HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2005-081 Resoution to adopt a policy on scavenging & salvaging at Solid Waste Convenience Centers%~~
Resolution Recommending that the Board of Orange County Commissioners adopt.
a policy on scavenging and salvaging at the Solid Waste Convenience Centers
Whereas the Solid Waste Advisory Board has reviewed and considered issues
surrounding current practices on scavenging and salvaging at the Solid Waste
Convenience, and
Whereas SWAB members have observed firsthand such practices that were unsafe and
unsound, and
Whereas the SWAB received testimony from staff also indicating many problems at the
SWCC's related to scavenging and salvaging, and
Whereas the SWAB realizes that the County wants to encourage practical and economic
reuse of materials by its citizens to reduce waste, and
Whereas the SWAB is aware that many of these reusable items and materials are
delivered to the SWCCs where others wait to take them, and
Whereas some residents of Orange County depend on use of these materials for meeting
their basic economic needs, and
Whereas many materials such as scrap metal delivered to the SWCC's have economic
value to the County when sold as commodities and such value needs to be preserved,
and
Whereas allowing unrestricted scavenging at SWCCs creates unsafe conditions, potential
environmental hazards, and increases the likelihood of injury to the scavenger and
others, and
Whereas increased scavenging activities create conflict at the SWCCs, and
Whereas the Solid Waste Convenience Center operators are in need of clear guidance and
regulations to ensure citizen safety, their own safety and an unambiguous policy to
communicate to SWCC users, and
Whereas the SWCC operators need additional training and guidance to professionalize
their jobs and improve their ability to carry them out,
Therefore be it now resolved that the Solid Waste Advisory Board recommends that the
Board of Orange County Commissioners direct the Solid Waste Department staff to
draft a policy for BOCC adoption that will address the issues identified herein. Said
policy should incorporate policies governing salvaging and scavenging activities at
the Solid Waste Convenience Centers that maximize safe and effective salvaging of
usable or repairable goods by citizens and eliminate scavenging of materials from any
area other than the designated selvage area(s)
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Be it further resolved that the SWAB recommends that such a policy provide clear,
unambiguous, and consistent standards and guidelines for citizens, SWCC operators
and other staff involved in managing solid waste in Orange County.
~~
Jan Sassaman, Ph.D., Chair
Solid Waste Advisory Board
This is the 8th day of Se tember -2005.