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152 <br />37 <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager <br />FROM: Lance Norris, Public Works Director <br />SUBJECT: Status Report on Future Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Options <br />DATE: January 23, 2012 <br />PURPOSE <br />The purpose of this memo is to provide Council with an update on the Town's solid waste <br />collection and disposal options for the future. In light of recent developments, namely the <br />possible closure of the Orange County Landfill by the spring of 2013, the Town is exploring <br />alternative sustainable and viable options for solid waste collection and disposal. This memo <br />summarizes the Town's efforts, to date, to begin exploring options for solid waste collection and <br />disposal, which are as follows: <br />1.. An Independent Comprehensive Review of Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Options. <br />2. A Residential and Commercial Solid Waste Pilot Program to Durham. <br />BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION <br />The Interlocal Agreement obligates the County to provide the Town with two year's notice to <br />terminate the Agreement. To date, the Town has not received official notice. The Orange <br />County Commissioners have expressed their intent to close the landfill as early as the spring of <br />2013, which, in the absence of an alternative provided by the County (for example, a transfer <br />station), would effectively constitute a termination of the Agreement as to solid waste. In light <br />of this development, the Town has begun proactively exploring alternative options for solid <br />waste disposal, as well as ways of increasing efficiency with solid waste collection. <br />Wendy Simmons, the Town's new Solid Waste Services Superintendent, will play a central role <br />in overseeing these projects going forward. Wendy has a Masters Degree in Environmental <br />Management from Duke University. She has many years of work experience in the field of solid <br />waste management, including tenure with NCDENR and most recently with the City of <br />Asheville, where she was the Solid Waste Manager. <br />The Town will continue to explore additional innovative and realistic opportunities for solid <br />waste management that align with our organizational values and commitments to sustainability, <br />economic vitality and cost - effectiveness. <br />