On Nov. 6 Lopez residents have a great opportunity as a community to take full responsibility for the solid waste we generate. While evaluating the options for solid waste disposal and recycling in my role with the Port of Lopez, I listened to the desires of many community members. The overwhelming message I heard was a genuine desire to retain the self haul option, maximize reuse and recycling of materials and reduce what we landfill.

A dedicated and capable group of citizens has worked with our county council to create a Lopez Island Waste Disposal District. Many people assisted in this effort with petitions and testimony to convince the council. We now have before us a credible plan to operate our transfer station in an affordable and responsible way that provides for continued availability of self-haul garbage and a comprehensive reuse and recycling program, but this cannot be done for free.

It is time for us to provide the funding required to make this plan a reality. We have supported them with words so far and now need to support them with our vote.

I am voting for the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District Levy and I encourage all Lopez residents to support it also.

Bruce Dunlop

Port of Lopez Commissioner