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APPROVED <br /> Solid Waste Advisory Group Meeting Summary <br /> DATE: September 18, 2023 <br /> LOCATION: Solid Waste Administration Training Room <br /> MEMBERS PRESENT: County Commissioner Amy Fowler, County Commissioner Earl McKee, <br /> Carrboro Council Member Randy Haven-O'Donnell, Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils, Hillsborough <br /> Commissioner Rob English, Hillsborough Commissioner Matt Hughes, Chapel Hill Council <br /> Member Adam Searing, Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger <br /> MEMBERS ABSENT: UNC Healthcare Dan Lehman <br /> STAFF PRESENT: County Solid Waste Director Robert Williams, County Solid Waste Assistant <br /> Director Bruce Woody, Chapel Hill Public Works Director Lance Norris, Chapel Hill Public Works <br /> Staff Wendy Simmons, Carrboro Public Works Director Kevin Belanger, Carrboro Public Works <br /> Staff Kristen Benoit, Town of Carrboro Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Laura Janway, <br /> Town of Carrboro Staff Greivin Ulate, Hillsborough Public Works Manager Dustin Hill, County <br /> Staff: Cheryl Young, Isaac Jones, Caroline Hausler, Wanda McCain, and Dena Brown <br /> GBB Staff: Chris Lund, Jennifer Porter, and Rachel del Campo Gatewood <br /> Call to Order <br /> Approval of January 31, 2023 Meeting Summary —Approved <br /> GBB — SW Master Plan Presentation <br /> Hemminger states that the recycling fees are not covering recycling costs, correct? <br /> Williams answers that's correct. <br /> Hemminger states that raising the fee by the amounts listed would be a pretty big shift. What <br /> would be the real number? <br /> Williams says I can get you that number. <br /> Hemminger says they haven't been raised in a long time, although she advocated for them to be <br /> raised incrementally. So, you're using the general fund from the county, right? <br /> Williams says no, we are using the fund balance from solid waste. <br /> Hemminger states raising the fee such a big amount affects people in the lower housing <br /> categories more than businesses or expensive homes. It's something to really think about <br /> because the fund will diminish at some point. <br /> Williams states we will get those numbers to SWAG. <br /> Hemminger asks GBB if they considered how much compost is collected by the private <br /> companies many have partnered with, as far as diversion numbers? <br /> Porter answers yes we have. Part of the recommendation is reviewing this annually and doing <br /> an assessment again in 5 years. And part of that is tracking the additional efforts beyond the <br /> county. The private sector is important in this picture. <br /> Hemminger states that several businesses are saving money on trash collection because they <br /> are composting more and maybe we can educate more businesses on this. Garbage has gone <br /> way down in our Town Hall and Library just from composting paper towels in the bathrooms. So <br /> are you tracking that? <br /> Porter says yes and it's included in the projection. <br />