HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-21-1993 - III-A 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No A
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 21, 1993
SUBJECT: Penalty Fee for Disposal of Yard Waste
DEPARTMENT Public Works PUBLIC HEARING YES NO X
ATTACHMENT(S) INFORMATION CONTACT
7/8/93 Memo from Chapel Hill Wilbert McAdoo, x 2627
Public Works Director TELEPHONE NUMBER
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Mebane 227-2031
Durham 688-7331
PURPOSE: To consider establishing a penalty fee for disposal of
prohibited yard wastes in loads of mixed solid waste at the Orange
Regional Landfill.
BACKGROUND: At their July meeting, the Landfill Owners ' Group
recommended that the governing bodies of the three jurisdictions that
jointly own the Orange Regional Landfill establish a penalty fee for
loads of mixed waste presented at the landfill that contain prohibited
yard waste. The recommended penalty fee would be twice the established
fee for regular mixed solid waste. With the 1993-94 mixed solid waste
fee set at $25/ton, the penalty fee would be $50/ton. Staffs of the
three jurisdictions have met and agreed upon a reasonable tolerance
level that would be permissible.
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board approve the
establishment of a penalty fee set at twice the established tipping fee
for mixed solid waste to be imposed upon loads delivered to the Orange
Regional Landfill that contain prohibited yard wastes.
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Memorandum AGENDA #4
To : Landfill Owners ' Group
From: Bruce Heflin, Chapel Hill Public Works Director
Subject : Penalty Fee for Disposal of Yard Waste
Date : July 8 , 1993
The attached resolution, if adopted by the three governing bodies,
would establish a fee two times the existing tipping fee for mixed
waste as a penalty for improper disposal of yard wastes at the
Orange Regional Landfill . This fee would take effect on October 1,
1993 if approved by the governing boards .
The 1989 North Carolina General Assembly ratified Senate Bill 111,
which prohibited yard trash in a sanitary landfill after January 1,
1993 . We recommend a local policy regarding the disposal of yard
waste in the Orange Regional Landfill to ensure compliance with the
law and to set a new fee for non-compliance .
Background
The Orange Regional Landfill for several years operated a
combination construction debris/yard waste disposal area in the
landfill , but separate from the sanitary fill area. Segregated
loads of these wastes were diverted to this area as they were
identified during the weighing operation. Yard wastes that entered
the landfill commingled with other sanitary wastes routinely were
placed in the sanitary area . Current state and landfill policies
prohibit or discourage this practice .
Presently, segregated yard wastes are placed in a stockpile to be
ground periodically into mulch, which is to be sold to Orange
County residents . Commingled yard waste must go to the sanitary
landfill area, in technical violation of existing policies . We are
attempting to eliminate the amount that must be placed into the
sanitary area and to comply with state and local policies . As part
of the Fiscal 1993-94 landfill budget, the Landfill Owners ' Group
proposed a $3/ton tipping fee as an incentive to separate yard
wastes so that they can be kept out of the sanitary fill area.
The proposed penalty fee would provide a disincentive for those who
mix these wastes rather than segregate them. In August, 1992 , the
LOG discussed establishment of a penalty; however, no action was
taken on the matter at that time .
Our review of non-compliance with existing policies regarding
separation shows that most of the violations are by private
haulers, particularly those with roll-off containers . Due to the
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method of residential collection in Carrboro and Chapel Hill ,
compliance is excellent . Commercial (dumpster) collections are a
minor problem. County collections from green box sites are also in
compliance, with only about 10% of loads having identifiable yard
waste materials of any consequence . We expect this to improve once
the collection sites are staffed.
Discussion
We suggest the following policy for your consideration :
- adopt a fee of double the tipping fee for loads which
violate the yard waste separation policy * ;
- distribute notices of the proposed penalty fee in the
landfill bills mailed in August;
- post public notices of the fee in area newspapers;
erect appropriate signs- at the landfill;
- provide information and assistance to those
haulers/generators who request it; and
- emphasize the benefits of the $3/ton fee for properly
prepared yard waste .
* A load equalling a tipping fee of $100, if found to be in
violation of this policy, would be assessed an additional $100 fee
for the violation.
During the interval between approval by the governing boards in
August or September, and implementation in October, the Landfill
Inspector would continue efforts to enforce existing policies and
to inform the haulers of proper disposal methods . We would also
finalize our yard waste administrative policies to set minimal
acceptable allowances for haulers, develop measurement/estimating
capabilities, and develop enforcement policies .
Recommendation: That the LOG propose to the governing bodies the
attached resolution, which establishes a fee two times the existing
tipping fee for mixed waste as a penalty for bringing prohibited
yard wastes to the Orange Regional Landfill .
Attachment (Resolution)