HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved SWAG Meeting Summary 1.31.23 Solid Waste Advisory Group Meeting Summary
DATE: January 31, 2023
LOCATION: Solid Waste Administration Training Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: County Commissioner Jean Hamilton, County Commissioner
Jamezetta Bedford, Carrboro Council Member Randee Haven-O'Donnell, Carrboro Mayor
Damon Seils, Hillsborough Commissioner Robb English, Chapel Hill Council Mayor Pam
Hemminger
MEMBERS ABSENT: Hillsborough Commissioner Matt Hughes, Town of Chapel Hill Council
Member Adam Searing, UNC Healthcare VP of Operations Dan Lehman
STAFF PRESENT: County Solid Waste Director Robert Williams, County Solid Waste Assistant
Director Bruce Woody, Chapel Hill Public Works Director Lance Norris, Chapel Hill Public Works
Staff Wendy Simmons, Carrboro Interim Public Works Director Daniel Snipes, Carrboro Public
Works Staff Kristen Benoit, Carrboro Town Manager Richard White, County Staff: Cheryl
Young, Matt Baskerville, Rachel Potts, Caroline Hausler, Wanda McCain, and Dena Brown
GBB Staff: Chris Lund, Jennifer Porter, Rachel del Campo Gatewood and Hollie Adams
Call to Order
Approval of August 23, 2022 Meeting Summary —Approved
Recognition of Public Servant
Haven-O'Donnell presented Blair Pollock with a sign in recognition of his 34 years of public
service.
GBB — SW Master Plan Presentation —Survey Results
Hemminger states that the survey seems overly bias and is concerned it doesn't truly represent
the community. She asked if we engaged merchants.
Porter states our approach was multi-faceted and focused on interviews, focus groups, outreach
events, and farmer's markets.
del Campo Gatewood adds that they had a great response from OCSW staff, the Chamber of
Commerce, and other business groups eager to share information on their websites and social
media about the public meeting and online survey.
Hemminger states it is concerning not knowing if merchants responded to survey. Did we get
voices outside of highly educated, white people?
Porter shares there was a strong focus on marginalized groups through activities and interviews
and also through the survey.
del Campo Gatewood adds that they had small focus groups and that reps from agencies like
DSS, DHHS, DOA, along with employees from the RENA Community Center, helped in
reaching those traditionally marginalized communities. They also tried to reach people who
don't have internet access at home, through libraries and community centers. Solid Waste
helped by posting banners at all the Waste and Recycling Centers with the QR code.
Hamilton states that she appreciates all the efforts to reach out. She said we know the survey is
bias, and we know the focus group data. How did that data differ from the survey data?
Porter states that being on the forefront of innovation was a common theme heard.
del Campo Gatewood states yes, this theme was heard across all demographics. Along with an
interest in tactics for upstream, etc.
Pollock says he appreciates all the hard work that went into this survey. He says 3% response
rate is very good. With respondents being from Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and Carrboro, he
asks how do we parse out rural parts of the county.
Porter states that Efland, Mebane, White Cross, and Cedar Grove were the highest additional
response areas. We did zip code analysis.
del Campo Gatewood adds that for each survey question, you can see how many responses
there were.
Williams states that the full report will be on the Solid Waste website tomorrow.
Operational Updates
Recycling Drop-off Site Replacement
Williams states that we are waiting to hear from Chapel Hill on how to proceed.
Bradshaw/Ferguson Waste & Recycling Center Consolidation
Williams states that the proposed site is owned by OWASA and the OWASA Board has
approved continued talks. We are looking at adding additional services to the new site that will
be similar to High Rock and Eubanks.
Next Meeting
Hamilton states that on February 7, the Commissioners will be assigned/reassigned to advisory
groups. She may or may not be at the next SWAG meeting.
Williams states we will convene when we have more information around timelines of GBB
results.
Bedford asks if they will get budget information from Solid Waste.
Williams says we're not asking for increased fees. We are dealing with the economy. Directors
over recycling are meeting regularly to discuss how to leverage our tonnage to get better rates.
Municipalities have about 84000-90000 tons.
Bedford asks how we are doing on filling vacancies.
Williams states we are filling driver vacancies. We still have some admin positions to fill with
bringing Fleet Services under Solid Waste.
Public Comment
None
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at: 7:05pm
Name of Minute Taker: Dena Brown