AGENDA #4j
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Solid Waste Management Plan Review
DATE: August 28, 2000
The attached resolution reaffirms the framework and goals for a County-wide solid waste plan previously adopted in 1997.
The Town adopted a general waste reduction plan framework in 1997 as part of the overall solid waste management plan for Orange County required by the State. This component of the overall plan established targets, or waste reduction goals, for the Town of Chapel Hill. The State also requires that this original plan be reviewed and reaffirmed every three years.
The 1997 waste reduction plan framework for Chapel Hill adopted by the Town Council and included in the County’s overall plan required by the State specific goals for Chapel Hill as follows: a 45% per capita waste reduction by 2001 and a 61% waste reduction per capita by 2006. The 1997 plan and the one encompassed in the update outlined in the attachment to the resolution indicate that the Town actively participates in the various waste reduction options available, including drop-off and curbside recycling and other recycling services, along with public education.
Orange County, which is now responsible for solid waste management planning in this County, held a required public hearing on the update to the solid waste plan on August 15th. There was no public comment received at this hearing.
The Town of Hillsborough adopted a resolution approving the reaffirmation of its participation and original goals on July 10th. We understand that the Town of Carrboro plans to consider its update at one of its meetings in September. Orange County plans to have its update reviewed by its Solid Waste Advisory Board prior to scheduling it for presentation at a meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
The attached resolution would reaffirm the Town’s goals and overall framework for its waste reduction component of the Orange County plan adopted in 1997 as described in Attachment A of the resolution. It further would authorize the Town Manager to submit this component to the County Solid Waste Management Department for inclusion in its submittal to the State.
That the Town Council approve the attached resolution reaffirming the Town of Chapel Hill’s framework and goals for a solid waste management plan and authorizing the Town Manager to submit the solid waste plan to Orange County for inclusion in the County’s overall plan to be submitted to the State.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE ADOPTED FRAMEWORK FOR A COUNTY-WIDE SOLID WASTE PLAN, SPECIFYING PERCENTAGES IN PER CAPITA WASTE REDUCTION GOALS AND AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT THE SOLID WASTE PLAN TO THE COUNTY FOR SUMBITTAL TO THE STATE AS PART OF THE OVERALL COUNTY PLAN (2000-08-28/R-8)
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill adopted in 1997 a general waste reduction plan framework as part of its overall solid waste goals and also adopted a specific 45% per capita waste reduction goal by 2001 and 61% per capita reduction by 2006; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina requires a solid waste management plan with specific solid waste reduction goals for 2001 and 2006 and an update to those goals and plan every three years; and
WHEREAS, the Town actively participates in the County-wide waste reduction programs through promotion of drop-off and curbside recycling and provision of other recycling services; and
WHEREAS, the Town has previously adopted a solid waste management plan framework that includes waste prevention measures, collection programs and processing methods described in attachment A to this resolution; and
WHEREAS, successful implementation of a solid waste plan that meets the waste reduction goals would also require cooperation and coordination with all the other local governments in the County and waste other generators throughout Orange County; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill may need to further regulate and control solid waste in order to fully accomplish the waste diversion goals;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby reaffirms the framework and goals for a solid waste management plan as adopted originally in 1997 and shown in Attachment A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town of Chapel Hill continues to use a base year of 1991-92 to calculate waste reduction against, and County-wide goals of 45% solid waste reduction per capita by 2001 and 61% reduction per capita by 2006.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town of Chapel Hill will continue to cooperate with other local governments in Orange County in implementing a solid waste management plan that will achieve these goals.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town of Chapel Hill authorizes the Town Manager to submit the solid waste plan to the County Solid Waste Management Department for inclusion with the overall, County-wide submittal to the State.
This the 28th day of August, 2000.
ATTACHMENT A
Solid Waste Plan Framework for Orange County, North Carolina
The waste reduction plan framework for mixed solid waste includes:
Waste prevention: [The first three items below can be considered by County Solid Waste Management Department through Orange Community Recycling. The last two -- mandatory recycling and volume-based solid waste costs - could be enacted by the individual local governments only.]
1. Public education -- increases in the amount, type and targeted audiences.
2. Differential landfill fees -- we have these in place now for yard waste, clean wood waste and corrugated cardboard. Higher or lower fees could be applied to other materials to encourage their diversion from the landfill in favor of some type of separation.
3. Non-economic incentives -- this includes all the other strategies for influencing waste reduction such as the solid waste plans now required for new, non-residential construction in Chapel Hill.
4. Mandatory recycling -- also known as collection bans, individual governments could apply a variety of bans in each sector -- residential, commercial or apartments. Some enforcement would be necessary for success.
5. Volume-based fees -- also known as pay-per-throw, treats solid waste as a utility. Under this approach, local governments would set up a system of user fees under which residents and businesses would pay for varying amounts of garbage collected. A proper fee structure with good enforcement has proven to reduce waste in many other communities.
Recyclables Collection:
The original plan framework includes recommendation of weekly universal recycling collection in incorporated areas for residential, commercial and apartments and also for commercial recycling in unincorporated areas. For the unincorporated areas, the County recommends continuation of biweekly curbside recycling in the relatively densely settled subdivisions, combined with the system of sanitation sites such as now exist for solid waste and recycling collection. Currently, there is no universal commercial recycling. That would be the biggest single new collection expense; it would also have the greatest potential for increasing recycling.
Solid waste collection and management would continue to be under local government control. It is possible that large increases in recycling may reduce the need for solid waste collection so the local governments may save on collection costs as the rate of waste generation goes down.
Processing:
If the amount and types of recyclables is increased significantly to reach the overall 61% reduction goal by 2006, then Orange County would need a processing facility to sort out the recyclables and make them market-ready. Collection at the curb or business is, in some ways, the easiest part of the recycling cycle. Processing, sale and reuse are more challenging, since that is where the real "business" of recycling is. Sorting and processing are especially important if we are ever to achieve a long-term stable market for mixed paper.
The waste plan framework for construction and demolition waste
Construction waste makes up approximately one third of the material we landfill. As much as 70% of this type of waste is recyclable as wood products, scrap metal, construction rock and dirt products. Most of our recycling efforts have concentrated on the other two-thirds of our waste but there is enormous potential in the construction waste sector.
For 2001, the Owners Group has recommended a 20% reduction goal in this sector as part of the overall goal of 45% for all sectors by 2001. We believe that goal could be achieved with a construction materials salvage operation at the landfill and an enforceable solid waste plan requirement for new construction or major renovations and demolitions in all jurisdictions. The County will be considering such an ordinance this year.
To help meet the overall 61% reduction goal by 2006, waste in this sector must be reduced 58% by 2006, some type of sorting facility would be required to separate and process recyclable materials from mixed construction wastes.