Agenda - 02-26-2015 - Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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19 Attachment 5c Memorandum To: Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager From: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Management Director Subject: Solid Waste Department Updates Date: February 26, 2015 Update on Urban Curbside Recycling The urban curbside program contracted to Waste Industries serves over 18,200 residences within the corporate limits of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough with weekly collection converted from using 18 gallon bins to 95 gallon roll carts in July 2014. Program tonnage has increased to 2,828 from 2,335 or about 21% in the first six months of cart usage compared to the same period using bins in 2013. Set out rates have declined somewhat as people have less need to set out the larger cart as often as the smaller capacity bins. Carts are equipped with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip that enables counting participation, maintaining inventory and tracking cart locations. County receives recyclables from the contractor and sells them to Sonoco in Raleigh NC. Update on Rural Curbside Recycline The rural curbside program is operated directly by Orange County employees and trucks serving over 14,200 residences or about two - thirds of residences outside of corporate limits of the three towns. Collection is every other week and approximately 60% of households were observed participating at least once a month in a survey conducted in early 2014. The program converted from 18 gallon bins to 95 gallon carts on a voluntary basis in January 2015. About 7,000 carts have been distributed and another 400 have been requested that will be distributed at the end of February or in early March. The remainder of eligible households will continue to use bins for service or carry recycling to a convenience center or drop -off site. Carts are equipped with RFID chips which are utilized for maintaining inventory and tracking cart locations. County receives recyclables and sells them combined with materials from other programs, predominantly to Sonoco in Raleigh NC Update on Performance of Modernized Walnut Grove Church Road Solid Waste Convenience Center Site During FY 2013 -14 the Solid Waste Convenience Center site at Walnut Grove Church Road was expanded, modernized, paved and new recycling options were added including food waste, plastic film, vegetable oil, textiles and shoes. A hazardous household waste (HHW) site was also added resulting in 43% increase in hazardous waste collection and 36% more users compared to the prior year with only the one Eubanks Road HHW site. Compactors replaced open top dumpsters for trash and most