Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03051991 - 1.16 Contra o 1 ra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS _ 5 Costa FROM: Sara Hoffman o (`� Solid Waste Manager '- �r Cou lty TSTA COK� DATE: March 5, 1991 SUBJECT: Ordinance on Solid Waste Collection, Disposal and Recycling in Unincorporated Areas SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS (S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS INTRODUCE and waive the first reading of Ordinance on Solid Waste Collection, Disposal and Recycling Agreements and SET April 2, 1991, as the date for hearing and adoption. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS Currently, the County is in the difficult position of having the "responsibility to carry the State mandates of AB 939 without the authority to'' do,"so.'-' AB 939 makes the County responsible for achieving waste diversion goals- of" 25% by 1990 and 50% by 2000. The County is subject to fines of up to $10, 000 per day if we do not meet these goals. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATU E: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BO COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) : ACTION OF BOARD ON MAR 5 1.991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER x The Board REQUESTED Community Development Department to notify all cities and other interested parties of the hearing date. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS C---" I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: Community Development MAR5 County Administrator ATTESTED County Counsel PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF Franchising Districts THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Franchised Haulers AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY , DEPUTY h15/sword.bos The unincorporated, areas are currently franchised by nine agencies: seven sanitary districts, a community service district and the County. This fragmentation makes it difficult to implement a comprehensive recycling and source reduction strategy and to meet State requirements for program evaluation and reporting. Furthermore, since the State will judge the County unincorporated area as a whole, any penalties levied upon the County will be borne by the residents of all the unincorporated areas. Consequently is it important to make sure each unincorporated area has a program that contributes toward meeting the overall goals. The Ordinance provides that no entity shall provide, or franchise or permit the provision of, solid waste and/or recycling services for residential or commercial establishments absent a franchise or agreement with the Board of Supervisors. This framework would permit a continued relationship between the existing franchisors and collection/recycling services where desired by those districts and consistent with the ordinance. Each of the franchising agencies for the unincorporated areas has been advised of the need to realign franchising relationships to allow the County to meet its state-mandated responsibilities and to smooth the transition to an efficieint, recycling-oriented waste management system. The initial response of the franchising agencies has varied considerably, ranging from concerns expressed over local control to loss of revenue to continuation of current service levels. The proposed ordinance provides a framework for resolving these and other concerns. Staff has recommended that the Board hold a hearing on the proposed ordinance in a month's time in order to give the franchising agencies ample time to review and comment on it. The ordinance would allow the Board of Supervisors to oversee the activities required for the successful implementation of the County's Source Reduction and Recycling Element. Additional benefits to the unincorporated areas could accrue as well. The County has professional staff with expertise in recycling and public information programs. This in-house expertise will allow the County to develop and implement a coordinated program and at the same time be available and responsive to local community needs. Throughout California, counties are grappling with the need to meet the State mandated requirements of AB 939. In a survey of the larger counties, staff found that most of the counties have a franchise or permit system 'governing collection in the unincorporated areas. Only Alameda County and Los Angeles County do not franchise or permit (LA operates on a free enterprise, competitive system) . Ventura County is in the process of establishing franchise agreements with the haulers in the unincorporated areas. Contra Costa County is moving to a new system of waste management. At the household level, the days of unlimited can service are disappearing. Instead we are developing a system that provides for curbside recycling, linked with volume based rates to encourage participation. Transfer stations are being developed that will act as resource recovery centers as well as consolidate waste to minimize the transportation impact of truck traffic to the new landfills. The new landfills will be built to state of the art specifications with liners, leechate collection and other environmental safeguards. All acknowledge the need for this new waste management system; however, a successful transition requires new approaches and the acceptance of new roles and responsibilities. Consolidation of solid waste franchises for the unincorporated areas will give the Board of Supervisors the authority to fulfill its new responsibilities under state law.