Agenda - 09-01-20; 8-a - Minutes

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19 1 2 The Board considered voting to: 3 1) approve a proposed resolution amending the Solid Waste Ordinance with the 4 amendments becoming effective August 3, 2020; 5 2) direct solid waste staff to consistently enforce Section 34-40 of the Solid Waste 6 Ordinance related to construction and demolition waste as set forth in the 7 amended Ordinance beginning August 3, 2020; and 8 3) in the interim, pursue a public education effort to inform the public and also 9 make signage improvements at the various Centers to educate the public and 10 enhance administration of the Ordinance provisions. 11 12 Robert Williams, Solid Waste Director, presented this item: 13 14 BACKGROUND: The Orange County Waste and Recycling Centers (Centers) were established 15 for the disposal of household municipal solid waste and recycling. Specifically, the Orange 16 County Solid Waste Ordinance provides in Section 34-40 that Centers are maintained at 17 selected locations throughout the County for the convenience of County residents. The Section 18 provides a list of wastes that may not be accepted at convenience centers, including 19 commercial waste, institutional waste, industrial waste, land clearing waste, and construction 20 waste and demolition waste. In contrast, the Ordinance specifically provides a list of materials 21 that, if there is a specifically designated area for collection, may be deposited at the Centers, 22 including white goods, furniture, yard waste and tires. These Ordinance provisions have been in 23 effect since May of 1993. 24 25 A recent audit of the Centers highlighted that the Ordinance was not being consistently 26 administered by some of the Solid Waste staff. The Centers have traditionally allowed a 27 "wheelbarrows" worth of construction and demolition waste to be deposited in the bulky waste 28 area as an accommodation to residential users of the sites. This amount was being 29 inconsistently applied by staff. In addition, it became apparent that construction and demolition 30 waste of a commercial nature was also being brought to the sites. Individuals that were 31 renovating homes for commercial purposes were bringing or causing large quantities of 32 material 33 to be brought to the sites. 34 35 Staff's recommendation proposes amending the Ordinance to allow for up to 36 cubic feet of 36 residential construction and demolition waste per household per day or weekend period from 37 the users' primary residence. The goal is to support Orange County residential customers 38 disposing of material from a "Do It Yourself" project. The proposed 36 cubic feet quantity was 39 determined using a pickup truck with a 6 foot bed, which is equal to 90 cubic feet of space. 40 Because of limited space and to discourage business usage, 36 cubic feet of material is 41 proposed to be the maximum amount of construction and demolition debris that can accepted. 42 43 To further support those goals, the proposed revision to the Ordinance would require that proof 44 of residency be provided prior to unloading of material, hired contractors could not use the 45 Center, and loads exceeding the designated limits will not be accepted. In addition, customers 46 attempting to enter a Center with loads exceeding 36 cubic feet of construction and demolition 47 waste would be declined and not permitted to dispose of any material. 48 49 The amendments as proposed also specify the types of waste deemed construction and 50 demolition wastes for this purpose. The materials are those items that are allowed at the