HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-15-2000-7aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 15, 2000
Action Agend
Item No. ~~
SUBJECT: State-Mandated Solid Waste Management Plan Update _ _
DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes
ATTACHMENT(S):
Draft Solid Waste Plan Update
(under separate cover)
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gayle Wilson 968-2885 or
Blair Pollock 968-2788
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing on Orange County's updated solid waste
management plan.
BACKGROUND: The State of North Carolina has a statutory requirement that each local
government adopt a solid waste management plan with waste reduction goals and that each
local government update that plan every three years beginning in 2000. The County's initial
plan was approved and submitted to the State in June 1997. The first update to Orange
County's plan was due July 1, 2000, but staff notified the State of the need for an extension due
primarily to delays associated with the transfer of solid waste operations from the Town of
Chapel Hill to Orange County, and scheduling of required plan approvals by the County and its
municipal governing boards.
A "public meeting" is required to receive citizen input on the solid waste plan update. This
August 15 public hearing satisfies the requirement for all local governments in Orange County.
Following the public hearing, each of the governing boards from the County and its
municipalities is required to formally adopt the plan by resolution. Staff anticipates submission
of the finalized plan to the State in September following the hearing and resolutions by each of
the governments approving the updated plan.
Copies of the draft plan update were placed in each of three public libraries throughout Orange
County and sent to each local government manager. A press release was issued to publicize
the hearing and the opportunity to comment. Articles were written for two local newspapers
explaining the plan and announcing the public hearing. The Town of Hillsborough has
endorsed adoption of the plan update by resolution of their Board.
The updated version of the plan contains the original waste reduction goals of 45% per capita
by 2001 and 61 % per capita by 2006. The adopted plan framework is also unchanged. It calls
for a materials recovery facility to process recyclables, expanded commercial recycling,
increased materials collection and a combination of incentives to increase waste diversion.
Staff will make a brief presentation about the major elements of the updated plan prior to the
conduct of the public hearing itself.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Adoption of the plan update itself has no direct financial impact.
Implementing the elements of the plan will likely have significant potential financial impact as
increased recycling to meet Orange County's waste reduction goals leads to additional costs.
These may include, but not be limited to a materials recovery facility, increased commercial
recycling, collection of more recyclable materials in all sectors, and adoption of incentive
mechanisms for increasing waste diversion. Implementation/financial decisions will need to be
made by the Board later during this and subsequent fiscal years.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board hold the public hearing,
accept comments from the public, and, following review of the draft plan and the public
comments, schedule adoption of the solid waste management plan update for Orange County
to take place during the August 30 work session on solid waste matters.