> Boards & Commissions > Environmental Advisory Board > Issues > Solid Waste  

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD

 

Post Office Box 1190

Fort Collins, Colorado  80522-1190

 

4.00: SOLID  WASTE (Includes 4.01 Recycling, Hazardous Waste & 4.02 Landfill Expansion and new landfill siting)

 

Basis for EAB Involvement:

        All Commissioners stressed solid waste topic to EAB at 5/8/01 joint meeting

        Solid Waste Task Force/Advisory Group is no longer constituted

EAB’s interest in preserving natural resources for future generations, reducing energy consumption and pollution byproducts from manufacturing, reducing litter, slowing the need for new landfills, & is consistent with County Environmental Policy

 

v      Overview:

        Limited life (~15 years) on current landfill with 37 ft. vertical expansion

        New landfill will cost $12-15M to open; escrow account is small (~$4M?)

        Other funding issues

                Landfill disposal volume declining, continuation precarious

Recycling, hazardous waste, and rural transfer stations volume steady at County level, but operations funded from tipping fees (~$500k per year)

                Recycling contract very unfavorable to County (through 2004)

                Volatile or no market for some current materials (especially clear glass)

Space is scarce and technology outdated at existing Recycling Center; will cost $1-3M to upgrade

                County ability to levy additional taxes may be limited

Waste reduction trials haven’t been too successful, and negatively influence $ receipts

 

v      Priority (High / Medium / Low): High/Active.  The issue is within the EAB’s purview, there is a set of perceived problems that have been growing more acute through time, it is a known BCC and County Department priority that is ripe for attention, and a vocal citizenry.

 

v      Goals:

        1.  Ensure long-term viability of recycling operations for County citizens

2.  Have County continue to be leader in nationally recognized recycling/hazardous waste services, both in volume and breadth of products as economically justified

3.  Keep an eye on related environmental issues at landfill (e.g., groundwater, fugitive dust and odor control, disposal of diseased animals), but these seem to be under control

4.  Encourage County to use more recycled products

 

v      Issues / Opportunities:

        8/2000 citizen survey shows:

                High (>80%) recycling participation rate

Majority (>53%) want recycling of additional materials by Recycling Center (e.g., wide mouth plastic containers, plastic grocery bags, polystyrene)

                Large number (>40%) strongly support mandatory recycling

                Majority (>65%) willing to pay a mean of $1.20 / month for additional service

Cities may be willing to shoulder a large portion of costs (FTC had put up $100k, but could not be used); possibility of Weld County participating as well?

New contract may make Recycling Center self-supporting (but not pay for expanded volume or product line)

 

v      Milestones/Highlights:

Milestone

Initiation Date

Reviewed Date(s)

Activity

Discussion with BCC at Admin Matters

12/2002

12/17/2002

Accomplished

Work with Marc Engemoen to develop list of invitees

12/17/2002

1/2003

Planning summit invitees

Hold Summit

4/8/2003

 

 

Review Summit results

 

7/1/2003

Discuss with Engemoen, consider next steps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specific Action Items:

 

Item

 

Responsible

 

Target Date

 

Status / Date

1

Look at alternate funding mechanisms

 - Taxing district (Solid Waste Authority) or ad-valorem tax

 - State-wide landfill surcharge for materials recovery (like Pennsylvania)

 

 

Bartholow, Bruyere

 

None

 

May be discussed at “summit”

2

Look for opportunities in renegotiated recycling contract

 

 

Bartholow, Bruyere

 

2/2003

 

May be accomplished in “summit”

3

Consider education

 - Continue to accept glass?

 - Develop recycling statistics to serve on County web site

 

Bartholow

 

2/2003

 

Part may be accomplished at “summit”

4

Look for ways to increase partnerships between County and cities

 

 

Bartholow, Bruyere

 

2/2003

 

May be accomplished at “summit”

5

Examine flow control?  May or may not be legally feasible

 -Consider privatization?  Studies suggest increased cost to users, possible lack of oversight on things like hazardous disposal

 

Bartholow, Bruyere

 

 

 

Holding discussions with interested parties

6

Consider obligatory recycling of construction debris as part of County building permits

 

 

Bartholow, Bruyere

 

2/2003

 

May be accomplished at “summit”

7

Consider operational changes, e.g., ban of electronic components

 

 

Bartholow, Bruyere

 

2/2003

 

May be accomplished at “summit”

8

Co-sponser “Appreciative Inquiry Summit”

 

Bartholow, Bruyere

 

2/2003

 

Planning with Marc Engemoen

Complete 4/2003

9

Watch proposals for new landfill

 

Bartholow, Ajero

 

Ongoing

 

Continuing discussion with Engemoen 

10

Keep an eye of landfill vertical expansion

 

Bartholow, Ajero, Bruyere

 

6/2002

 

Completed

11

Write memo to BCC thanking Engemoen for Summit arrangement

 

EAB

 

Upon completion of Summit summary

 

Complete 5/2003

12

Participate in development of recycling RFP for new contractor

 

Bartholow, Coleman

 

Spring 2004

 

Complete 5/2004

13

Develop memo to BCC regarding use of recycled paper in county government

 

Bartholow, Kolus

 

5/2004

 

Complete 6/2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back