Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-17-2004-7aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 17, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. ~ - q SUBJECT: Public Hearing on Orange County's 3-Year Solid Waste Plan Update DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes ATTACHMENT(S): Draft Solid Waste Management Plan 3- Year Update (Under Separate Cover) 12/17/03 State Plan Components Memo Draft Resolution of Endorsement INFORMATION CONTACT: Gayle Wilson, 968-2885 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough Chapel Hill Durham Mebane 732-8181 968-4501 688-7331 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: Ta receive public comments on the 3-Year Update of Orange County's Solid Waste Management Plan. BACKGROUND: In 1997, the County and the three Towns adopted a solid waste management plan which included along-term waste reduction goal of 61 % per capita and a comprehensive plan for achieving that goal, Plan development was based on a previous multiyear process that involved a consultant assisting the governments and citizens' committee to develop three waste reduction scenarios from which the governments developed the plan framework in 1996. The resulting plan was further refined and submitted to the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 1997 as required by State statute, In addition to meeting the statutory requirement, the planning document also served as the County's guideline for future solid waste reduction planning and as a basis for projecting financial needs to meet those goals, In 2000, the plan was updated and the same goals and plan framework were reaffirmed, By the time the plan update was submitted, governance of solid waste had shifted from a structure wherein the Landfill Owners Group provided policy guidance and the Town of Chapel Hill managed daily operations to one in which Orange County was the lead agency with policy advice from the Solid Waste Advisory Board, All four governments in the County are still integrally involved in solid waste management and all formally supported the 2000 solid waste plan update, Orange County is now the lead agency relative to plan development and submission; however, the Towns also maintain a formal role in the plan approval process, A December 2003 memorandum to the BOCC describing the components of the plan is attached, The three-year update to the plan was due .June 30, 2003, however, Orange County requested and was granted an extension. During discussions that led to the BOCC's last endorsement of the plan, several Commissioners expressed only qualified support for the plan and stated that they would be interested in revisiting certain aspects of the plan prior to any future endorsements, Staff has been receiving input from Commissioners over the intervening months on preferred modifications to the plan and now believes the necessary changes have been made based on that guidance. Staff now believes the plan is ready for presentation to the public and consideration by the various Boards, It should be Hated that the BOCC has indicated support for maintaining the 61 percent waste reduction goal. The substantive changes/revisions to the plan include: • removal of the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), • addition of relocation of the existing recyclable materials processing pad, • significant reduction in the pace of expansion of rural curbside recycling collections, • elimination of the substantial expansion of recycling services far the Han-residential sector, and • elimination of the opportunity (due to limited processing capability) to collect several new materials. These changes were made in part due to: • the financial uncertainty of the solid waste enterprise fund and the current need for alternative financing before a commitment is made for significant additional expenditures (i.e. balance level of likely new fees with waste reduction commitment), • the state as a whole has not only not achieved its goals but actually significantly increased amount of waste landfilled, • the County's current level of funding is already significant and the state provides virtually no financial assistance, and • Orange County's existing staccess (leading the state with 45 percent) in reducing waste. Following the public hearing, staff can make any additional revisions, as directed by the BOCC, and then submit a revised plan to the three towns to allow them to proceed with their individual processes for consideration and adoption. A draft resolution is attached which would endorse the plan tapdate and allow it to be finalized and submitted. The draft plan was discussed at the January 8, 2004 Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) meeting. The SWAB discussed preparing and submitting a letter to the BOCC offering its comments on the plan. That letter is still under development by SWAB members, FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact related to conducting the public hearing. The financial impact of the actual solid waste management plan is considerable and is being discussed relative to ongoing budgetary and alternative financing deliberations. New solid waste fees will likely be implemented in FY 2004/05. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive public comment, direct staff to make any necessary revisions to the Plan, and consider adoption of the attached resolution endorsing the 3-Year Update of Orange County's Solid Waste Management Plan at this or a subsequent BOCC meeting. Memorandum To: John Link, Ma~rager Prom: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Director Subject: Components of the State-required Solid Waste Management Plan other than the Waste Reduction Plan Date: December 17, 2003 At the November 20 BOCC work session an inquiry was made regarding the components of the State's three Year Solid Waste Management Plan update that were not related to the waste reduction plan. This memorandum outlines, from the State's guidance document (copy attached) what other information is required in the three year plan update. Overall: • Identify how the plan fits with other related plans for' waste collection, disaster debris management, hazardous waste management, etc. • Evaluate the waste stream(s) by type and geography. (For this we submit our 1995 and 2000 waste characterization data as well as 2002-03 landfill report and analysis).. • Identify population growth or other trends within the County that may affect waste generation rates, • Establish methods for public input to the plan -public hearings (mandatory), written comments, solicitation from interested civic groups. • Include resolutions adopting the plan by all govermnents involved (mandatory). • Detail how the planning process was created and how plans were implemented or why they were not. • Show how the plan provides stable, predictable means for hauling, processing and disposal of solid waste over ten years, including an alternative disposal means, Plan Elements that must be included, other than those related to Waste Reduction and Recycling • Waste collection practices, capabilities and costs, • Full cost accounting for waste and recycling collection and disposal, • Incineration (explain why it was not selected), • Transfer out of geographic area, • Assessment of current disposal practices, • Illegal disposal/littering • Disaster response Please let us larow if you need anything further. DRAFT ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS A RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING ORANGE COUNTY'S 10-YEAR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN, INCLUDING A 61 PERCENT WASTE REDUCTION GOAL AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO SUBMIT THE SOLID WASTE PLAN TO THE STATE: WHEREAS, Orange County adopted in 1997 a general waste reduction plan framework as part of its overall solid waste goals and adopted specific waste reduction goals of 45% per capita by 2001 and 61 % per capita by 2006, and WHEREAS, Orange County achieved a 40% waste reduction rate in 2001-02 and 45% waste reduction rate in 2002-2003, thus meeting its interim waste reduction goal of 45% and the State goal of 40%, and WHEREAS, this is recognized as the highest level of waste reduction in North Carolina, while during the same period the state overall has experienced a significant decrease in waste reduction, and WHEREAS, participation in County waste reduction and recycling programs continue at a high level, and WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina does not contribute in any meaningful manner to funding local government waste collection, waste disposal, or waste reduction programs or services, and WHEREAS, Orange County is considering alternative means of financing its solid waste programs which it will likely implement in FY 2004-05, and WHEREAS Orange County is must balance public investment in waste reduction with available funding and its current success relative to the remainder of the state; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Orange County is maintaining its long-term goal of 61 % waste reduction per capita. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Orange County adopts the solid waste plan update attached hereto and authorizes the County Manager to submit the plan to the State. This is the _ day of _2004.