1996-09-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

161 SENIOR CENTER - September 189 1996 Council met in special session on tbJs date with the following members present: Mr. Cox, Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Richards, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano. Ms. Nancy O'Brien, Executive Director of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, reviewed the recommendations of the Citizen's Solid Waste Task Force. Ms. O'Brien said problems at the Ivy Landfill need to be acknowledged and addressed, and added that studies are underway to remediate the problems. An unlined cell is still being used at the Landfill and, while legal, should be discontinued as soon as possible in order to guarantee future safe drinking xvater for the adjacent neighborhood. The Task Force recommended that a goal of reducing waste to the Landfill by 50% to 75% be set. Mr. Rick Morton, a member of the Task Force, said that the BFI's recent decision to stop using the Landfill will require the Solid Waste Authority to change the way of doing business. Ms. O'Brien said the Task Force suggested that the tip fee at the Landfill reflect the actual cost of handling waste, and the remaining costs be picked up out of local revenues, including environmental efforts and recycling, which would be a significant shift in the way solid waste management is financed. Mr. Clarence McClymOnds, Task Force Members, reviewed the composting recommendations. Ms. O'Brien said the Task Force recommended that the administrative structure of the Solid Waste Authority be restructured to add citizens and local residents from Ivy. Ms. O'Brien said that the larger question of whether to close the Landfill remains unanswered as the Task Force did not feel it had enough information to make that recommendation. Ms. Daugherty asked if an investigation was done of the environmental safety of regional landfills when the Task Force considered sending local waste to them. Ms. O'Brien replied that no investigation had been made, but it was an area of interest for the Task Force. Mr. Art Petrini, Executive'~Director of the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority, explained that the situation at the Landfill is very fluid financially, as the anticipated reduction of~vaste as a resuk of the withdrawal of BFI is less now. Mr. Petrini said that any plan needs to be flexible to deal with a changing situation. Mr. Toscano asked if the Task Force had explored experiences from other places with similar targets for significantly reducing waste streams, and Ms. O'Brien replied that other places have required mandatory recycling. Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Mr. Steve Chidsey of the Solid Waste Authority, said that a 50% reduction in waste would mean that 130 tons a day would go into the Landfill. Ms. Sally Thomas, member of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, noted that there will come a time when it will no longer be economically feasible to continue to use the Landfill. Mr. Aaron Mills, Task Force member, noted that if it comes to the point that the Landfill is no longer economically feasible, the community will still need to dispose its waste in some facility, and noted that cost may be higher than continuing to use the Ivy Landfill. Mr. David Booth, Task Force member, suggested that transport sites be used for waste collection. Mr. Charlotte Humphris, Chair of the Board of Supervisors, asked for staffs recommendation regarding prioritizing and organizing the Task Force's recommendations.