John Wheaton, Mayor of Plummer, Idaho, has an ambitious plan to reduce his community's reliance on landfills. Recently, a large co-generation facility began operation in Plummer (pop. 400), processing everything except plastics and metals. Hoping to capitalize on this surprising development, Mayor Wheaton, who is frequently required to wear a variety of public administrative hats, considered several ideas for complementary public sector activities and an innovative public/private partnership.

Vince Cook faced an entirely different dilemma. As a planner for the Makah Indians in northwest Washington, Mr. Cook was responsible for modernizing the tribe's primitive solid waste capabilities, which now consist of little more than open pits.

Meanwhile, Brenda Barger of Mecklenburg County Engineering is seeking to expand her jurisdiction's ability to process solid waste. With an efficient infrastructure already in place, Ms. Barger is hoping to implement a county-wide source reduction program to control the sheer volume of the solid waste stream in her jurisdiction.

While these three localities bear little resemblance to each other in terms of size, geography, economic base, or technological sophistication, they all share one fundamental circumstance — all three are facing solid waste challenges that will have lasting consequences for their communities and the environment as a whole. While they share the privilege of having a variety of options, they have also learned that these alternatives frequently present confounding choices.

A Managerial Dilemma
This, in a nutshell, is the main dilemma facing solid waste officials in the 1990s — when faced with complex environmental challenges, these local government officials, like their counterparts throughout the country, frequently lack the information to evaluate alternatives, and the resources to implement projects successfully. More importantly, though, they lack the time to develop the expertise which is required to make informed decisions about these policies. Sadly, the negative consequences are often long term and the environmental damage irreparable.

The Solid Waste Peer Exchange Program
Fortunately for Mayor Wheaton, Mr. Cook, Ms. Barger — and any other local administrator in these circumstances — the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) was able to help. For the past four years, through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ICMA has administered a revolutionary program which has helped bring together hundreds of municipal and county administrators and environmental officials to explore new strategies and developments in solid waste management.

Through the Solid Waste Peer Exchange Program, ICMA arranges and subsidizes face-to-face meetings which allow local officials to exchange information with their counterparts who are facing similar circumstances. These meetings encourage networking, cooperation, and the development of innovative ideas. More importantly for Mayor Wheaton, Mr. Cook, and Ms. Barger, the exchanges meant receiving information which helped them address the specific challenges of solid waste management in their communities.

Typically, ICMA contributes approximately $400 per match, to help subsidize, or cover entirely, the cost of transportation, lodging, and meals. Often, this research and financial assistance is all the local officials need to begin implementing an effective program. According to Sarith Guerra, Acting Director of Environmental Programs at ICMA and the guiding force behind the Peer Exchange Program for the past 3 years, "We understand the serious time constraints faced by local administrators. Our experience with this program shows that a single meeting among knowledgeable colleagues is much more efficient than pouring over technical journals and textbooks. We also like to think that these initial meetings will encourage lasting networks among local officials who seek to improve local government service delivery."

Topics for peer exchanges cover the entire spectrum of solid waste management issues, from rural recycling to landfill design to unit pricing of MSW. The degree of technical sophistication of the meetings varies almost as widely. Typically, peer match recipients simply want to know how to set up some type of program or how to integrate separate components into a comprehensive plan. Others, however, require specific information on state of the art technology or governmental regulations. Overall, the program caters to virtually any local government official, in any jurisdiction, who has a question about solid waste management.

Meanwhile, to encourage more local officials to take advantage of this valuable resource, ICMA has recently streamlined the application process, which includes a brief form that lets municipal officials explain their situation, experience, and information they hope to receive through the program. The application form asks applicants to note their interest in becoming advisors and/or recipients in a number of areas, including recycling, composting, incineration, Waste-to-Energy, regional solid waste management, public education, source reduction, facility siting, landfilling, and others. Once these brief summaries are submitted to ICMA's Environmental Programs, staff members begin work immediately — consulting databases, regional contacts, and checking environmental periodicals — all in an effort to find a suitable advisor. Generally, several possible matches are suggested and the administrator who requested the exchange makes the final decision.

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Success Stories
Vince Cook, of the Makah Tribe, used the Peer Exchange Program to update the tribal waste handling methods which did not meet current EPA standards. Because EPA's stringent requirements would soon force the closing of most of the landfills on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, where the Makah and other tribes are located, Mr. Cook understood the need to consider alternatives. However, like many administrators in this situation, he also realized that the Makah Tribe could scarcely afford the high cost of comprehensive engineering studies.

Through a peer match with the Cabezon Tribe of Palm Springs, CA, the Makah learned the pros and cons of co-generation and resource recovery plants and observed their operation directly. As a result of this visit, the Makah tribe is no longer trying to develop a landfill to meet the strict EPA regulations. Instead, they are now researching the potential of a biomass plant on the Makah Reservation, a solution which represents a much more logical approach to their particular problem and the possibility of a more permanent solution.

By many accounts, Brenda Barger has an optimal situation as a solid waste official in Mecklenburg County, NC. Given the county's reputation for sound solid waste management and the continued support of local residents, Ms. Barger recognized the opportunity to carry the county's recycling efforts further. Yet, while she was confident that a source reduction program was feasible in her county, staffing limitations prevented her from conducting extensive research on the details of the plan.

Through the Peer Exchange Program, Ms. Barger met with Paul Kaldjian, a solid waste official in Montgomery County, MD. With years of environmental management behind him, Mr. Kaldjian shared a variety of experiences with Ms. Barger, alerting her to potential problems and obstacles in implementing a source reduction plan. As a result, Ms. Barger is currently developing a program based on sound principles and years of practical experience.

While many local administrators find that their solid waste plans change as a result of a peer match, Mayor John Wheaton modified his plans during the process itself! When he initially contacted ICMA for an exchange, Mayor Wheaton was seeking information on recycling collection methods in order to supply raw material for a privately-run co-generation facility which had recently opened in Plummer. ICMA suggested a match with Paul Jacobson of Kootenai County, ID, which is well known for its innovative recycling program. After a series of conversations with Mr. Jacobson, Mayor Wheaton felt confident enough in his new-found expertise in collection methods to turn his attention to developing an overall Waste-to-Energy plan for the city. Mr. Jacobson mentioned several cities in Idaho which were implementing similar plans and Mayor Wheaton decided to use the peer exchange program to visit these sites.

Ultimately, Mayor Wheaton used the funds provided by the Peer Exchange program to tour a co-generation facility in Adams County, ID, and to meet with local officials there to discuss "dump and burn" contracts, State DEQ burning requirements, and the feasibility of co-firing fuel mixes. With the remainder of the allocated funds, he visited the State DEQ administrators to discuss burning regulations and emissions standards.

As a result of his peer match, Mayor Wheaton was able to investigate the feasibility of using a variety of products, particularly "organic refuse material" collected from the residents of Plummer, to help co-fuel the steam electrical co-generation plant. Armed with this information, the City of Plummer and Wood Power, Inc. are now in the advanced stages of their joint effort to develop a regional, state-of-the-art Waste-to-Energy facility as well as other innovative ways to dispose of energy-containing materials — without creating pollutants.

Innovation and Efficiency
The greatest value of the peer exchange program, finally, is its ability to bring innovative ideas and approaches to local officials who may not otherwise get this exposure. For some, this means learning to look at problems in a new way. For others, it means overcoming specific obstacles which delay implementation of a good idea. For others still, it means developing new programs which complement, rather than duplicate, the activities of an increasingly active private sector. And for Mayor Wheaton in Plummer, it means greater efficiency: "Trial and error can be wasteful, and the peer exchange program helped eliminate this inefficient method, which we really appreciate."

Brenda Barger likes the overall atmosphere created

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by ICMA, which is often in direct contrast to the formality of many government conferences and seminars. "Perpetuating specialized knowledge in such a positive, non-threatening way is a win-win situation for both parties of the Peer Exchange."

According to Guerra, the Peer Exchange Program is a perfect example of ICMA's overall mission. "The International City/County Management Association has always sought to expand professionalism and competence among local governments and the Solid Waste Peer Exchange Program helps accomplish that. It saves time, unnecessary expense, and ultimately, our environment."

For further information on ICMA's Solid Waste Peer Exchange Program, contact Sarith Guerra, Acting Director of Environmental Programs at the International City/County Management Association, 777 North Capitol Street, NE, #500, Washington, DC 20002, (202) 962-3649. •

Washington, D.C. — On May 24, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), in conjunction with the Montgomery County, MD Department of Environmental Protection, held a conference and mega-exchange entitled MSW Reduction: Tools for Local Governments. This "mega-exchange" is a product of the Solid Waste Peer Exchange Program which falls under the purview of the ICMA, and is funded through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Peer Exchange Program is designed to arrange and subsidize "peer matches" among officials from comparable local jurisdictions. The recent source reduction conference brought together approximately 60 participants from as close as Montgomery County, MD and as distant as Mecklenburg County, NC.

A primary purpose of this interactive conference was to provide local government officials with the information they needed to address source reduction issues in their own communities. A variety of solid waste experts spoke on how to formulate and implement a source reduction program and highlighted some obstacles to avoid. Group sessions focused on: how to conduct a waste assessment, working with non-profits, incentives and disincentives, and education and building public support.

The conference was on source reduction and appropriately the theme for the day was "no waste," marked by participants going to new extremes in preventing solid waste generation. Reusable mugs made of recycled plastic were distributed to be used with all beverages, name tags were made of scrap paper, food was not served with disposable utensils, cloth napkins were used, even food scraps were placed in a worm composting bin.

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly favorable, and the conference as a whole was considered such a success that ICMA hopes to receive funding to conduct similar exchanges in Environmental Protection Agency regions one and four.

Individuals who would like to receive additional information on the Solid Waste Peer Exchange Program may call Sarith Guerra, Project Manager, at 202/962-3649. •

Tourism, the fastest-growing industry in Illinois, provides business and job opportunities throughout our state. The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) promotes Illinois tourism through an annual $10 million advertising campaign, grants to assist local convention and tourism bureaus, and matching grants that help promote and market specific attractions and events.

Tourism Matching Grants are particularly important for counties, municipalities and local not-for-profit

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organizations in reaching out to tourists. Grants can help pay a portion of the cost for promotional brochures, and radio, television, newspaper and magazine advertisements that promote local attractions or events. Counties, municipalities, townships and not-for-profit organizations may be eligible to receive up to 60 percent of the cost of these promotional materials, with the balance paid through local sources.

Tourism Matching Grants are awarded quarterly (on the first of February, May, August and November). Applications are due to DCCA's Bureau of Tourism 60 days prior to each award date. Although the deadline to apply for the August awards has passed, applications may now be prepared for the November awards. The deadline to apply for November awards is September 1, 1993.

Tourism Matching Grants are one way DCCA can work with local governments and organizations to generate increased hotel/motel occupancy and travel throughout Illinois. To receive a copy of the program guidelines and application forms, call the Illinois Bureau of Tourism at 217/785-6339. •

The 1993 Illinois Municipal Treasurers Institute is scheduled for September 26-30 at the Mattoon Holiday Inn. The Institute is an intensive, four day, residential program of continuing professional education for municipal treasurers, finance directors, and certified public accountants. Eastern Illinois University has approval from the Municipal Treasurers Association of the United States and Canada and the Illinois Municipal Treasurers Association to offer this certification course for municipal treasurers. The certification program requires that the treasurer experience 100 hours of instruction in certain subject areas which are approved by state and national boards. The instruction is provided over a period of 3 years. Completion of this program fulfills the education requirements for certification. The Institute is also approved for continuing professional education credit for public accountants.

Participants learn through group discussions, lectures and networking. Practical solutions to problems are addressed and updates are provided on ever changing laws and regulations that effect municipalities.

The fee for the 1993 Institute is $350 which includes the institute tuition, course materials, daily continental breakfasts and luncheons, and a banquet. As a special incentive for members of the Illinois Municipal Treasurers Association, who are entering Phase I of the Institute, the IMTA will subsidize $50 of the registration fee.

To request a brochure please call the Eastern Illinois University School of Adult and Continuing Education at (217) 581-5116. •

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