HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-03-2008-3aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 3, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. ~ - p
SUBJECT: Receipt of Sustainability Award from Glass Packaging Institute
DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Glass Packaging Institute Newsletter Article
Gayle Wilson 968-2885
PURPOSE: To recognize the Solid Waste Department and specifically Recycling Programs
Manager Robert S. Taylor for receipt of the national Glass Packaging Institute's annual
Sustainable Practices Award for the County's commercial recycling program.
BACKGROUND: On May 5, Orange County received a sustainability award from the national
Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) as part of its annual Clear Choice Awards, mostly given to
manufacturers and designers of innovative glass containers. GPI formally recognized the
commercial recycling program that Orange County has operated since 1992. The program has
focused predominantly on bars and restaurants, therefore 400 of the 640 tons collected annually
are source-separated glass bottles and jars. The willingness of over 150 businesses to properly
separate materials for recycling has helped create a program that has been referred to
informally by GPI in the past as the "Cadillac" of commercial glass recycling programs. The
participating businesses are recognized through advertisements, articles, and staff
presentations. The program is growing due to a generally increased demand for recycling and
specifically due to the new State law requiring those who hold ABC permits to recycle their
beverage containers.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with recognizing the Solid Waste
Management Department's Sustainable Practices Award.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board recognize Solid Waste
Management staff receipt of the Sustainable Practices Award and thank the Orange County
businesses and residents who have shared in the commercial recycling program's success.
2
GLASS ~tE~CVC~ING
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County Solid Waste Management Department, was recognized by the
GPI Clear Choice Awards for "Outstanding Sustainable Practices."
This distinction is a result of Orange County's commercial recycling
program, which now serves over 140 businesses with source-separated collection of glass
bottles and jars, metal ,cans, plastic bottles, and mixed paper.
"It's through the hard work of those businesses, the emplayees of those businesses, and the
employees of the recycling program that Orange County's recycling programs are a success,"
said Robert Taylor, Recycling Programs Manager, Orange Community Recycling Division of the
Orange County Solid Waste Management Department, who accepted the award. In operation
since 1992, the program collects over 640 tons annually, about 400 of which are glass.
Program services provided by Orange County include a set of 95 gallon roll-off carts at each
site, bi-lingual labels with pictures, regular collection, which is mostly weekly, education and
outreach, periodic public recognition of program participants in targeted print advertisements,
articles, community presentations and an annual letter to each participant. The program is
financed primarily through the County's universal recycling fee charged to all improved
properties.
Many participants use shared sites that present their own challenges with anonymous
contamination. Feedback to the participants via the collectors through management staff is
continuous and the program continues to expand to meet community demands and the new
North Carolina state law mandating that all those establishments holding liquor licenses must
recycle their beverage containers.
C®rromerci~9 RecyclirDg Pr®gram Gets Rec®graized
' ~ Orange Community Recycling, a division of North Carolina's Orange