Shaping OC future - Solid Waste 2001

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. . ,., . B . Develop and enforce standards for non-toxic building materials . Status — No such policy is currently under development. C . Encourage building reuse rather than demolition. Status — SW Department advocates and provides technical and market assistance for deconstruction . Proposed ordinance currently under consideration by BOCC encourages consideration of deconstruction vs . demolition . SW Department has also facilitated building relocation (moving) as an alternative to demolition. D . Require manufacturers to be responsible for taking back packaging to encourage reuse and internalize the cost of disposal . Status — SW Department has no authority to require this action. E . Raise solid waste tipping fees and institute a "pay as you throw" system. Status — PAYT fee systems typically are implemented in conjunction with garbage collection systems . SW Department does not collect garbage . The adopted Solid Waste Management Plan includes an element that recommends that Orange County governmental garbage collection agencies adopt PAYT fee systems ( or other regulatory alternatives) once the recycling infrastructure recommended in the Plan is developed. Arbitrarily raising tipping fees , absent consideration of regional pricing structures and waste stream flows , is not a policy the SW Department supports . We believe this concept to be counterproductive and contrary to progressive solid waste management practices and responsible administration of a solid waste enterprise fund . The SW Department recommends the BOCC reevaluate the benefits of this Task Force recommendation . Tipping fees are adjusted to meet solid waste management budget needs and are now among the highest in the region/state . F . Encourage more regional planning regarding recycling and management of solid waste , including locating a materials transfer site that would include C &D building materials . Status — Considerable effort has been expended regarding identification of regional opportunities for recycling and management of solid waste . SW Department participates in the Triangle J Regional Council of Governments Solid Waste Planning Committee , with SW Director Gayle Wilson being the current Chair. Outside the Triangle J context, various staff level meetings and discussions have taken place with Alamance, Durham, Chatham and Wake Counties . The pursuit of regional opportunities is ongoing . The concept of a regional transfer operation is not being actively pursued due to various operational, economic , and siting factors . Each regional opportunity must be thoroughly evaluated to ascertain risks , benefits , etc .