Orange County NC Website
46 <br /> 1 Commissioner Hamilton said that part of what makes this difficult is understanding how it <br /> 2 works and asked if this change something that they have to do anyway. <br /> 3 Robert Williams said they have to do something, and they have received information that <br /> 4 40% of Orange County waste is organic materials. He said that if that is able to come out of the <br /> 5 waste system they won't have to go to a landfill. <br /> 6 Commissioner Hamilton said so much needs to be done with clarity on recycling and zero <br /> 7 waste. She said that she would rather see Scenario 2 done first because the county needs to do <br /> 8 more for education around preventing waste. She said she needs more information on Scenario <br /> 9 3, but she is leaning towards Scenario 2. <br /> 10 Commissioner McKee said he has seen trash collection change over his lifetime in Orange <br /> 11 County. He said he has private trash service, and the proposed increase is more than he pays for <br /> 12 his service. He said it is a concern for him that people living in less expensive homes are paying <br /> 13 their fees as a high percentage of their property taxes. He said from his perspective, he thinks the <br /> 14 county can only afford Scenario 1, and possibly Scenario 2. He said he does not think it is possible <br /> 15 to be zero waste by 2045. <br /> 16 Commissioner Richards asked if Eubanks has to be changed regardless of any scenario. <br /> 17 Robert Williams said yes. <br /> 18 Commissioner Richards said she is not able to support relying on Eubanks Rd. for the <br /> 19 future. She said that the community and the county's legacy there is enough. She said Scenario <br /> 20 1 goes well with the Climate Action Plan, and parts of Scenario 2 are doable. She said there are <br /> 21 5-10 years needed of community engagement needed. <br /> 22 Vice-Chair Greene said Orange County is growing and what Commissioner Richards is <br /> 23 saying is very true, but someday another site will be needed in Orange County. She said she <br /> 24 would rather go ahead and get this information into the community and get input on where another <br /> 25 site could go. <br /> 26 Commissioner Fowler said she agrees that they are never getting to zero with a transfer <br /> 27 station, but asked if the county can ever get any of the efficiencies. <br /> 28 Jennifer Porter said there definitely are success stories across the country with strong <br /> 29 organics programs. <br /> 30 Chris Lund said there are communities that have taken on the separation themselves and <br /> 31 they decide how it is handled. <br /> 32 Commissioner Fowler asked if the facilities are covered but the fee or by the capital fee. <br /> 33 Bonnie Hammersley said any Solid Waste capital is paid for by the enterprise fund. <br /> 34 Commissioner Fowler said it seems there will be a need for a new facility and she thinks <br /> 35 a master plan seems helpful. She said that she is not sure about organics because if waste was <br /> 36 prevented, it would not have to be transported across town. <br /> 37 Commissioner Portie-Ascott said that Scenario 3 bothers her because of the impact on <br /> 38 the Rogers Rd. community. She said that this would be too much to ask them to bear. She said <br /> 39 even if there is community engagement with Rogers Road, historically communities of color do <br /> 40 not always send constant emails or show up at meetings to express their opinions. She said that <br /> 41 can give a false sense that everyone is ok with the idea. She said that to expect people to pay <br /> 42 additional money is a lot. She said she likes the idea of starting with Scenario 1 and moving to <br /> 43 Scenario 2, when possible. <br /> 44 Commissioner McKee said the county is morally bound to figure out how to handle its own <br /> 45 waste and not ship it out to other places. <br /> 46 Vice-Chair Greene said she agrees with Commissioner Portie-Ascott's comments and <br /> 47 would consider taking Eubanks off the table at this point. She said that zero waste is impossible <br /> 48 but is aspirational. <br /> 49 Chair Bedford asked if any scenario tried to decrease the usage and delay the need for <br /> 50 additional facilities. <br /> 51 Jennifer Porter says it starts in Scenario 1 but is in all three. <br />