Agenda - 09-16-2010 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Draft No Transfer Station A decision was reached in December 2009 not to construct a transfer station in Orange County for at least the next several years. The implications of that decision for each of the four local governments in the County's interlocal solid waste agreement have not yet been determined. Some inter governmental discussions have taken place,but the governments have not finalized any decisions on the future destinations of waste once the landfill closes. It is clear that each government will experience longer hauling distances and increased transport costs to move waste to an out of County destination.It is not clear whether they will all seek a common solution after the MSW landfill is closed in early 2013. The County ceased its search for a site for an MSW transfer station via a motion adopted December 7, 2009(see Append�A) subsequent to a motion passed by the Board of Orange County Commissioners (BOCC) in 2001 stated that no new MSW landfill would be constructed in Orange County. The County now seeks alternative long-term means of managing its municipal solid waste along with that of its current three municipal partners in the interlocal agreement: Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. C&D Disposal and Materials Mana�ement Orange County has sited and operates an unlined C&D landfill at the current location on Eubanks Road. That landfill is now predicted to last 18 years or more with the marked decrease in C&D tonnage from an average of about 31,000 tons a year prior to implementation of the RRMO in 2002 to 10,483 tons last year and a projected 7,700 this year. Obviously part of the steep decline is due to recession, but part is also due to waste shifting to less costly, less environmentally rigorous disposal facilities with fewer regulations. The County plans to also continue managing recyclables,hazardous wastes,tires, clean wood, scrap metal and yard waste from all across the County at its current facility for the foreseeable future. There is an ongoing multi jurisdictional commitment to continue to reduce the amount of waste disposed by 61%per person in an effort to conserve resources,reduce the amount of waste to be transferred,protect the environment and save the remaining landfill space until a suitable alternative can be developed. The biggest challenge will be to finance those operations that are not self-financing,but have depended upon MSW disposal revenues to make up any potential operational deficits. Inter�overnmental Cooperation The Interlocal Agreement, signed in 2000 by the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough and Orange County continues to function and provide a strong fiscal and governance foundation for the current solid waste operation. The four signatories to the agreement, as well as i7NC, although it is not a signer,have all pledged the waste under their control to an Orange County-run facility. This pledge has stabilized the amount of waste coming to the landfill. The interlocal agreement and state statute also stipulate that Counties are responsible for providing disposal facilities.The County and the Towns are now in discussion over the viability of the Interlocal Agreement now that Orange County has elected not to provide a local disposal facility. 39