Agenda - 04-29-2004-1a - Laserfiche WebLink

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~C,~G~t4r°~r'~ ~$ ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIANERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 13, 2004 Action Age a Item No. -C_ SUBJECT: Proposed Waste Reduction Reuse and Recycling Fee DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y1N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 4/13/04 Solid Waste Director Report 3/23/04 County Attorney Letter re: Waste Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Fees INFORMATION CONTACT: Gayle Wilson, 968-2885 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To present a report on a proposal to implement for FY 2004-05 a tiered Waste Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling Fee to be assessed on all improved Orange County property to finance recycling and waste reduction services/programs. BACKGROUND: Orange County is the recognized leader among North Oarolina's 100 counties for its progressive and professional approach to solid waste reduction and recycling efforts. Orange Oounty's innovative and well-managed programs have led to a per capita reduction in solid waste disposed of more than 45% since 1991-92.. In 2002-03, Orange County became the first county to achieve the State goal of 40% per capita waste reduction compared to the baseline year. Ironically, Orange County's waste reduction success has created a financial paradox, as the reduction in waste received at the landfill has led to reduced revenues available to pay for recycling and reduction programs. In recognition of this developing financial trend, discussions of the need for supplemental financing for the solid waste enterprise fund have taken place since about 1993, and in earnest since about 1996. Enterprise fund reserves have been utilized to subsidize these reduction and recycling programs for many years; however the increasing success of and investment in these programs have reduced the historical availability of surplus tipping fee revenue due to the diminished volumes of waste being disposed. This situation has culminated in the current situation of significantly reduced available fund balance to continue the annual subsidies necessary to maintain existing programs and services. Therefore, an additional source of supplemental income is vital to enable continuation of the existing array of services to Orange County citizens. The Solid Waste Management Director has prepared a detailed report that outlines anticipated 10-year revenue and expenditure needs, based on various assumptions about facilities and services to be provided. The report responds to feedback received from the Board of