is needed to prevent dumping of E-waste on underdeveloped nations, but there is currently no good solution to the problem of E-waste.

Ellen handed out round stickers that say "Do not top off!" to put onto cars' gas caps to prevent unnecessary air pollution from the benzene in gasoline fumes. She emphasized avoiding PVCs (#3 plastics), and looking for products made from other materials, but, if you already have PVC lawn furniture, for example, it is safe to use, so keep it and use it as long as possible. If you have PVC items to discard, save them for Earth Day, when Marion County allows these to be dropped off at various sites.

Deanie said the Marion County Public Works website at http://apps.co.marion.or.us/Recycle shows where to recycle a long list of items: If the item you wonder about isn't on the list, you can type in its name and click on "Search." You can also call the Recycling Hotline at 503-390-4000.

Other suggestions to "Help Go Green:" Use compact fluorescent bulbs; save and reuse water bottles; pull the plug on electronic and chargers (if they're plugged in, they're using energy even when turned off); take shorter showers; buy a hybrid car; buy local food products (reduces transportation and packaging); take cloth bags to the market; put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat; use recycled paper.

Integrated Waste Management--Part 2 (March 2008

Purpose of this study

LWV of Marion and Polk Counties is in the process of updating its 1974 Solid Waste position. That study was entitled: Waste--Do We have a Problem?

The current study is looking at the new issues surrounding waste management and the present services provided by Marion and Polk Counties. This study is also examining current and upcoming county contracts and future technologies.

We need to develop League positions that allow us to speak to contract negotiations, to evaluate the merits of various trends in waste management, and to testify on proposed legislation.

Part 1 of this study of Integrated Waste Management (published in February 2007) and related articles may be read at Waste.

Current League Positions

Current League positions are on the following websites:

LWVUS: http://www.lwv.org

See Natural Resources:

Air Quality, Water Resources, Waste Management

LWVOR: http://www.lwvor.org

See Natural Resources:

Air Quality, Solid Waste, Water Quality

LWVMPC: http://marionpolk.or.lwvnet.org

See "Positions"

Natural Resources:

Air and Water, Solid Waste

Definitions

Source: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov

Waste Management Hierarchy: The order of preference of waste management techniques--reduce, reuse, recycle, dispose.

Explanation: Individuals and businesses should look for opportunities to reduce the waste that they generate before they practice any other option.

Waste Reduction: Actions taken before waste is generated to either reduce or completely prevent the generation of waste.

Integrated Waste Management: Managing waste by multiple techniques to achieve solid waste and resource conservation goals. This could include waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, transformation, incineration, disposal to landfills.

Solid Waste: Refers to garbage, refuse, sludges, used oil. It generally does not include dissolved particles unless separated from their liquid.

Source reduction: Any action which causes a net reduction in the generation of solid waste.

Precycling: Refers to actions such as making purchasing decisions that will reduce waste such as buying goods with less packaging.

WE ARE THE PROBLEM. WE ARE THE SOLUTION.

Polk County Services

Polk County is serviced by five recycling and waste-disposal companies. Each company provides a variety of recycling options and collection events throughout the year for hazardous waste, wood waste, scrap metal and appliances.

These companies are supervised by a professional in the Community Development Division located in the County Courthouse in Dallas, Oregon. This person has many other duties as well.

Originally, Polk County established a citizen advisory board for the county commissioners similar to Marion County's Solid Waste Management Advisory Council (SWMAC ) to provide the Polk County Commissioners with a volunteer group of professionals from various backgrounds who could provide advice and guidance regarding waste management. This is also a legal expectation. Unfortunately, due to the lack of volunteers, the advisory board no longer exists.

Medical Waste

There are two main sources of medical waste: that which is home generated and that which is generated by health-care facilities, including veterinarian services.

These products are collected in special containers and taken to the Marion County waste-to-energy facility located in Brooks, Oregon, where these materials are incinerated at 1800-2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is difficult to know the exact amount of medical waste incinerated on a yearly basis but a reasonable estimate is that 300 tons of in-county waste were incinerated in 1997 and an additional 1,300 tons of out-of-county waste were incinerated in 2000.

The out-of-county waste is provided as a service to other jurisdictions in order to give them a safe disposal option. The incineration provides monies to Marion County in two ways: a tipping fee and the generation of electricity. The revenue raised by accepting out of county waste is tallied separately and is used to fund waste-reduction programs. This money amount can vary and, therefore, support for these programs varies.

Oregon Green Schools

Although Green Schools have been around since the 1970s, a non-profit organization was formally established in 1997 to help Oregon schools set up and maintain effective, permanent waste reduction and resource-efficient programs. The organization's website is http://www.oregongreenschools.org.

From Roseburg to Portland to Baker City, nearly 200 schools are on the Oregon Green Schools map. Of these, 65 are in Marion County and 30 are in the Salem-Keizer School District; three of those are considered Premier status. To achieve this label requires commitment by administration, a dedicated teacher or teachers to run the program, and enthusiastic, persistent students. Kelley Cooley is responsible for the Green Schools program in the S-K schools, and Petrina Eger provides services within the rest of Marion County.

The application is extensive and requires the local coordinator to list the school's plan to recycle, reduce waste, save energy (Watt Watcher program) and conserve water; detail how the program will be sustained; give percentage goals for reduction of waste and items to be recycled; and describe planned outreach to the community.

There are three levels of attainment based on increasing goals and outreach to the community. Each school involved in the Green Schools program benefits by receiving a $300 grant to use in support of its program; the money comes from the facilities budget of the school district.

Award-winning schools are also invited to present their programs at the Green Schools Summit (which is March 13 this year) so other schools can learn from them. The several companies that haul solid wastes in the local area help to make this possible by paying for a substitute teacher and mileage.

Salem schools recycle milk cartons, classroom paper and batteries. Cafeteria utensils and plates are in flux now since the loss of a Styrofoam vendor. It is hoped that there will be a return to washable items.

In February several League members visited two Green Schools--Claggett Elementary School and Leslie Middle School. The Green School coordinators at these schools demonstrated that innovative, consistent efforts by staff and students are effective waste reducers, which benefits our county and our future.

E-Waste

Electronic Waste is a term loosely applied to consumer and business electronic equipment that is near or at the end of its useful life. There is no clear definition of e-waste, and what is accepted for recycling or disposal varies by location.

Oregon's electronic recycling law was enacted in 2007 (House Bill 2626). It created a statewide collection, transportation and recycling system for TVs, desktop and portable computers, and computer monitors. This law does not cover other electronic devices such as cell phones, fax machines and printers.

However, Marion County has elected to expand its recycling program to include microwaves, photocopy machines and all other electronic devices not covered by the state mandate. Thus, Marion County citizens are fortunate to be able to recycle computers, peripherals, stereos, VCR/DVD players, portable music devices, video cameras, laptops, projectors, telephones, cell phones, PDAs and any electronic device they may own.

Marion County is in the forefront of e-waste recycling. All electronics collected at the transfer stations are handled in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Re-usable components are gleaned and turned into refurbished computers. This program provides jobs for adults with disabilities in Marion County. A recent visit to the Marion County Transfer Station showed that care is taken in the managing of e-waste and that it is a very popular service.

We are the problem

According to The Story of Stuff(a 20-minute animation of the consumerist society, narrated by Anne Leonard, http://www.storyofstuff.com), for every garbage can of waste that we roll out to the curb, it takes about 70 cans of waste to produce it. This includes extracting the raw materials, manufacturing the product, packaging it, shipping it to a store, advertising it for sale, and then wrapping it for the journey to your home.

We discard about 90% of everything we purchase. American consumers now purchase about 50% more goods than they did in 1950. According to the EPA, each person generates about four pounds of waste a day.

Marion County has the highest recycling rate in Oregon at 57%. Yet we continue to send increased quantities of waste materials to the incinerator at Brooks or to the landfill at Coffin Butte near Corvallis.

The only way to get ahead of the trend is to not just recycle more, but to change some of our consumer practices so that we produce less waste in the first place. If we are the cause of the problem, we can be part of the solution.

The hierarchy of waste management identifies six layers of a pyramid. Prevention is seen as being the smallest share of the waste pyramid, but as time goes on we must work to invert the pyramid so that prevention, minimization and reuse are larger than disposal. Businesses are beginning to look at cutting their costs by exploring ways that they can reduce waste. Consumers need to do the same at home through their buying habits.

We are the solution

Recycling is great, but it is no longer enough. We need to reuse materials or donate unwanted items as well. But even more important is to reduce waste by not producing it in the first place. This is called "waste reduction." Decisions you make before you buy can make a big difference in the amount of waste you produce.

Before shopping, make a list and ask yourself:

1. What do I really need? Do I need it or do I just want it? Do I already have something I could use?

2. How much of this item do I really need?

3. When and where will I use this item again? Can I borrow or rent what I need instead?

4. What will be left when I am done with it?

While shopping, ask yourself these questions:

1. Will this product last a long time? Or is it just a one-time use?

2. Which package makes the least waste?

3. What does the label say about hazardous waste, use of recycled materials, or safety standards?

4. Does the product serve my needs?

5. What size do I really need? Larger sizes tend to be more economical only if you will use all of the contents.

6. Bring your own reusable bag(s) for your purchases.

After you make a purchase, take care of the product and packaging properly.

1. Repair products when possible.

2. Reuse or refill the packaging if possible.

3. Share or donate any leftovers.

4. Recycle the packaging.

5. Dispose of it safely--but only as a final option!*

You can find many excellent resources with similar ideas on the Internet.

• A good source for recycling information is the Marion County website, http://www.co.marion.or.us/PW/ES/recycle/. There is information on how to dispose of, recycle or reduce your waste.

Committee members

Deanie Anderson, Chair; Tina Hansen; Susann Kaltwasser; David Phelps

March 2008

Visit to Garten Services Recycling Facility (April 2008)

Notes by Sally Hollemon

When the League group arrived at Garten Services for our tour, we learned that we were visiting on their birthday. Garten was founded on Earth Day, April 22, thirty-eight years ago, so, led by Rose Lewis, we all joined in to sing Happy Birthday to Garten.

Garten Services (originally Garten Foundation) was inspired by Sally Gearhart, who believed that people with disabilities could learn to be productive employees in the community. John Mathews, Sustainability Coordinator, said that the three parts of Garten's mission are social equity, recycling, and sustainability. He defined sustainability as: Meeting our needs today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Seventy-five percent of the staff (not counting office workers) must be disabled in some way. Some governmental funding is available for training them, but the company has to earn enough money to sustain itself. On the day we visited, Garten Services would receive the Marion County Earthwise Certification.

Garten has three facilities in Marion County, one in Dallas, and one in Eugene. Don Carmichael showed a video about Garten's businesses, which include recycling paper, shredding sensitive documents, packaging and mail services, landscaping, diaper service, recycling electronics, and putting disabled people to work in community businesses (such as janitorial work and food services), and activities for seniors with disabilities.

Mr. Carmichael said that materials collected in blue bins from homes and small businesses go first to Hillsboro for mechanical sorting. The paper is then brought to Garten for hand sorting by color; this provides safe jobs for disabled people. The whitest paper, which requires the least bleaching, is the most valuable for making recycled paper. Paper shredded for security reasons is shredded extremely small, then taken by locked trucks to Halsey where it is dumped into a slurry for re-manufacture. A "guillotine" cuts the backs off books; the covers and backs are "grayboard" like cereal boxes. Paper for recycling goes wherever it can be sold, but most goes somewhere in the Northwest. Mr. Carmichael commented that, due to electronic communication, while we don't have a paperless society, we are using less paper in spite of increased population.

Plastics are compressed, baled, and sold. Plastic bags taken to the grocery store are recycled as plastic film. However, plastic bags should not be put into the blue recycling bins because they clog the machinery that does the preliminary sorting. Cornstarch is beginning to be made into plastic items, such as bags and cutlery, which will decompose quickly after use.

Garten receives computers from businesses and individuals at the Transfer Station east of Salem. Computers with Pentium 3 or 4 processors can be refurbished, so Garten technicians wipe the hard drives clean and load on new programs before the computers are sold. Older computers are dismantled by Garten employees and the components separated into large boxes--keyboards; mice; wide, flat wires; thin wires, thick wires, etc.--for re-use or disassembly. CRT computer screens are made so that the pointed glass at the back can be broken off, which creates a vacuum that sucks the gases down to the bottom (the back of the screen). Screens are then shipped safely to a company that can recover the gases. Plastic computer cases that have been compressed and bailed, as well as metals, are sold to companies that melt these down for re-manufacture.

In this one Garten facility 2500 toms of materials are recycled each month.

Most disabled employees work an overlapping 5-hour shift and are paid $2.50 to $12 per hour based on how much average time it takes each employee to do their specific job. (Disabled workers are not covered by minimum-wage laws.) Staff members are not highly paid, and the director of Garten makes less than $100,000 per year. Staff members are trained to handle medical and behavioral issues.

Visit to Geren Island Water Treatment Plant (May 2007)

Marge Wright

Upper Bennet Dam on the Santiam River near Stayton was the starting place for the tour of the City of Salem's Geren Island Water Treatment Facility by a group of League members on May 29, 2007.

At this dam some of the water from the Santiam River is diverted to Salem and Turner for consumer use and irrigation and some to the Santiam Water District and to Mill Creek. A fish ladder helps protect three threatened fish species--the Oregon chub, spring chinook, and winter steelhead--as well as the red-legged frog.

At the intake channel, screens filter out fish, leaves, and other debris.

The League group learned about the elaborate slow sand filtration system whereby water is gathered into large outdoor cells and slowly seeps through

layers of sand and rocks before it goes out through pipes at the bottom of the cells for further treatment.

Chlorine and fluoride are added to Salem's drinking water, and a soda-ash treatment changes the ph level to help control corrosion of plumbing pipes in some of Salem's older homes, preventing lead and copper corrosion from going into their tap water.

Salem water is tested for 150 different things before it reaches our homes. This testing is much more stringent than the testing done on bottled water, which is so widely purchased now.

Salem residents use 17 million gallons of water per day in the winter months and 50 million gallons per day during the summer. As Salem grows, the conservation and wise use of our very high quality water supply will become more and more important.

Unit Meeting Report on Integrated Waste Management (March 2008)

Notes by Sally Hollemon

Marion County's solid waste contracts will be coming up in a few years, and discussion of them is beginning at the county level. LWVMPC must be ready to provide input.

Reducing packaging and consumption

Reducing packaging and consumption will reduce the amount of energy needed to manufacture and transport products as well as reduce the amount of solid waste. A variety of books on reducing solid waste is available. An especially useful booklet is Waste Reduction and Disposal User Guide available from Marion County by calling 503-588-5169 or on the web at http://publicworks.co.marion.or.us/recycle.

Current League positions have some holes

The League has good positions on solid waste at the national, state and local levels. [The article in the March Focus includes the websites where these League positions may be found.] Our local study is looking at the following part of our local position to determine if changes are needed: There is a role for both landfills and incineration in an integrated solid waste management system. Incineration should be the primary method of disposal if:

Materials found to contribute to the formation of dioxins and the release of heavy metals are removed before incineration and disposed of in a landfill; and

Fly ash is tested separately for pollutants and disposed of as required by test results.

Scientific research on the toxic effects of waste disposal should continue. Toxicity testing of leachate, ash, and air emissions should be impartial, random, and frequent. Local pollution control standards may need to exceed EPA standards to gain public confidence that disposal impacts do not harm public health or the environment.

Areas to consider during the next year of our study:

• What new technology is available?

• Is incineration still the best technology?

• Has incineration caused accumulated toxins in the environment of the burner?

• Is testing for toxins frequent enough to identify possible problems?

• Who is accountable for the safety and efficiency of the county solid waste system?

• Are there useful solid-waste byproducts?

Electronic waste (E-waste)

The Oregon legislature passed a law to require each county to have a recycling program for E-waste because, for example, near Fall City and near Marion Forks E-waste is dumped in the forest. The state law covers only a few electronics, but Marion County has decided to receive all electronics at the Transfer Station east of Salem off Highway 22. Due to concern about information on computer hard drives, the Transfer Station is arranged so that the public cannot reach the computers that have been discarded there.

The discarded electronics are taken to Garten where employees wipe the hard drives clean and take the computers apart. Metals in the computers can be recycled, and useable parts are sent to Chemeketa Community College for students to use in rebuilding computers as part of their training. A problem is that Garten employees need special skills to do this work, but pay is low, so it's hard to get enough workers.

Marion County gets lots of calls about its E-waste recycling program from all over the U.S. because it is one of only a few counties that accepts all E-waste.

Polk County, on the other hand, is way behind Marion County in solid waste disposal and doesn't even have a solid waste advisory commission, which is required by law. What is recycled in Polk County depends upon which garbage hauler picks up the trash on a specific street.

Learn from others

There is a wide variety in how E-waste and other solid waste is handled. In Glendale, CA, for example, a person can arrange by phone to have any kind of trash picked up free (including carpet, old furniture, tires). When a service is free, it is more likely to be used. Of course, the service must be paid for by taxes or other means.

Where E-waste isn't handled locally, it is shipped to countries that will take it and dump it. This, of course, shifts the environmental and human risks to poor countries.

Some questions

The contract for the incinerator in Marion County will expire in 2014. Should a new or larger incinerator be built? The Solid Waste Management Advisory Commission (SWMAC) is holding public meetings with presentations by a consultant. SWMAC meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the County Commissioners' Hearings Room in the county office building by the bus depot in downtown Salem.

Alternatives to consider for the future as Marion County's population continues to grow:

• Build a second or a larger incinerator.

• Landfill all the trash or only the incinerator ash as at present.

• Consider new technology, such as

• Large prisms in sun evaporate all the liquid out of the waste leaving only ash.

• Develop uses for ash from incineration (but not spreading it on roads, as is done near Hermiston).

• How can waste be reduced?

• How can recycling be increased?

• Is the current rate structure adequate to maintain fair and equitable rates and fiscal stability?

How can we reduce solid waste?

We can exert pressure on manufacturers to reduce packaging.

Processed food is a large source of the materials in our waste stream. Some individual drinks have packaging that is not easily recycled. Instead of buying single-serving packages, buy larger quantities and repackage at home in re-usable containers, such as butter containers. (Be sure to use food-grade plastic containers; #2 plastic is the best.) You also save money by doing this; 100-calorie portions of snacks cost 3-4 times as much as the regular sizes of these snacks.

Instead of buying individual frozen dinners, making dinners at home saves money and packaging as well as transportation. For every pound of waste you generate, up to 70 pounds of waste could have been generated before it got to you.

Think of ways to reuse packaging:

• Use bread bags in place of Baggies

• Wash and reuse freezer bags.

• Use butter and yogurt containers for storage or to take food home from a restaurant.

• Take your own washable cup to any coffee shop.

• Buy large refills instead of new pump spray items.

• Look at every object for a second use before you toss it in the trash.

Other suggestions to reduce waste:

• Use sponges, rags and cloth towels instead of paper towels whenever possible.

• Buy concentrated products, such as detergents.

• If your favorite brands have excessive packaging, contact the manufacturers and express your concern about reducing waste and conserving natural resources.

• Carry a canvas or net tote bag when you shop.

• Buy products that are durable, well made and repairable. (Read consumer magazines at the library.)

• Reduce toxic waste by purchasing paints, pesticides and other hazardous materials only in the quantities needed (or share leftovers).

• Use plug-in appliances instead of those that operate on batteries.

• Use an electric shaver or a quality razor with replaceable blades.

• Bar soap generates less packaging waste and is less expensive than liquid soap in plastic bottles with pump dispensers.

• Use carpools or public transit.

Trends in business

Today many businesses are "going green." For example, Wal-Mart has released its goals for sustainability which include:

• to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy,

• to create zero waste, and

• to sell products that sustain our resources and the environment.

• Major car companies such as General Motors and Toyota are exploring the use of alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and solar cells, to power cars and marketing hybrid cars as a means to reduce pollution.

Other good trends include

• Concentrating products so you need less to do the job (and avoid shipping water)

• Using less packaging or making packaging from recycled materials

• Making packaging lighter in weight to cut down on shipping, materials and bulk

• Designing for solar energy or natural lighting in offices and stores

• Building recycling into products so that materials can be recycled easily; cars are now almost completely recycled Recycling office supplies.

• Recycling office supplies.

Some bad trends are

• Claiming to be "green" when the product really isn't

• Claims that hold hidden trade-offs, that don't tell the whole story

• Claims with no proof to back up their assertions

• Claims that are so vague that consumers are likely to misunderstand

• Claims that are irrelevant to the products

• Claims that are technically true but distract consumers from a product's real problems

• Claims that misuse or misrepresent certification by an independent authority.

Two professors at the University of Oregon have created a Green Washing Index to help consumers sort products that claim to be green from products that are truly green. It's on the Web at http://www.greenwashingindex.com.

Co-op American provides a variety of tools to help consumers find true green products. In addition to articles about recycling and environmental issues, the site offers a state-by-state directory of green businesses known as the National Green Pages. This can be found at http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/index.cfm.

Be complimentary

If you find a company doing something you like, tell someone at the company. For example, a recycled item may cost more than a new one, so let an employee know that you appreciate the company's effort.

Committee needs help

The current LWV committee is composed of Deanie Anderson, chair; David Phelps; Tina Hansen; and Susan Kaltwasser.

The committee could use some additional members

• to observe the monthly SWMAC meetings to learn about the 5-Year Plan;

• to be an interviewer of the county commissioners and others;

• to be a website reader;

• to develop a Power Point presentation to give to community groups, and

• to develop a local shopper's guide.

Contact anyone on the committee for more information.

Panel: Marion County Governance in the 21st Century

Sally Hollemon

Is Marion County ready for the challenges of the 21st century with its current 3-member commission structure? That question and related issues were discussed by panelists at a public meeting on March 6, 2008, in the Salem Public Library's Anderson Room.

Eric Schmidt, Communication Manager; Association of Oregon Counties: Overview of Oregon County Governance Structures

Although counties are legally subdivisions of the State, in 1973 the Oregon legislature gave all counties the right to enact statutes. There are two kinds of Home Rule:

Charter counties: Lane is one of 9 counties that established a county charter (constitution) under an earlier Home Rule law.

General Law counties: Marion and Polk are among 27 counties that fall under the 1973 version of Home Rule. Oregon counties have broader authority than do counties in most other states and can change their governing structure with a vote of the people. For more information see http://www.aocweb.org

John Lattimer, Marion County Chief Administrative Officer: Marion County Structure, Operations, and Performance

Marion County has three commissioners elected at large in partisan elections. The commissioners have administrative, legislature, and quasi-judicial duties. Their administrative duties include hiring and firing of department heads (except those that are elected). The commissioners have turned many of their administrative duties over to the Chief Administrative Officer, who oversees many departments. The position of chair rotates among the three commissioners. Other counties are organized differently; some have five commissioners or elect them in districts or in non-partisan elections.

Although 75% of Marion County's budget is spent on law enforcement, the county government provides a wide variety of services, including public works (roads, two ferries, dog shelter, emergency operations during flood, earthquake, epidemic, etc.), planning and building inspections, the incinerator, Children and Families services, health services provided by the state (including mental health, drug/alcohol treatment, public health, immunizations, and health inspections of restaurants and hotels).

Peter Sorenson Lane County Commissioner: Lane County's Model: Five Commissioners, Fewer Problems, Better Results

Lane County adopted its charter in 1976. It has five commissioners elected in non-partisan elections for 4-year terms. (Two commissioners are elected in a Presidential Election year, and three are elected in a Governor Election year, which creates stability.) Each commissioner represents a specific district, so voters know who their commissioner is and the commissioners have to work together to accomplish anything. As in Marion County, the commissioners have administrative, legislative and judicial duties, and most administrative duties are delegated to the County Administrator.

Advantages of having five commissioners:

When two commissioners meet casually or for lunch and talk about a county issue, they are observing the Public Meetings Law because it takes three commissioners in agreement at a public meeting to have a decision.

Commissioners make fewer mistakes because it takes three people to make a decision, rather than only two. Also, special interests have a harder time influencing five people instead of three.

Because each commissioner represents a specific district, there is greater accountability than when all commissioners are elected at large. Districts are apportioned by the commissioners after each decennial census.

Costs increase when two commissioners are added. The amount of cost increase depends partly on whether their assistants work full or part time.

In response to a question about setting up a metro government composed of Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties, Mr. Sorenson said he thinks it's better to work cooperatively with other counties on common issues rather than setting up another level of government.

Ron Johnson, former Chair of Clackamas County Planning Commission: Lessons Learned From Recent Clackamas County and City of Portland Elections

In considering whether to change Marion County's government, one should first consider: What is the problem? Does the system need changing or do the people in office need to be replaced?

In Portland a charter-review committee looked at the pros and cons of their system and couldn't find anything specifically wrong. In Clackamas County there were many problems (roads, schools), and the question was whether five people might be better able to solve the problems than could three. The Clackamas County task force suggested five at-large, non-partisan, full-time commissioners and convinced the voters that in their populous, growing county with many problems, a larger commission would be advantageous; the voters approved.

Lessons learned:

Make sure there is a direct connection between the problem and the proposed solution.

Get everyone behind the proposal.

Bill Burgess, Marion County Clerk: How we would make changes if we wanted to do so?

First we need to know why we want to make a change.

Oregon counties have a variety of combinations of three or five commissioners, partisan or nonpartisan, full or part time. Voters have to approve changes.

A charter initiative is like changing the constitution, so citizens who think a change is needed should talk to all the groups that might be interested in order to get their support because people tend to resist changing the charter. A charter-review committee can be appointed; there is a process for doing that. Then that committee makes recommendations.

A charter-review committee or a group of citizens who think change is needed can either ask the county commissioners to refer a change to the voters or can gather signatures on an initiative petition. (There is a Referral manual and an Initiative manual that explain the procedures to follow. These are available on line.) The District Attorney writes the ballot title. The County Clerk verifies the signatures on the initiative petitions. Then the people vote.

Carla Mikkelson, Moderator: Q & A

Q: What is the effective difference between partisan and non-partisan officials? A: Most charter committees ask for non-partisan county officials. If you have a five-member commission, you may get a wider range of citizen involvement (important because Marion County is growing in population); a smaller commission may be more brutally partisan since it takes only two commissioners to make a decision. Of course, even with non-partisan offices, the people elected to them are still registered Democrats, Republicans, Independents, or members of other political parties.

Q: What are the advantages of five commissioners over three? A: More people are involved in decision making, giving better representation to various parts of the county. Also the commissioners can meet informally in pairs to discuss issues.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of electing commissioners by district rather than at large? A: District elections cost candidates less than running at large because a district is geographically smaller. At-large commissioners are responsible to all residents of the county rather than only their own districts, so the commissioners should take a larger view of issues. Part of making this work is establishing a culture that says all the commissioners represent all the citizens. Another possibility is having each commissioner represent a district but be elected at large (as in Marion County).

A difficulty with electing commissioners by district is the issue of how to redistrict in a fair way. Some counties have the county clerk do it, but regardless of who does the redistricting, it often ends up in court.

Q: Will a larger commission reduce the workload? A: Commissioner Janet Carlson said: Not necessarily, because each commissioner does what she has to do and then in the time available does the things she wants to do. With more time available a commissioner may do more of the things she wants to do.

Q: Won't a larger commission cost more? A: Each commissioner has an assistant, so adding two more commissioners and assistants would increase the cost.

Immigration--Facts, Misconceptions, & the Media (2007)

Notes by Sally Hollemon

Three panelists each discussed one part of this topic at the well-attended meeting on December 5, 2007, at the Salem Library.

Professor James Nafziger, Professor of International Law from Willamette University College of Law, said that most migrants leave their countries for work, education, family, curiosity, or to escape war. He reminded us that the U.S. is a nation of immigrants and that many came undocumented, including the first ones from Europe. He added that about every ten years people in the U.S. get upset about immigration, so the current controversy is not new. Between periods of anti-immigration sentiment, most Americans are supportive of immigration; a poll in 2006 showed 78% favor a path to citizenship for immigrants.

The U.S. government didn't regulate immigration until the 1870s when Congress passed laws against immigration by prostitutes, criminals, lunatics, and those who would be a security threat. Later, Chinese and Japanese people were added to that list after the nation no longer needed their labor to build railroads or to work in mining. In 1921 and 1924 Congress established quotas based on where immigrants came from; the largest quotas were for northern European nations.

Refugees: In 1951 the U.S. signed the Convention on the Status of Refugees; treaties are law under the U.S. Constitution. There are two categories of refugees. (1) Oversees refugees are lodged in camps under U.N. supervision. Very few are admitted to the U.S. The brunt of mass migration due to war falls on poor nations who have borders with the nation whose citizens are fleeing war. (2) Asylum seekers are people with a well-founded fear of persecution for various discriminatory reasons, such as political opinion; economic reasons are not included. Asylum seekers are few in comparison to the total number of refugees.

Since its establishment in 2003, the Department of Homeland Security has responsibility for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Other departments with immigration responsibilities are State for visas, Labor for prospective immigrant employment, and Human Services for health requirements for immigrants. States cannot interfere with federal powers over immigration when there is federal law regarding the issue even if state law would strengthen federal law.

The U.S. relies on classification of immigrants before they come here; certain classifications have preference, such as family reunification. Canada and Australia have pre-admission controls, too, but they have point systems that give points for education, skills, family, etc.; so several values are considered rather than just one as in the U.S. The immigration bill before Congress that failed last year included a point system.

The U.S. does not have national ID cards as other nations do, so we have to rely on birth certificates, Social Security cards, and similar identification, which can be forged. Further, the U.S. does not track visas to know whether people have left the country when their visas expire; although Congress mandated this some years ago, tracking visas is expensive and difficult.

Immigrants: There are two groups of immigrants:

Non-immigrants are admitted for business, pleasure, temporary work, or education. 30 million non-immigrants entered the U.S. last year. Many of them must receive visas to enter the country. Guest-worker programs, such as the bracero program for agricultural workers during World War II failed to protect the workers as the law required, and many of the workers did not return home as the law also required. Current guest-worker law invites violation because the law limits agricultural workers to 14,000 per year, far fewer than the jobs available, and the cost and red tape for employers is not worth the effort when undocumented workers are available.

Immigrants who are not "non-immigrants" are permanent residents (such as "green-card" holders) and are eligible to become citizens. There are several categories for admittance as an immigrant: Family-based (with 480,000 slots available each year), employment-based for unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled workers (with 140,000 slots per year), refugees (who are technically admitted only so long as the threat of persecution in their home counties lasts, but most refugees stay in the U.S.), and diversity immigrants admitted to correct imbalances as a result of earlier quotas.

There are huge backlogs due to more demand by potential immigrants than there are annual slots available, so some people could potentially wait for 20-25 years for admittance.

It is estimated that there are 10-12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. This is the same number that was estimated thirty years ago.

About half of the undocumented immigrants came to the U.S. legally and overstayed their visas. As crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has become more difficult, more undocumented immigrants who came here to work stay here rather than going back to Mexico for part of the year.

Undocumented immigrants are spread throughout the nation more than used to be the case. For example, since American citizens dislike unpleasant jobs, such as killing and processing chickens, immigrants have moved to the Midwest to do those jobs.

Attempts at enforcement have not worked well. Raids on employers don't work for a variety of reasons. Border controls such as walls, for example, don't work since tunnels can be built under them. National Guard patrols are more effective.

Prof. Nafziger said that immigrants don't take jobs from citizens as long as work-force protections are enforced. Instead, immigrant workers usually complement rather than compete with citizen workers by doing the unpleasant or unskilled work, which frees citizen workers to do higher skill work. An example often given is the child-care work provided by immigrants frees mothers for paid employment. There is no correlation between undocumented workers and terrorism in spite of the fear stirred up by some broadcast personalities.

Brena Lopez, staff attorney for Marion/Polk Legal Aid Services of Oregon, said that she is not an immigrant but is married to one. Many immigrants live in extended families with mixed status; her family is an example.

All immigrants regardless of legal status are eligible for free education. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that children of undocumented immigrants have little control over their parents' decision to come to the U.S. and that to deny the children an education could create sub-classes of young people who could become criminals.

The webside http://www.NILC.org lists public benefits and specifics of which immigrants are eligible for each benefit. As a general rule, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federal benefits except in medical emergencies including childbirth. Legal Aid cannot help undocumented immigrants except for domestic violence cases.

Oregon's governor recently issued an order that applicants for an Oregon driver's license (including a renewal) must supply a valid Social Security number (which will be checked). New applicants must supply a valid U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport.

Recommentations: (1) Immigrants recognize the value of learning English, but there is a shortage of classes available, so there are opportunities for volunteers to teach English as a Second Language through Oregon Community Projects or Chemeketa Community College. (2) Get acquainted with people who are immigrants and hear their stories. You'll discover that they have the same hopes and dreams as do the rest of us.

Dick Hughes, Statesman Journal Editorial Page Editor, said that journalists, especially non-print journalists, have failed to give context to the issues surrounding immigration; some of them have deliberately stirred up controversy so that they will have listeners/viewers. In addition, interest groups depend on controversy to raise money.

Information intended to stir up controversy is often incomplete or even untrue, and it's important to get facts before forming an opinion. His suggestions for how to break the cycle of misinformation:

·Be skeptical (not cynical) in looking at news coverage.

·Don't take anything for granted; work to disprove your own theory.

·Be cautious of statistics, especially if you agree with them.

·Go to original sources (government reports and academic articles that include documentation). The Arizona Republic newspaper covers immigration from all angles and is an excellent source of information. Be aware that "common knowledge" can be wrong, however. The website http://www.SNOPES.com debunks urban myths.

·Be wary of pitchmen, people who stir up controversy as infotainment.

·Be way of labels. Immigration is a complex issue, so pro-immigration and con-immigration statements are oversimplifications.

·Look for common understanding. Listen to various points of view, learn from each other, and find the areas of agreement.

Mr. Hughes invited the audience to check out the discussion of immigration on the newspaper's web log (which he supervises) at http://www.statesmanjournal.com/immigrationblog.

Q&A

Americans should learn from other countries. For example, the point system for potential immigrants works well in Canada since it takes a variety of factors into consideration. A point system was included as part of the comprehensive immigration bill before Congress last year, but it wasn't explained to citizens. Public education on immigration issues is needed.

Update: To read the League's new national position on Immigration, click on Immigration

China--Changes & Challenges (November 2008)

Notes by Sally Hollemon

Minzi Su spoke to the November 2008 Foreign Policy interest group. She grew up in China, worked in state-owned and private companies in China, and was twice elected to city government. Currently she and her teenage daughter are living in Portland where Ms. Su is working on a doctorate in public administration at Portland State University.

Changes

Political--China's government is becoming more responsive to the people. There is more transparency, more knowledge coming in from outside China, and anti-corruption efforts are paying off as evaluation systems make it more difficult to be corrupt. There is more public participation in government, such as public hearings on issues such as prices. Election law allows people to complain about problems that occur during an election.

China's constitution says all the right things about human rights and freedoms, but definitions are somewhat vague and are subject to party interpretation. Sensitive information is controlled. For example, the government suppressed information about the SARS epidemic, but information about it spread by the Internet, and that forced the government to take action to control SARS. The current generation of leaders is forced to be more attuned to peoples' problems and the need to solve them.

Social--The burden on farmers has been reduced. Information about taxes and subsidies is on the Internet, so, since everyone knows what they are supposed to pay, local officials can't charge farmers extra "fees" anymore. Education has been improved in rural areas; nine years of education is compulsory, and funds have been provided for school buildings and to pay teachers. Public health facilities have been improved in rural areas, and farmers are required to pay a small amount per year for this health "insurance" with the government paying the rest; farmers resist paying their share and have to be persuaded to pay "just in case" they need medical care.

Cultural--Ms. Su said that, when she was growing up, it was unusual to see a foreigner, but China is multi-cultural now, at least in cities, where they are numerous. China has exchange programs with various countries now. Cultural facilities are richer now with athletics, the arts, and educational institutions available.

Life--People have been acquiring more things in recent decades and they want more things now. In the 1990s they wanted a phone, computer, air conditioning. In the 2000s they want a house, car, education for their children, insurance. Even rural people have benefited; they now have to spend less of their total income on food, so they have more money for other things. Ms. Su said that people are now more self-reliant and independent than they were when the government owned everything. In addition, people are voluntarily participating in local projects, such as environmental protection. There is more freedom to think and speak although some topics are still sensitive. People accept new ideas and products and are influenced by foreign products and advertisements. Income for both rural and urban people has increased, but the gap between them is growing because income increases much faster in urban areas than in rural ones. Per-capita income is still very low compared to that in Japan and the U.S.

Challenges

Economic--China's growth is coming at too high a price in resources, energy, and damage to the environment. This is not sustainable. China's economy is dependent on investment and exports; domestic consumption is still much too low. Farmers lose their land and move to cities, but they lack training for urban jobs. Factories are a major contributor to the economy, but, as productivity improves, the service industry must absorb more labor. There is still heavy reliance on purchased or licensed patents; Chinese people need to develop more creativity. The government sets goals to reduce pollution, but it is very expensive to reach the goals, and investors don't want to pay the costs.

Social--Development is not even; there are gaps, such as the gap between urban and rural incomes and gaps in regional development. There are gender issues. For example, private employers don't want to hire women because they marry and have children. This is especially hard to rural women whose husbands have left to work in urban areas but who then don't come back; there is a high suicide rate among rural women. Rural housing is primitive, and in many rural areas the government school is too far away for children to attend, so farmers get together to hire a teacher to teach all grades in a primitive schoolroom.

Growth--The Chinese government's goals for the next 20 years are for sustainable development and a harmonious society. Cities are growing fast. Will the cities be able to absorb all the rural young people who want to move there? Chinese people are optimistic that the goals will be achieved because they see life improving for the people they know. Ms. Su said the policies are good but the implementation is questionable. Leaders in some parts of the country are effective while leadership is poor in other places.

Political--Grassroots democracy is working in some parts of China, but election results are still manipulated by party bosses. The judicial system is not independent. China is trying to be friendly with other nations, especially with the U.S.

The United Nations Today (October 2007)

Ramu Damodaran, who heads the Civil Society Service in the United Nations Department of Public Information, spoke in October 2007 to the Foreign Policy interest group and the local United Nations Association on Flying with its Own Wings: The U.N. Today.

Mr. Damodaran noted that the U.N., established October 24, 1945, is now 62 years old. It began with 51 nations and now has 192. The Security Council has ten members plus five with veto power.

The U.N. has come into its own, Mr. Damodaran said. We now have an organization that works on issues important to people, and the key member states are supportive of this. Nations have recognized that there are issues that one nation alone cannot deal with. Some issues are regional or global in scope. Among these are disease, poverty, lack of sanitation, child labor, environmental issues.

Democracy has spread widely enough that delegates know that, when they vote for a treaty at the U.N., their people expect their governments to follow the treaties. The U.N. takes complaints of individuals to their governments and tells the governments, "You signed this treaty; now deal with this person's problem." The U.N. can also send inspectors to see if a government is telling the truth.

The United States should be proud that it insisted that democracy be spread around the world even though other governments now pay more attention to what their own people want than to what the U.S. wants.

The U.N. gathers information--on climate change, for example, a new issue for the U.N. Resources include the intellectual and scientific communities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) whose workers have knowledge of the lives of peoples. The U.N. then disseminates that information to its member nations. This valuable service should not be underestimated.

The U.N. recognizes that a government that brutalizes its own people will eventually attack its neighbors, so the U.N. needs to get involved in protecting people. However, the U.N.'s role in resolving conflict is to make sure it doesn't get involved too early. Regional players are depended on more and more to resolve conflicts because local people understand the situation better. The U.N. is most successful when it is least visible; it does behind-the-scenes work, such as the Secretary General making phone calls, sending emissaries, etc.

Q and A

In answer to a question about establishing a United Nations army, Mr. Damodaran said that most nations want a say in where their soldiers are sent. Further, how many U.N. troops would be needed to cover the number of places where conflicts might erupt? It's a real problem, however, that when there is a U.N. call for troops, member nations often don't contribute the number of troops needed.

The Human Rights Council now has a system by which people can challenge the nominees to the Council, so a country with a bad human-rights record is now less likely to have its representative appointed to the Council.

The United States has not ratified some treaties (for example, the International Criminal Court and the banning of land mines), but it has followed the treaties anyway. Mr. Damodaran pointed out that our ratification system is more complex than that of many other countries since the U.S. Senate has to approve treaties.

Veto power in the Security Council won't change because it would be vetoed. The countries that have the veto power want to keep it, and these countries must not be driven away from the U.N. Further, since other nations influence them to not use it, the nations with veto power avoid its use as long as the issue is one that doesn't hurt the nation with the veto power.

Everyone agrees that the Security Council should be expanded, but there are two main problems that have stalled expansion. (1) What countries should be added? (2) Many resolutions are passed in the small Security Council. Would a larger group work as well as the smaller one does? The permanent members cannot be removed. Two possibilities for expansion are to have regional members or quasi-permanent additional members.

Mr. Damodaran concluded that the U.N. has had success stories when it responded to crises and when it replicates solutions used in similar situations, such as furnishing micro credit in underdeveloped countries.

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