COUNCIL GOALS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

HIGHEST Priority

Continued          19. Solid Waste Management Plan

Description: Seek amendment of Orange County’s Solid Waste Plan.

February 28, 2005 Status:  New Goal.

May 9, 2005 Status: On April 7, 2005, the Solid Waste Advisory Board endorsed formulation of a Solid Waste Advisory Board Work Group “created specifically to produce a new Solid Waste Management Plan…”. An invitation was extended to the Town of Chapel Hill to participate in the charge of this work group. The Council has appointed Council Member Bill Strom to serve on this committee and the Manager has appointed Public Works Director Bill Letteri. The initial meeting of this work group was held in early April, with a discussion of the charge of the group. It is understood that this group will

· reexamine and reconsider portions of the Solid Waste Management Plan related to a waste diversion goal of 61%;

· receive input from the Solid Waste Advisory Board, the towns, the public and the Board of County Commissioners – Orange County; and

· prepare a recommended revised Solid Waste Management Plan for consideration and approval by the governing bodies of the three towns and the county prior to the next three-year update submittal to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, due on June 30, 2006.

September 12, 2005 Status:  Broad discussion of “Pay As You Throw” options took place at most June 15 meeting of the Orange County Storm Water Advisory Board. Possible future actions/decisions are pending. The next scheduled meeting of work Board is September 14.

November 21, 2005 Status: The “Solid Waste Management Plan Work Group” has held two meetings, on October 12, 2005 and November 3, 2005.  Topics discussed included--residential curbside collection methods for recycling (single vs. dual stream); adding mixed paper and cardboard at the curb; commercial recycling collection, methods and targets; materials handling or processing facilities; “pay-as-you-throw” models and alternatives; and discussion of jurisdictional needs, objectives, issues and concerns.  The next meeting of the work group is scheduled for early February 2006.

February 13, 2006 Status:  The Solid Waste Advisory Board Work Group toured the Greensboro and Charlotte recycled materials processing facilities on November 28, 2005.  The next meeting of the Work Group is expected to occur in late February. 

May 8, 2006 Status:  The “Solid Waste Management Plan Work Group” held a meeting on April 12, 2006.  Topics discussed included a summary of responses to a questionnaire distributed to Work Group participants and an update on the status of the Transfer Station.  Alternative Transfer Station sites are being considered, including the location on Eubanks Road.  The County has hired a consultant to help analyze the feasibility of each of the options.  The three-year update of the Solid Waste Plan is now anticipated to be completed in the Fall of 2006.

Products to Be Produced and Timetable

· Progress report to Council Second Quarter, 2006

September 11, 2006 Status: The Advisory Board and Solid Waste Advisory Board Work Group received and discussed the consultant’s report on Waste Transfer Station alternatives.  The report also discussed operational issues and alternatives to increase recycling, such as Pay as You Throw and RecycleBank, the latter of which was subsequently rejected by the Advisory Board as a viable alternative. As regards the Transfer Station, the Board continues to entertain alternative facility designs and sites, including a Durham location.  At the Solid Waste Advisory Board meeting of August 3^rd, staff outlined their expectations to complete a draft Solid Waste Plan by the end of the calendar year.