HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-07-2001-5aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 7, 2001
Action Agenda
Item No. 5-Q
SUBJECT: Construction & Demolition Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Disposal
DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Resolution
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Director
968-2885
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968--4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider adoption of a resolution indicating the intentions of the Orange County
Board of Commissioners regarding the future approach to managing the construction and
demolition (C&D) waste stream through reduction, recycling, and disposal of the residue.
BACKGROUND: Over the past four years, discussions have taken place among various
elected boards, the Landfill Owners' Group (LOG), the LOG's C&D Landfill Site Search
Committee, and the BOCC's C&D Recycling Task Force regarding C&D waste management,
and specifically a replacement C&D disposal facility. In light of the vertical expansion approved
last summer by the State, and depending on the amount of C&D waste actually received over
the next 12-18 months, the existing C&D landfill is expected to reach capacity by late spring or
early summer 2002.
At their January 29, 2001 work session, the BOCC indicated their intention to adopt at the
February 7 regular meeting a resolution indicating their intent to pursue a new, small, C&D
landfill on Eubanks Road adjacent to existing solid waste operations. The Board made it clear
that this disposal facility would be only one component of a master plan that would enhance the
County's efforts to reduce, recycle, and reuse as much of the materials in the current C&D
waste stream as feasible. The Board has also emphasized its interest in balancing the
functional requirements for an economically viable solid waste enterprise operation with
aesthetic and other concerns of the surrounding community. To that end, staff have already
begun what is foreseen as an ongoing approach of meeting periodically on an ad hoc basis with
knowledgeable community representatives to communicate the County's interests and to
develop solutions to C&D waste management problems that take into consideration the
interests of neighboring residents as well.
Adoption of the proposed resolution, which reflects Commissioner comments and changes to a
draft resolution reviewed by the Board on January 29, would provide direction to staff on.next
steps related to the future of C&D waste management in Orange County.
2
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial impact of decisions related to C&D management will be
significant. If the Board elects to implement some or all of the recommendations presented by
the C&D Recycling Task Force in August 2000, there will be costs associated with new
programs, staff, and facilities to handle the diversion of materials such as drywall, metal, and
clean wood waste from burial in a landfill. There will also be considerable expense involved in
purchasing land and developing a small C&D waste disposal site at Eubanks Road. Staff
estimates that about 90% of the costs relating to permitting and geotechnical investigation have
already been expended for that site. Specific costs will be developed based on future
programming and facility decisions by the Board. Any funds regarding above expenses would
be provided through the Solid Waste/Landfill Operations Enterprise Fund reserves and/or
operating revenue.
The existing C&D landfill serves as a source of supplemental revenue for the Solid
Waste/Landfill Operations enterprise fund in the amount of about $800,000 annually to help
underwrite the costs of current services and programs, especially recycling.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed
resolution.
DRAFT
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO DEVELOP A NEW, SMALL CONSTRUCTION AND
DEMOLITION LANDFILL AND RELATED RECYCLING AND PROCESSING FACILITIES AND
ACTIVITIES AS PART OF A MASTER SOLID WASTE SITE PLAN AT EUBANKS ROAD
WHEREAS, the existing construction and demolition landfill located on Eubanks Road is
expected to reach capacity in the spring-summer of 2002; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners is committed to a 61 percent waste reduction goal in
Orange County by the year 2006; and
WHEREAS, a broad-based Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Task Force that
included members of the construction industry recommended that the Board of Commissioners
support increased regulation and related infrastructure for recycling and recovery of
construction and demolition waste; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners has indicated intentions to reduce and recycle
increased amounts of construction and demolition materials in the future; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners has recognized the need for a new local and
environmentally sound construction and demolition waste disposal option; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners has concluded that the siting of any construction and
demolition landfill must be accompanied by an aggressive regulatory and recovery program;
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners has examined several potential sites for a new landfill,
with only one candidate site remaining under consideration; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners has given careful consideration to the issue of
construction and demolition disposal:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
endorse development of a new construction and demolition landfill in Orange County which, as
part of a master plan that emphasizes reduction and recycling activities, will assure an
environmentally sound and convenient option for managing the residual materials from local
generators of construction and demolition waste.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners designate the
Eubanks Road site (Tax Map References: 7.18..27, 7.18.. 27E, and 7.18..27F) adjacent to
existing solid waste facilities as the location for the new construction and demolition landfill.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners:
• authorize local government approval of the site in conformance with .0504(1)(e)(1),
• authorize the Director of Planning to provide a zoning letter in conformance with
.0504(1)(e)(ii),
• authorize the Manager to proceed with acquisition and permitting of the site, and
DRAFT
• direct the Manager to coordinate with the landfill neighbors regarding the development of
the site, keeping them informed and involved throughout the development process.
This the 7th day of February, 2001
Stephen Halkiotis, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Beverly Blythe
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners