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The Planning Unit oversees the solid waste management planning program for the state of Ohio. The overriding responsibility of the Planning Unit is to work with the Solid Waste
Management Advisory Council (SWAC) to create, update, and monitor implementation of the State Solid Waste Management Plan (State Plan). SWAC is a group of
individuals appointed by the Governor of Ohio who represents various parties with interests in solid waste management. The State Plan represents Ohio's plan for reducing the state's reliance on landfills for the management of solid waste generated in the state. To this end, the State Plan mandates waste reduction and recycling goals to be achieved by the state and establishes strategies for the appropriate management of the state's solid waste stream. Implementation of the programs that allow Ohio to achieve the waste reduction goals is performed by a variety of state and local officials. Most of these officials work for or represent solid waste management districts (SWMDs). Thus, the Planning Unit spends a great deal of time providing technical assistance to and coordinating the activities of the solid waste management districts. The ultimate objective of Ohio's solid waste management planning unit is to ensure that the SWMDs provide for adequate disposal capacity for solid waste generated in the state and that residents, businesses, and industries in Ohio have access to and participate in recycling opportunities.
In addition to working with SWAC and preparing the State Plan, the Planning Unit also is responsible for:
- Reviewing solid waste management district solid waste management plans
- Monitoring the implementation of solid waste management plans
- Technical assistance to a variety of interested parties
- Tracking collection and spending of solid waste management district solid waste disposal fees
- SWMD rule development, implementation, and interpretation
- Program development
- Developing and distributing numerous publications, reports, fact sheets, guidance documents, and policies
- Participating in various interagency and intra-agency workgroups
- Data collection
- Monitoring recycling trends and market development issues
- Coordinating recycling and waste reduction activities with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention
- Monitoring and tracking intrastate waste flows, waste imports and exports, waste composition, and the number and type of facilities used to manage solid waste in Ohio.
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