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2020 Solid Waste and Moderate <br />Risk Waste Management Plan Update <br /> <br />AX0304191054PDX 4-3 <br />conjunction with current low-market prices for many commodities, reduces or eliminates the potential for <br />revenues from the sale of recyclables. Waste reduction also avoids the need to develop and finance <br />systems to collect, process, market, manufacture, and/or dispose of recyclables and garbage. Because <br />waste reduction is such an efficient and economical tool, the County would benefit from implementing <br />broad-based waste reduction programs and encouraging city governments to plan complementary <br />programs. <br />There are four basic methods for waste reduction: <br />1) Reduce consumption by using product alternatives that generate less waste. <br />2) Reuse products for their original or compatible purposes. <br />3) Increase the durability or lifetime of products. <br />4) Decrease the amount of material used to produce each product or reduce product packaging. <br />When developing a waste reduction program, the County should be aware that waste reduction is <br />generally not as well documented or understood as recycling and requires extensive education. <br />Additionally, some waste reduction tactics, especially those involving product and packaging waste, are <br />controlled by economic, political, and educational forces beyond the County's control. Several outreach <br />programs targeted at waste reduction have already been implemented in Kittitas County. <br />4.2.2 Existing Conditions <br />Waste reduction is supported in Kittitas County through various programs and offerings. Many promotional <br />materials and outreach programs exist to spread awareness of waste reduction and recycling. This section <br />includes a listing of material reuse programs and current education and outreach efforts. <br />4.2.3 Material Reuse Programs <br />Material donation and reuse opportunities currently available include: <br /> Numerous private and nonprofit businesses operate secondhand material outlets throughout the <br />County. <br /> Online platforms for goods and services and numerous social media platforms provide an internet- <br />based forum to buy, sell, give-away, and exchange secondhand products locally. <br /> Kittitas County, Central Washington University (CWU), and cities sponsor public surplus sales of <br />materials and equipment no longer needed by those agencies but still usable. <br /> The Solid Waste Department provides free, usable products, such as paint, for the public as they are <br />retrieved from the Moderate Risk Waste Facility. <br />4.2.4 Public Outreach and Education <br />Kittitas County has numerous outreach and education programs. Table 4-2 shows the programs that are <br />in place, including target sectors, and highlights of each program. i) . I ,