Orange County NC Website
<br />Jahn Link referred to the lavender report from Solid Waste Director Gayle Wilson and <br />Public Works Director Wilbert McAdoo in reference to citizens' complaints about the lack of <br />understanding as to when people are permitted to put items in the salvage shed and also <br />related to used computers in the salvage shed. <br />Wilbert McAdoo said that they have 500,OQ0 visits to Solid Waste Convenience Centers <br />(SWCC} each year and he wants that to be a good experience for every visitor. There have <br />been same recent complaints and one was about harsh treatment by some of the staff. He said <br />that they have ongoing training and counseling of staff and they are going to do some additional <br />customer service and communication training for their staff. Regarding the salvage shed, they <br />have had an ongoing policy that says that they keep items in the shed for three days to give <br />other people an opportunity to retrieve the items before disposing of them or recycling of them <br />some other way. Some of the staff did not fallow that policy and it was reiterated to them. <br />Regarding electronics, the Solid Waste Department had a policy in place for recycling them that <br />did not encourage placing electronics into the salvage shed. <br />Solid Waste Director Gayle Wilson said that they are proposing a modified policy for <br />electronics in the salvage shed, and that is that if a citizen comes into a convenience center with <br />a monitor or CPU to put into the salvage shed, they will be allowed to do sa. If a citizen comes <br />in and conveys to the attendant that they have a fully functioning computer, the attendant will be <br />asked to suggest that it be placed in the salvage shed. Once it is in the salvage shed, the <br />typical rules will be applied and it will be moved to the electronics recycling trailer. This would <br />apply to any electronic item. He proposed this modification to the Board. <br />Wilbert McAdoo said there is another proposed policy change, which is that they will now <br />allow people to bring in full loads of bulky waste as opposed to '/ loads. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis commended the staff for being flexible. He made reference to <br />the statement about data being removed from computers and said that a citizen is responsible <br />for their own personal data on their computers. Gayle Wilson said that they will assist with the <br />hardware in erasing it if it goes into the electronics recycling trailer. If it goes into the shed, then <br />it is at the citizens' own risk. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked which company they were using to recycle electronics <br />and Gayle Wilson said Synergy. Commissioner Halkiotis said that the Bureau of Prisons had a <br />huge computer recycling program nationwide and now they are being sued by a number of <br />inmates and supervisors because they were in small, non-ventilated rooms with five-pound <br />sledge hammers, breaking the monitors to get out the lead and other metals and the people <br />were breathing in this poisonous dust. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that the majority of employees at convenience centers are <br />good and helpful. He said that a training professional should be brought in so that the <br />employees understand what they need to do and to develop a culture of respect. <br />Wilbert McAdoo told Commissioner Halkiotis that he could bring his toilet and place it in <br />the salvage shed. <br />Chair Jacobs asked for a written report on the proposed policy changes. He said that <br />the Board supports the staff and they want to support an ethic in Orange County to encourage <br />people to recycle. The Board can adopt some point by point policies with a review period and <br />trust that the problems will be resolved. If they are not, then they will revisit it. The Board <br />agreed. <br />5. Items for Decision--Consent Agenda <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to <br />approve those items on the consent agenda as stated below: <br />a. Minutes <br />