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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSWAB minutes 021402 L! Minutes - - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board : MR + 0 February 14, 2002 ': ' -44 Approved March 14, 2002 m �^ Attendance : Jan Sassaman, Jacquie Gist, Albert Vickers, Bonnie Norwood, James Arndt and B . J . Tipton (Scott Turner, student at UNC) Staff : Gayle Wilson, Rod Visser, Blair Pollock and Wanda McCain 1 . Adoption of Minutes from January 9, 2002 Gist moves, Vickers 2nd Passed unanimously 1 . Recycling Programs Update Pollock explains that there are 3 things that are coming up this spring for recycling : compost bin sale, battery recycling program, and computer recycling program . The compost bin sale will be on April 6 at the Park and Ride lot on Eubanks Road . From past surveys over 50 % of respondents say they will include food waste in their composting . Food waste is about 20 % of the waste stream . We partner with Chatham and generally sell 300 - 500 bins that day . Sassaman asks the price of the bins . Pollock replies $37 . The other initiative is the all batteries -recycling program . We have been recycling lead- acid, automotive batteries at the convenient centers . We expanded that to button cell batteries with drop off locations at Radio Shack or at the Household Hazardous Waste . Starting next month we are going to publicize that people can drop off any battery at the convenience centers . There will be some net cost for us . Though we get some money for the silver button batteries, for all other batteries there is some cost to recycle . For the rechargeable batteries, Lowes is supposed to come on board as a drop off point for tool batteries . The third initiative is the computer-recycling program . On April 27 there will be a computer recycling day at the Park and Ride Lot on Eubanks Road . The criteria right now are that computers and peripherals must come from residents of Orange County . The key driver for this program are the monitors which have 4 to 81bs . of lead in the CRT (they fail landfill toxicity tests for lead) . Wilson adds that by the first of next week we will decide if we are going to sell compost this year . The reason for the uncertainty is because we have a new truck on order and we are waiting for it to come in that will be used to pick up the material and bring it back to the landfill and we are waiting for it to come in . If everything goes OK the sale will start March 9 . 1 Minutes --Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board February 14, 2002 Approved March 14, 2002 Gist asks if the truck has been paid for . She also states that at some point this evening she would like to talk about the [North Carolina and local government] budget crises Norwood asks about compost - is it something that enough money is made from its sale to pay someone else to haul it? Wilson states that if we pay someone to haul it, we would break even . Being able to haul it ourselves allows for income . Norwood asks how many tons does the truck hold ? Wilson replies S - 9 tons . If and when we make the decision to sell compost, we will make paid advertisements . Also the Boy Scouts will deliver compost for mulch for a fee . 2 . Multi-family Recycling Program Budget Analysis Wilson states that an analysis was presented last year and with some feedback and other analysis suggested from you all, we have prepared an updated analysis and brought it back, based on the huge cost savings that this program would bring . [Wilson points out each table in the memo] There is no savings in the first year . Table 3 shows the calculated savings, over 10 years, of 1 million dollars by taking the program in-house . The year one cost includes acquisition of two trucks and a couple thousand containers . Arndt asks a question about why there seems to be such a great jump in costs in 201041 Wilson attributes it to the built-in escalator clause and the annual addition of ten single sites per year at $111 per site per month. There is no savings in the first year . Wilson also states that as part of the analysis we are assuming we would purchase new carts to replace those used by the contractor . If we can purchase the used carts [now used in the program and owned by Waste Industries] we project the first year outlay to be $55,000 or $60, 000 less . From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, its hard not to do this, but there may be some holes in it. [the analysis] that we don t see . Gist asks what is the kickoff cost 2 Minutes - - Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board February 14, 2002 Approved March 14, 2002 Wilson states that in year one there are 2 trucks that we are asking to be debt financed over a 5 -year period . In addition to buying that equipment, the cost is so high because we are looking at a mid-year implementation . Gist asks if implementation could be delayed ? Wilson states that the Commissioners are in control of this . They could decide not to do it at all . Gist asks if it is cheaper next fiscal year to stay with what you are doing? Wilson replies yes . As an enterprise fund we are not immune to the budget crises but we are somewhat shielded . If an extra $115 , 000 is spent next year to implement the program that doesn' t really effect the tax rate . Gist states that in any way the enterprise fund can be connected to the tipping fee . The lower we keep the tipping fee the lower the tax rate . For us the tipping fee is a percent of our budget . Pollock states that no matter what year we do it [implement the program] we will have to incur that lag . Vickers states that looking at it from SWAB position, we would be recommending to the County that this is a good program and they should implement it when appropriate . It is the County' s decision to implement based on economics . Gist states that the county' s decision effects all of us . Sassaman states that there is another way of looking at it . It may be better to start it sooner than later so that the cost savings come into play when the landfill is closed . Vickers states that we don' t know how long the State' s budget problem is going to persist . If more than 2 or 3 years the numbers indicate that this should be done tomorrow . Visser states that we don' t have to make a decision about this tonight. What I hear Gist say is that it is tough to handle that up front cost if it is going to have some possible upward effect on the tip fee . 3 Minutes -- Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board February 14, 2002 Approved March 14, 2002 Sassaman states that we have to do certain things . We have to do something with recycling and the waste ; no matter how we do it it will cost money . Looking only in the context of the enterprise fund, we are only moving money from one effort to another . We are keeping the money in the county instead of giving it to a contractor out of the county to handle . Tipton ask if there would be some way to play with the first 6 months so that it would all be yours if you start at the beginning of the fiscal year Wilson states that it could be done . Gist states that sometimes there are things in the long run would be cost savings but in the short term aren' t . Wilson states that there are a lot of trade - offs that will have to be made this year . If we don' t go ahead with building Carrboro Plaza, that would cover one third of these costs . Carrboro Plaza will only cost me money, this will save money . Sassaman states that maybe this should be tabled until next month and Gayle could possibly come up with some alternatives that would lessen the initial cost . Vickers asks if this does anything to increase recycling or does it just lower the cost of collection . Wilson states that we expect a slightly higher quality of service with improved schedules and processing . Pollock adds that Orange County' s materials' quality is higher than most places, so we often get top dollar for revenue, even though the potential higher revenue is not included in the analysis . Norwood states that most people don' t know that you take tires . Do you make enough money on tires and if there were a lot more tires, would that help ? Wilson states that the goal with tires is to break even . With the purchase of every tire in Orange County a $1 . 00 goes into a [State] trust fund . Every quarter, a portion of that money is redistributed to counties on a per capita basis to help pay for the tire program . It is not a money making program . 4 . Other Business 4 Minutes - ~ Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board February 14, 2002 Approved March 14, 2002 Input Document for the BOCC Planning Retreat Sassaman states that this is the final version of what went to the commissioners . One of the items in that was a discussion of Smart Growth Commission' s objectives . Barry Jacobs has said that Smart Growth commission report is done . We could decide to adopt a Smart Growth Solid Waste Recommendations that we send to the BOCC and perhaps by extension to our legislators, that' s something we might put on the table, we ' ve already identified that we would look at the Smart Growth Plan after we deal with the alternative financing issues . Particularly the planning goals . February 5 BOCC Rogers Road Waterline Connections Report Visser states that the policy was adopted on February 5, 2002 . They deliberately held off on the loan program . The people the Commissioners are most trying to help should be helped through the grant program . The grant program is ready to go . Norwood states that we started this program asking for compensation for certain things but somewhere along the line, the word ' compensation' is being left out . We wanted the landfill out, but the water was supposed to compensate for the fact that we ' re going to keep landfilling . Since there are about 18 % who will not in any way come near (the level of income for ) the grant program and will pay . There might be just one home on my street that would fit into the grant program but if you include everyone' s income in the house, they might not qualify . We' ve already paid for our wells, so if some of this funding, if we get anything free like the boxes, or the availability fee could be waived [that would help] , as many of the houses are far from the road and it would cost $2,800 to $3, 000 to get water and even if you save $ 100 per month, that' s a financial burden. We need some compensation . Visser ask if people going to submit applications anyway ? Norwood states that people are afraid that if they put the application in there may be some loopholes [in their income, that will jeopardize other social benefits they may receive] . Visser states that if they have any questions at all to call Tara . Tipton asked if people are reluctant to fill out the application because of what they disclose about themselves ? Norwood replies yes . If you haven t been in the Medicare / Medicade system you have to be very careful because you could go one dollar over and lose your benefits 5 Minutes - -Regular Meeting Solid Waste Advisory Board February 14, 2002 Approved March 14, 2002 Visser states the best thing to do would be to contact Tara [Fikes] and let her know the concerns . Norwood states that this would be a good time to have a " PR" meeting to explain where things are . SWAB Recommendation to BOCC Regarding Requiring Solid Waste Management Plans Within the County Development Ordiance Sassman states that this is just a copy of the letter sent to BOCC . Wilson states that staff has been having discussions, primarily caused by adoption of the RRMO, with Carrboro planning staff and Hillsborough . Chapel Hill 's Solid Waste Management Plan Form Wilson states this is just here for your information . Sassaman states that' s all that is listed for other business but Jacquie has something else . Gist states that one thing that was proposed in Carrboro was to implement dumpster fees . It won' t be a popular thing to do but will bring in a fair amount of money . Wilson states that Chris Peterson may want to talk with the Chapel Hill staff because they went to a modified commercial collection system for the current year and their revenue is tracking below what they thought they would get . Vickers asks if there is potential that people could opt out of it (collection) ? Wilson states that is one of our concerns . Chapel Hill' s experience has been that a small amount has shifted to the private sector . Gist states that budget could be talked about all night . By the next meeting the county will have a better idea of what they are doing . Maybe we could have a budgetary discussion on the next agenda . Adjourned 8 : 30pm Next meeting : March 14, 2002, 7: OOpm Government Services Center 200 S . Cameron St . Hillsborough 6