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2. In the case of Orange County, there are four basic categories of end state <br />downstream processes to consider for the desired future: <br />a. Landfill in Orange County <br />b. Advanced technology waste to energy process in Orange County <br />c. Landfill outside of Orange County <br />d. Advanced technology waste to energy process outside of Orange County <br />3. Two of these choices should have no need for a waste transfer station in Orange <br />County. They are the ones where the final process takes place in Orange County. The <br />other two might not need a waste transfer station in Orange County if the final process <br />was close to the population being served. Therefore, a waste transfer station is not a <br />logical proposal until the final "resting place" for our non-recyclable waste is defined. <br />Otherwise there is a good chance of a wasted investment and short and long term <br />consequences to the integrity of the Rural Buffer. <br />4. The challenge of developing an integrated plan for a County with the various issues <br />of population density, land use plans and transportation networks that exist here is <br />daunting. To many persons, an integrated plan means having one method that all <br />citizens utilize. Another view of an integrated plan is one where the differences that <br />exist are comprehended and alternate strategies are implemented so that the different <br />needs are met. I believe the latter method has a greater chance of success in our <br />County. <br />5. Although we are one County, there are two fundamentally different regions. One is <br />south of I-40 and is comprised primarily of Chapel Hill, UNC, and Carrboro. The other <br />region contains Hillsborough and the unincorporated areas of Orange County. <br />Population density differences are a key factor of these two regions. <br />6. I have a strong belief that leadership has a responsibility for creating a compelling <br />vision. I have no leadership role within this County, but I'm willing to share my vision to <br />stimulate discussion. My vision for this County has three elements for implementation: <br />a. The current excellent recycling process is maintained and improved with a <br />benchmarking study to identify global best practices and then implementation <br />plans created to execute improvement. <br />b. An advanced technology waste to energy facility is implemented to serve the <br />area south of I-40 at an appropriate location within the bounds of Chapel Hill, <br />UNC and Carrboro. The key stakeholders are Chapel Hill, UNC and Carrboro. I <br />submit that Chapel Hill Transit and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School system are <br />initiatives that recognize the existence of this "southern region". <br />c. A partnership is created between Hillsborough, Orange County and the city <br />of Durham to manage the non-recyclable solid waste of these areas. I-85 is a <br />natural conduit for such a partnership. Through a true partnership, improved <br />processes could be jointly developed for the near term for improved standards at <br />the Durham waste transfer station and then the creation of a plan for a waste to <br />energy facility that would support Hillsborough, the unincorporated region of <br />Orange County and the city of Durham when appropriate. <br />