RES-2005-081 Resoution to adopt a policy on scavenging & salvaging at Solid Waste Convenience Centers

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%~~ Resolution Recommending that the Board of Orange County Commissioners adopt. a policy on scavenging and salvaging at the Solid Waste Convenience Centers Whereas the Solid Waste Advisory Board has reviewed and considered issues surrounding current practices on scavenging and salvaging at the Solid Waste Convenience, and Whereas SWAB members have observed firsthand such practices that were unsafe and unsound, and Whereas the SWAB received testimony from staff also indicating many problems at the SWCC's related to scavenging and salvaging, and Whereas the SWAB realizes that the County wants to encourage practical and economic reuse of materials by its citizens to reduce waste, and Whereas the SWAB is aware that many of these reusable items and materials are delivered to the SWCCs where others wait to take them, and Whereas some residents of Orange County depend on use of these materials for meeting their basic economic needs, and Whereas many materials such as scrap metal delivered to the SWCC's have economic value to the County when sold as commodities and such value needs to be preserved, and Whereas allowing unrestricted scavenging at SWCCs creates unsafe conditions, potential environmental hazards, and increases the likelihood of injury to the scavenger and others, and Whereas increased scavenging activities create conflict at the SWCCs, and Whereas the Solid Waste Convenience Center operators are in need of clear guidance and regulations to ensure citizen safety, their own safety and an unambiguous policy to communicate to SWCC users, and Whereas the SWCC operators need additional training and guidance to professionalize their jobs and improve their ability to carry them out, Therefore be it now resolved that the Solid Waste Advisory Board recommends that the Board of Orange County Commissioners direct the Solid Waste Department staff to draft a policy for BOCC adoption that will address the issues identified herein. Said policy should incorporate policies governing salvaging and scavenging activities at the Solid Waste Convenience Centers that maximize safe and effective salvaging of usable or repairable goods by citizens and eliminate scavenging of materials from any area other than the designated selvage area(s)