Agenda - 04-21-2003-4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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number of successful recycling and toxicity reduction programs that have made local waste management programs among the most respected in the state. As a consequence of increasing costs, program expansions and unequalled success in the state in reducing per capita waste disposal, tipping fee revenue resulting from landfill disposal has declined and is no longer a reliable source of funding for the local solid waste management system. Therefore, we believe continuing a financial system that is based on the quantity of waste disposed would be unwise if there are other financial models available. Simply raising the fees to compensate for the diminishing quantities of waste is not practical because our fees are already 2"d highest in the state and waste haulers will simply shift wastes to other, lower cost landfills. Elimination of the present tipping fee system will result in benefits to all of the stakeholders associated with the solid waste operations in as much as it will remove the reliance on disposal to provide a stable, equitable, and flexible source of funding to maintain a high quality integrated solid waste management system. According to the SWAB recommendation, tipping fees would continue for construction and demolition waste as well as for vegetative wastes (although vegetative wastes are actually recycled and not disposed). Citizens Citizens would benefit by virtue of some increase in equity associated with afee-based financing for waste services; • All potential users (taxpayers and non-taxpayers) would share in the costs of available county- provided services based on the level of service available to the user - i.e., level of recycling services, availability of disposal facilities, and availability of hazardous waste, yard waste, electronics, and C&D disposaUrecycling opportunities. • Those for whom the facilities are presently available are those who will pay the appropriate fees. Thus, the pending costs for closure of the landfill, anticipated to occur in 2009, will be collected between now and 2009 by accrual of a Landfill Closure Reserve Fund. • Individual jurisdictions would be free to provide "fee relief' for any citizen groups or not-for- profit entities within their jurisdiction. • Citizens (primarily in the unincorporated areas) who use private refuse collection services should see their monthly cost significantly reduced. Individual Jurisdictions Individual jurisdictions are responsible for collection and transportation of solid waste generated within their boundaries. At present, in addition to the costs of collection, individual jurisdictions also pay significant tipping. fees, as described in item 1 above, for disposal of solid waste. The SWAB recommendation would eliminate mixed waste tipping fee expenses (as illustrated in #2 above) for the Towns and County because of the prepaid fees, and individual jurisdictions would be in a position 2