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8 <br /> 1 Commissioner Price asked if would be effective to have in-house electronics recycling, if <br /> 2 no one is in the market for the recyclables. <br /> 3 Gayle Wilson said there is a small market for general electronics, but the CRTs are the <br /> 4 problem, and they continue to come in on a daily basis. <br /> 5 Commissioner Price said that was her point: if the County decided to do the right thing <br /> 6 by creating its own program, but cannot sell the product, is it worth the effort. <br /> 7 Gayle Wilson said he is not sure any efforts made by the County would have any <br /> 8 significant impact, and the waste would end up in a landfill somewhere. <br /> 9 <br /> 10 b) Solid Waste Advisory Group (SWAG) Update <br /> 11 <br /> 12 BACKGROUND: <br /> 13 The SWAG most recently met on May 25, 2016. The primary items on the agenda were: the <br /> 14 County Manager's recommendation on the Solid Waste Programs Fee for Fiscal Year 2016-17; <br /> 15 and the introduction to the SWAG of SCS Engineers, PC who presented an Interim Report on <br /> 16 the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund Financial Planning study project. The previous SWAG meeting <br /> 17 was held on March 30. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 The SWAG will be tracking and evaluating the outputs of the financial study as they are <br /> 20 available in preparation for re-engaging on the Interlocal Agreement for Solid Waste <br /> 21 Management that has currently been suspended pending the outcome of the financial <br /> 22 component of the Agreement. The SWAG will also be involved in recommending solid waste <br /> 23 program priorities, tracking the implementation of the rural curbside recycling program <br /> 24 expansion, progress of the Eubanks Road Waste & Recycling Center modernization project <br /> 25 and other issues as they arise such as mattress disposal, results of shred-a-thons, alternative <br /> 26 means of disposal, etc. <br /> 27 Chair McKee asked if any SWAG members would like to speak to this item. <br /> 28 Commissioner Jacobs said the group has delayed the discussion of creating an <br /> 29 interlocal agreement until the financial study is completed. He said UNC and UNC Hospital <br /> 30 reps still attend regularly. He said the group is interested in how UNC Hospital disposes of food <br /> 31 waste and if there is a way to be more aggressive with the handling of organic waste. <br /> 32 Mayor Hemminger said the County is recycling successfully, but the market has <br /> 33 declined to the point that recycling is no longer a revenue source but an expense. <br /> 34 Commissioner Rich said the group's priorities are going to be reviewed with new SWAG <br /> 35 members, and updated as needed. She said she is greatly encouraged by UNC's attendance <br /> 36 and involvement in the process. <br /> 37 Chair McKee said he is not sure the current recycling fee can be maintained in the <br /> 38 future. <br /> 39 Commissioner Jacobs said the County had a waste reduction goal of 61% and is now at <br /> 40 64%. He said it was understood that the higher the percentage went the more expensive it <br /> 41 would be. He said the public should be reminded of this. He added that there has been no <br /> 42 discussion of a percentage cap. <br /> 43 Commissioner Rich said the rural community has fully bought into the process, which <br /> 44 has been tremendous. <br /> 45 Council Member Cianciolo asked if the service being paid to remove the CRTs are <br /> 46 simply putting them in someone else's landfill. <br /> 47 Gayle Wilson said no. He said the County is subsidizing the remanufacturing of the <br /> 48 CRTs, but the market for them is becoming obsolete. <br /> 49 <br /> 50 4. Joint Training Center for Public Safety— Interim Fire Chief Matt Sullivan <br />