Agenda - 09-18-2001 - 8k - Laserfiche WebLink

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21 • What quantity of materials will the program collect? • How much will this program cost and how will those costs be borne? Accepted Materials and Markets: The Department of Solid Waste Management would initially accept computers, computer monitors, and computer related devices. The longer-term goal would be to expand this program to accept televisions, fax machines, and stereo and video components. It is also recommended that we accept electronics from residents of Orange County, government agencies within Orange County, the school systems within Orange County, and, on a limited basis, from businesses within Orange County. Finally, the concept of sharing the expense of managing these materials with those who use the program is an option. For example, it could be possible to charge the businesses or governmental agencies, as well as residents, who wish to recycle computer monitors a tip fee or co-pay charge on the order $5.00 for each computer monitor they wish to have recycled. It should be noted that the concept of charging for recycling service is a departure from the typical Orange County recycling practice of providing collection services at no charge. Decisions about what materials will be accepted by an electronics program are driven in many ways by the availability of markets and the amount of money the program is prepared to spend in order to divert the specific materials from land-based disposal. Markets for computers, computer monitors, and computer peripherals (printers, keyboards, mice, etc.) are the most common and the most economically feasible to access. For this reason, Cary and Wake County limit their collection to these items. Markets for other post-consumer electronics such as stereo equipment, VCRs, telephones, fax machines, and other post-consumer electronics do exist, but these items typically present less of a threat to landfills in terms of potential contamination, and the value of the recovered material is currently negligible. Further, the markets for the aforementioned post-consumer electronics tend to be different from those that handle computers. Televisions represent a particular challenge when it comes to management for recycling. Televisions and other Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) bearing items contain an average of 7 to 8 pounds of lead per unit. While Computer Monitors contain CRTs, there is a significant demand for refurbished/repaired monitors, especially in countries outside the US. This demand does not exist for used televisions. Further, as the change to digital television takes place in May of 2003, and as consumers upgrade to televisions with digital capability and / or to televisions with higher quality pictures (high density or high definition televisions, also called HDTVs), the number of televisions entering the waste stream is expected to skyrocket. Recycling options for televisions are currently rare, and typically expensive. As the demand for this service grows, it is anticipated that more recycling options for televisions will become available. Collection Locations: The Department proposes to operate a drop-off program for the collection of electronics, accepting these materials at the Orange County Solid Waste Convenience Centers and at the Orange County Landfill. The dropped off materials will be collected from the drop- off points by the RMH, who will process these materials and prepare them for shipment 10