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collections are done. However, he said he has heard that recycling is important in Orange <br /> County, and staff wanted to continue the programs and find a way to pay for it. <br /> Commissioner Rich said she agrees that Orange County is passionate about recycling, <br /> but she is concerned that the subscription service may not get the buy in that the County is <br /> hoping for. She is not confident that the subscription is the way to go. <br /> Michael Talbert said if the Board wants to move forward with the district instead, this <br /> can still be done by July 1. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if the 20 percent drop accounts for people who will later <br /> opt back in, and the potential new customers. <br /> Michael Talbert said the 20 percent is based on national averages of what a plan ends <br /> up being a year after moving to a subscription service, and it does not account for new <br /> customers. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if the subscription service will be available to all of the <br /> residents in the County, even beyond the current map. <br /> Michael Talbert said this service will initially be available to the existing customer base <br /> and the existing district. He said it will be possible to branch out where the density makes it <br /> possible. <br /> Commissioner Price questioned whether it would be cost effective without the density. <br /> She asked how you would tell someone they cannot participate. <br /> Michael Talbert said it may not be possible to serve everyone, especially residents who <br /> live in an outlying rural area that is not densely populated. <br /> Commissioner McKee said the current route comes within two miles of his home. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> Tom O'Dywer said if the Board of County Commissioners agrees that recycling is an <br /> essential thing, he does not see how a subscription service can be logical to the community. <br /> He said he has heard there is a drop of 40 percent in participants with subscription services. <br /> He said it is a gamble to maintain this and have it be cost effective. He feels this could <br /> undermine the County's relationships with the Towns, since all of the Town residents have <br /> mandatory recycling, and the County would not. He said he knows many people who would <br /> put their recycling in a garbage bag and throw it away to save $20. He encouraged the Board <br /> to go with a tax district. <br /> Terri Buckner lives in the rural curbside area of Heritage Hills. She encouraged the <br /> Board to go with the service district. She noted that there are many renters in southern <br /> Orange County, and those people cannot pay this fee by their tax bill, thus the fee would go to <br /> the homeowner. She feels this will impact the participation rate. She said she has fluctuated <br /> between using the curbside recycling and taking it to the convenience center. She said she <br /> does better with the curbside. She feels that the subscription service will take out more than <br /> 20 percent and will reduce the progress toward achieving the goal. She said she sees a lot of <br /> yellow around the blue on the map, and she wondered if including some of this area in the <br /> mandatory service district might bring down the $58 fee. <br /> Don O'Leary said he lives in the rural area of Orange County. He said he already has <br /> to go to the dump, and he takes his recycling when he goes. He said there is no need to have <br /> a recycling truck come by his residence. He said he would personally opt out if given the <br /> option. He feels it is progress to allow folks to opt out. <br /> The following written submissions were also received for public comment: <br />