HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved SWAG Meeting Summary 4.29.24 APPROVED MARCH 20, 2025
Solid Waste Advisory Group Meeting Summary
DATE: April 29, 2024
LOCATION: Solid Waste Administration Training Room
MEMBERS PRESENT: County Commissioner Amy Fowler, Carrboro Council Member Randee
Haven-O'Donnell, Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee, Hillsborough Commissioner Meaghun
Darab, Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell, Chapel Hill Council Member Adam Searing, Chapel Hill
Council Member Melissa McCullough
MEMBERS ABSENT: County Commissioner Earl McKee, UNC Healthcare Representative 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 Public Works Director Kevin Belanger, Carrboro Public Works
Staff Kristen Benoit, Hillsborough Public Works Manager Dustin Hill, County Staff: Jason Dunn,
Wanda McCain, Dena Brown, and Robbie Raper
Call to Order
Approval of November 28, 2023 Meeting Summary
Randee Haven-O'Donnell asked that the spelling of her name be corrected. With that correction,
the Meeting Summary was approved.
SW Master Plan Update
Williams states that after presenting the draft ideas of the Zero Waste Plan to the Board of
County Commissioners (BOCC), and after they provided feedback, it was clear that Phase 3
wasn't going to be approved. We are working with our consulting firm to render a Path to Zero
Waste that works for Orange County. This includes updating county ordinances with regards to
recycling and solid waste management, being consistent with the types of materials received at
the Waste and Recycling Centers, increasing our communication and educational opportunities
with everyone in the community including schools, universities, towns, and anyone else who's
producing waste, and expanding food waste collection. Once we have all the data together, we
will present it to SWAG and then to the BOCC.
Operational Updates
New Jones Ferry Site
Williams states that the new site is open and running well.
Town Recycling Collection
Williams states that the GFL contract ends June 30, 2024, and beginning July 1, 2024, Orange
County will take over collection. We are currently riding the routes. This change will involve
new staff and trucks.
Haven-O'Donnell asks if the app will be alerting folks of the change from GFL to Orange
County.
Williams states yes, that's part of the social media blasting. We will notify the public when it
gets closer. Informing them that collection days won't change, only the driver and the color of
the truck.
Bell asks if it will be same routes, same days, same carts?
Williams states yes.
APPROVED MARCH 20, 2025
Fowler states that a question was submitted to Orange County asking if the cart color was going
to change because they thought the color was too bright.
Williams states no, we have no plans to change the carts at this time.
Fowler states she wasn't expecting it to change, and she will let them know.
Bradshaw/Ferguson Waste & Recycling Center Consolidation
Williams states we are no longer looking at consolidating, we are looking at updating current
facilities. We have hired a broker to look for land to purchase and we're speaking to property
owners. We want to make sure we have enough land to do what we envisioned for the
upgrade. Upgrading will help us become more consistent with what we accept at our Waste and
Recycling Centers, and that is part of the education and Path to Zero Waste.
Fowler asks is the goal one consolidated site or two sites near where the current ones are?
Williams states if we can get two, we would get two because Bradshaw cannot be expanded. If
we can get one in the area, we may have to close the other site, which would be the Bradshaw
location.
Next Meeting
Williams states the next meeting will probably be in September and our goal is to have a draft of
the Path to Zero Waste to present to you. Also, let me know if you would like an increase in the
information coming to you from my desk.
Public Comment
Composting presentation by Carrie Donley with the Fairoaks Community:
Bell asks what are your major expenses?
Donley states Compost Now charges, printing, compost bins and liners.
Searing asks if people bring compostables to a central site?
Donley states yes, and Compost Now exchanges the bins each week.
Fowler asks do they charge you $40 or is it a higher fee?
Donley states no, they charge $15 per bin, per week.
Fowler states this is very interesting, and I like keeping it local instead of trucks picking it up. Do
we have a timeline for Orange County?
Williams states we need to do our research first to include operations costs, including trucks,
frequency of collection, and what size carts. We want something that will work best for the
community.
Haven-O'Donnell asks can you share what you received from Compost Now as a result of your
neighborhood composting?
Donley states we got 5 bags of compost back from Compost Now. Any thoughts on producing
compost in Orange County?
Williams states no, it takes a specialized truck and permit to do compost. And we don't have the
space.
Fowler asks if they calculate truck driving in the calculation of return on investment?
Donley states I do not think so. We need to look at that.
Fowler asks how do you keep animals out?
Donley states we have not had a problem with animals yet. We do have flies and maggots.
Williams states they make special locking bins to prevent animals from getting into it.
Haven-O'Donnell states the neighborhood really came together. There was a sense of
community.
Fowler asks if the slides could be shared with SWAG?
Donley states yes the slides and the toolbox link can both be shared.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at: 6:49pm
Name of Minute Taker: Dena Brown