TITLE: Title
Solid Waste and Recycling Issues
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is to provide the Board of Aldermen (BOA) an opportunity to review and discuss various recycling options as proposed by Orange County staff to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in April of 2013.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works Department
CONTACT INFORMATION: George Seiz, Director of Public Works, 918-7427
INFORMATION: At the BOCC meeting of March 7, 2013 commissioners discussed a proposal to move toward a county-wide franchise agreement that would privatize curbside Solid Waste and Recycling Services in the unincorporated areas of Orange County. The BOCC requested more information be provided on the matter at their regular meeting on April 9th, 2013. The BOA reviewed this proposal at their regular meeting on March 12, 2013 and as a result of that review a letter noting opposition to the proposal was sent to BOCC chairman Mr. Barry Jacobs from Mayor Chilton. (See attachment B)
The BOCC further discussed solid waste and recycling issues at their April 9th meeting and based on those discussions the following options regarding recycling issues are now recommended to the BOCC per an e-mail dated April 16, 2013 from Orange County Manager, Frank Clifton, to Town Managers David Andrews and Roger Stancil: (See Attachment C )
1) Create a Solid Waste Management Authority whose primary focus would be on recycling within Orange County. At least one Town would need to participate initially to allow this decision to move forward. While the Authority once created would focus on recycling options, it could with consent of the participants transition to handle other various aspects of solid waste including the bulk hauling waste to transfer points outside the county; pursuit of a local transfer station and its operation; handling solid waste collection services either by contract or direct labor force for any participants requesting those services; and, possibly pursuing a path for alternative disposal operations inclusive of waste to energy or other similar functions. OWASA represents a similar model in structure.
2) Create a County Solid Waste Tax District (initially the entire unincorporated areas of Orange County) that could include the Town(s) at their option for curbside and multifamily recycling services. The District can be established in a timely manner allowing for its creation and a future levy of associated taxes for services to be provided. This option may or may not continue the base recycling and solid waste fees now levied by the County which may be dependent upon which Towns if any agree to be part of the Special Tax District for purposes of recycling. The District could be established within a few months with the tax levy to begin FY 14-15. The tax levy and continuation or adjustment to existing basic fees would be subject to final decisions if Towns may or may not participate and final estimated costs of services.
3) Creation of a limited County Solid Waste Tax District which would be designed to serve only those existing areas of unincorporated Orange County which currently have curb side recycling available. The district boundaries again could include or exclude the Towns at their option but a procedure and process for amending the boundaries does become more complex. This option could be established during FY 13-14 with no levy until FY 14-15. The process is more involved and technical in application than that laid out in the county-wide model.
4) A fourth option the BOCC directed for consideration would be the elimination of curbside and multi-family recycling with a reliance upon the County's convenience centers and drop-off sites. Again, in this option each Town would pursue any action within its authority for the continuation or discontinuance of curb side and multifamily recycling within Town limits.
Mr. Clifton has requested feedback and notes that some of the response requests require consideration/action by the respective elected boards. Mr. Clifton also notes that he has encouraged the BOCC to select and begin implementation of Option 2 as identified above. Questions regarding the Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) and a new local intergovernmental agreement are raised by Mr. Clifton in the e-mail as well.
Town Staff will continue collaborating with the Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Hillsborough and Orange County on solid waste issues. With the potential for changes in the Orange County recycling program, the towns are looking at alternate arrangements for collection, processing, and marketing of recycling materials. Subsequently, Carrboro and Hillsborough are currently participating with Chapel Hill in the development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Recycling Program and a separate RFP for a Material Recovery Facility/Transfer Station.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: There would be significant fiscal impact should the town elect to fund its' own recycling program.
RECOMMENDATION:r It is recommended that the BOA provide feedback/direction to staff on the various solid waste items presented (Recycling options, SWAB, Inter-local Agreement).