Agenda - 08-15-2000-8o - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 15, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. $_ ~ SUBJECT: Acceptance of Buy Recycled Grant DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENTS}: Copy of Grant INFORMATION CONTACT: Information Blair Pollock 968-2800 ext. 161 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: Orange County has received a $4,500 grant from the State of North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assisatnce to promote the use and purchase of goods with recycled content by local governments and other public agencies. BACKGROUND: Since the inception of the recycling program, a need to "close the loop" by buying products with recycled content has been emphasized. If there is not a strong market for the recyclables collected, then there is no economic incentive to collect, process, sell and try to reuse the materials. Of the four local governments in the County, only the Town of Chapel Hill has adopted a formal policy to buy products with recycled content. The other three governments in the County have not done so. This grant would secure national and regional experts to assist local government and school system purchasing agents and other government and school system staff involved in purchasing with understanding more about structuring purchasing programs to emphasize use of recycled products. FINANCIAL IMPACT: This grant is for $4,500. The local match is 10% or $450 that will come from the current recycling budget. The funds will be used for printing of materials for surveys and setting up the workshop. A budget amendment to place grant funds in the appropriate accounts will be submitted at a later date. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board accept the grant and proceed with a program and policies to educate staff on use and purchase of products with recycled content.