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it is more complicated because the County is actually a part of the <br />problem as well as the solution. One thing that is a possibility is <br />to increase the tipping fee now to begin saving money for the <br />acquisition of land and the operation of the facility. <br />Council Member Brown mentioned that there was an immediate and <br />drastic reduction in material going to the landfills in Wayne and <br />Alamance Counties upon their refusing to accept the recyclable <br />materials and/or instituting a pay-as-you-throw system. The clear <br />plastic bags used in many counties allow the staff to tag and refuse <br />pick-up for bags containing recyclable materials. Sometime in the <br />recent past, a resolution was passed by each of the governing boards <br />to have staff work together on a regional effort. That staff work is <br />occurring and a report will be forthcoming in the fall. <br />Commissioner Willhoit stated that counties with a large amount of <br />industry are able to institute drastic reductions in solid waste going <br />to the landfill when pay-as-you-throw systems are implemented. <br />However, Orange County does not have a great deal of industrial waste. <br />He also suggested that recycling containers could be required to be <br />placed at every drink machine and in each location where a waste <br />receptacle is located. <br />Alderman Nelson mentioned that the recycling cost is $20 per <br />household per year for County residents compared to $106 per household <br />for Carrboro and $167 for Chapel Hill. <br />Council Member Evans asked if regional cooperation in regard to <br />waste management is being considered. Commissioner Willhoit indicated <br />that regional cooperation is not being considered at this time with <br />the exception of construction and demolition waste. <br />Blair Pollock, Chapel Hill Recycling Program Manager, mentioned <br />that a regional group consisting of Wake, Chatham, Durham and Orange <br />Counties have been exploring possibilities for solid waste. The most <br />substantive effort has been in the area of hazardous waste. In the <br />near future four household hazardous waste centers will be open. Each <br />of the four participating Counties will have a collection center which <br />will be open a minimum of one day each month. Several ideas for <br />disposal have been explored. Wake County has indicated that they may <br />have a surplus of landfill space and Montgomery County may be willing <br />to set up a construction and demolition waste site. However, these <br />solutions would depend on moving large amounts of low value material a <br />long distance which may not be financially practical. He is not at all <br />certain that this can be a financially viable effort. There has been <br />no formal proposal. However, a report will be presented in the fall. <br />Mayor Broun pointed out that this possibility is an important <br />factor in the siting of a landfill. If, through cooperation with <br />other counties, Orange County might have a compostable waste site <br />rather than a landfill, that needs to be made clear. <br />Alderman Gist mentioned that many of the members of the <br />reorganization group are concerned about the social equity issue of <br />