HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved SWAG Meeting Summary 11.28.23 APPROVED
Solid Waste Advisory Group Meeting Summary
DATE: November 28, 2023
LOCATION: Solid Waste Administration Training Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: County Commissioner Amy Fowler, County Commissioner Earl McKee,
Carrboro Council Member Randee Haven-O'Donnell, Hillsborough Commissioner Robb English,
Hillsborough Commissioner Matt Hughes, Chapel Hill Council Member Adam Searing, Melissa
McCullough sitting in for Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger
MEMBERS ABSENT: UNC Healthcare Dan Lehman, Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils, Chapel Hill
Mayor Pam Hemminger
STAFF PRESENT: County Solid Waste Director Robert Williams, Chapel Hill Public Works
Director Lance Norris, Chapel Hill Public Works Staff Wendy Simmons, Carrboro Public Works
Director Kevin Belanger, Carrboro Public Works Staff Kristen Benoit, Hillsborough Public Works
Manager Dustin Hill, County Staff: Cheryl Young, Isaac Jones, Caroline Hausler, Wanda
McCain, Jason Dunn, and Dena Brown
GBB Staff: Chris Lund and Jennifer Porter
Call to Order
Approval of September 18, 2023 Meeting Summary — Approved
GBB — Review of Solid Waste Master Plan of Zero Waste by 2045
Porter and Lund reviewed the 3 Scenarios and the costs associated with each one.
Scenario 1
4 additional employees
$200,000 for materials and fees
$10 increase in the Solid Waste Programs Fee
Scenario 2
Scenario 1 implemented
2 additional employees
$500,000 for materials and fees
$20 increase in the Solid Waste Programs Fee
Scenario 3
Scenario 1 & 2 implemented
5 additional employees
$175,000 master plan fees
$7-12M for Single Stream Recycling facility
$250,000 for equipment
$1.4M for Organics Program development
$60 increase (phased in) in the Solid Waste Programs Fee
APPROVED
Haven-O'Donnell asks if this plan includes glass.
Porter states we are assuming all current programs, such as Glass on the Side, will
continue.
Haven-O'Donnell states she is concerned about the costs to the residents; the people on a
fixed income, seniors, the shrinking middle.
McCullough asks about the possibility of Pay as You Throw as a way to proportionately
assign fees to households.
Williams states that Pay as You Throw would hit the economically disadvantaged harder.
Porter states there's a projected increase in tipping fees for the additional material the
county will be handling, that's currently being thrown away.
Young states that removing all organics in MSW would reduce tipping fees. We are trying to
get everyone to participate in a waste sort, which will tell us what percentage is still
organics.
Williams states that if Orange County had a facility that they owned and operated, and could
handle the hauling of commodities, that would generate revenues for the county.
English asks if we choose Scenario 2, how long would it take to get to zero waste.
Fowler states you can only get to zero waste through Scenario 3.
Vote: The consensus is Scenario 3, if relief can be found for the folks who are affected by
the increase.
Operational Updates
Recycling Drop-off Site Replacement
Williams states that the new site will be located at Jones Ferry Rd and Berryhill Dr. Staff is
working on a community outreach plan to inform the community. The site will handle only
recyclable materials, no garbage.
Bradshaw/Ferguson Waste & Recycling Center Consolidation
Williams states that sampling and marking have been conducted at the Orange Grove
location. We've also reached out to other Orange County property owners about possibly
selling us some land. Expanding Bradshaw and Ferguson sites has also been considered.
Keeping in mind the storm water regulations and rules, we don't know what the impact
would be, especially in the protected areas of those waste sites now. A lot of work still has
to be done, but we're looking at all those scenarios.
Next Meeting
Williams states our next meeting could possibly be either early February or mid-March.
Public Comment
No public comment.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at: 7:36pm
Name of Minute Taker: Dena Brown