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

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Draft Report Summarv The Orange County Solid Waste Management Department three-year update actually encompasses the period July 2008 through June 2010. The 2006 update due June 2006 was submitted in August 2008 and covered the period from July 2004 through June 2008. The functions of the Solid Waste Department have changed and grown slightly since the last update. This report details those functional changes,provides statistical information about solid waste management in Orange County from 2007-2008,2008-09 and 2009-10,describes the planning process we've continued for the development of the integrated, comprehensive solid waste plan that will help the County on its way to achieving its goal of 61%waste reduction and outlines the next planning periods' big issues. In 2008-09,the County achieved its highest waste reduction rate ever of 54%per capita.. Highlights• 2008-09: • Added corrugated cardboard to residential curbside recycling and banned landfilling of residential cardboard from residential waste with cooperation of the Towns banning residential cardboard from the trash, • Achieved 50%waste reduction rate, highest in North Carolina that year, • Completed landfill gas project negotiations and contract with L7NC, • Completed conversion of all recycling collection programs to two-stream recycling from six-way separation, increasing collection efficiency at commercial and drop off programs 80%, (Except that paper at dropoff sites is still sorted three ways—newspaper and magazines,corrugated cardboard and mixed paper to maximize revenues through high public compliance with sorting requirements), • Improved market delivery in 110 yard walking floor trailers instead of 40-yard rolloffs. • Added over 100 new business recycling sites due to improved collection efficiency and increased commercial program tonnage 23%, • Initiated permanent sale of backyard composting bins at Operations Center, after selling over 1,000 units at the final annual sale event. • Completed Solid Waste Operations Center and occupied building with many green design features, consolidating senior staff in central location, • Initiated confidential paper shredding events that have become semi-annual and well-used, averaging over 300 users per set of seasonal events, • Initiated business-to-business plastic film and bag recycling pilot project with grant from American Chemistry Council of$5,000 plus materials, • Received best Community Paper Recycling Program Award from American Forest and Paper Institute and$2,000 grant, • Glass Packaging Institute 2008 Clear Choice Award: Recognition for Outstanding Sustainable Practices • Increased toxic and hazardous waste recycled by 4%over 2007-08, • Continued solid waste planning process focusing on unincorporated areas. • Conducted transfer station siting process, • Evaluated Alternative Technologies in formal study by Gershman,Brickner Bratton(GBB). 8