Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Memorandum <br />To: Solid Waste Advisory Group <br />From: Gayle Wilson, County Solid Waste Director <br />Subject: General Staff Updates/Status Report <br />Date: March 23, 2017 <br /> <br />The following updates are provided for the SWAG’s consideration. Questions or comments are welcome. <br />a)Construction & Demolition Waste (C&D) Landfill - Business Practice Evaluation <br />With the implementation of the C&D Waste Recycling Task Force recommended regulated recyclable <br />materials ordinance, the quantity of C&D waste being managed by our landfill has decreased from about <br />30,000 tons to a current 8,000 tons annually. The regulated recyclable materials ordinance functioned <br />beyond our most optimistic expectations in reducing and/or diverting waste from disposal. Our <br />enforcement of this ordinance at our landfill is stringent. <br />However, our revenue has also fallen precipitously and in conjunction with the current financial <br />evaluation and 5-year financial planning process staff wants to examine the landfill operation more <br />closely to evaluate if we could enhance revenue for the landfill while at the same time maintaining <br />significant waste diversion of the C&D waste stream. <br />As such, County staff is undertaking a study to evaluate current Construction & Demolition landfill <br />operations and budget and look for various alternatives or improvements to the management of C&D <br />wastes within the County. An objective is to look for alternatives to the management of C&D waste <br />(including regulated recyclable materials) within the County. The goal of the study will be to evaluate <br />the current overall financial state of the landfill and C&D management/operations, and to explore <br />several alternatives to the current system that would improve the revenue stream while continuing to <br />prioritize waste reduction and diversion of the C&D waste stream. The study team may also make <br />recommendations with regard to the revenue enhancing or efficiency improvement alternatives, or <br />perhaps marginal revisions to the ordinance. <br />The study is expected to take about eight weeks. The results will be shared with the SWAG. <br />b)Emergency Storm Debris Management Site Search Update <br />Twin Creeks – Staff reviewed this site offered at the last SWAG meeting as a possibility and in summary: <br />x this site is heavily wooded and costs to clear and make useable would be prohibitive (the <br />department no longer has equipment suitable for land clearing following the closure of the <br />landfill)