Slaying the Nimby Dragon

In Herbert Inhaber draws on the experience of many NIMBY cases. He discusses new approaches to overcoming NIMBY, such as . the reverse Dutch auction. Reverse, because undesirable objects are being auctioned. This market approach holds promise for meeting the objections of potential neighbors of a LULU (Locally Unwanted Land Use) as well as society's need to get the facilities built. According to Inhaber, a site auction works better than negotiation the community handles it on their own, and when they are satisfied with a site they offer a bid. The hefty bonus would go to the first county that agrees to have a site built in their backyard. Psychological components of the NIMBY syndrome are also discussed logical objections and why people think as they do about LULUs. Inhaber believes that the trick to handling this problem is to take account of these personal sentiments and accomplish the nation's work at the same time. Inhaber adopts an optimistic approach to a problem that many believe has become a national fixture with no solution. The nuclear industry has been trying, without success, to dispose of its waste for about four decades, to take just one example. Inhaber believes there is a way to assuage the fears of an affected community while simultaneously preserving the environment and the people. This book will be of interest to environmentalists, developers, policymakers, and those in the fields of waste industry, nuclear, and risk analysis.