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HAMILTON COUNTY January 18, 2001 DATE: January 18, 2001
Keith Corman, Township Representative, Vice Chair Dr. Phil Geis, Representative of Solid Waste Generators Wright Gwyn, Citizen Member Dr. James O'Reilly, Public Member Todd Portune, County Commissioner, Chair Larry Riddle, Ex-Officio Member
PRESENT:
DOES Staff Others
In Attendance
ABSENT: Policy
Committee Members DOES
Staff
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. CLERK'S REPORT B. Additions/Changes to the Agenda
III. POLICY ITEMS Issue1: The District has received questions from organizations inquiring if Reduction Assistance Funds may be used to cover the operation of on-going, previously funded innovative recycling projects. The Plan specifically states that Reduction Assistance Grants are for one time projects only. However, operation of certain programs may prove beneficial to the District and the residents of Hamilton County. Because the Plan specifically states that these funds are to be used to fund projects on a one-time basis, staff contacted OEPA to determine the degree of latitude the District has in implementing the Reduction Assistance Grant program. OEPA informed the District that as long as the dollar amount remains consistent with the Plan, the District has the freedom to choose how it administers the program and to whom the funds are dispersed. District staff recommended that project operation or continuation costs be eligible for funding under the Reduction Assistance Grant program. Beginning in 2001, however, programs which may require multiple year funding must indicate this fact on the Reduction Assistance Grant application. Issue 2: At the last meeting of the District Policy Committee, Staff had recommended a change to the RRI program to allow funds to be used toward waste reduction activities. The Staff Report included as Attachment B details a summary of the current RRI program, a description of the proposed change, reasons for the proposed change, and how the District will track results of projects submitted as a result of the change. District Staff recommended that waste prevention projects, due to their preferability in the waste management hierarchy, be deemed allowable expenditures for RRI rebate funds. Staff will formalize procedures for the acceptance and tracking of individual waste reduction projects. Dr. O'Reilly suggested that the definition of a waste reduction program (Attachment B of the Manager's Memo) be expanded to read...a waste reduction program is defined as altering the purchase or use of materials or products in a manner which significantly reduces the amount of material entering the solid waste stream. Dr. O'Reilly moved to accept both staff recommendations as amended. Mr. Corman seconded and the motion was approved by acclamation.
At the last District Policy Committee meeting, HB 540 was making its way through the 123rd general assembly. This bill has since died due to lack of consideration by the Senate. There is the potential for the Bill to be reintroduced in the 124th General Assembly in roughly the same form. Listed below are items that were in the initial HB 540 bill that were of concern. The bill would expand the definition of C&DD to allow a lot of material to flow out of municipal solid waste landfills and into C&DD landfills. That language has since been narrowed and restricted to a large degree. There is now a specified list of eligible materials to go into C&DD landfills. Elements of the original Bill vs the
final version are as follows: Final Version: N/A Element of Bill: Advocated annual fees as preferable method for funding as opposed to tipping fees which are difficult to audit. Final Version: Specifies a more consistent method of auditing for C&DD waste receipts. Element of Bill: Legislation should not mandate that solid waste districts spend a specified amount on health department funding. Final Version: Element was removed from final bill. Element of Bill: C&DD definition should not be expanded. Final Version: Definition in final Bill is much more limited in terms of types of material which can be accepted at C&DD facilities. Element of Bill: Concern over environmental stability of materials covered under expended definition. Final Version: OEPA to write rules governing acceptance of new material. OEPA to write rules governing which facilities shall be eligible to receive materials from expanded definition. Health Districts may also specify which facilities may accept materials covered under expanded definition. Element of Bill: De Minimis provision should not be contained in Bill as it allows for the legal disposal of municipal solid waste in unfit facilities. Final Version: Provision still remains in Bill. Dr. O'Reilly attached a written motion
to the Manager's Memo of January 10, 2001 and was included as Attachment
C. The motion reads: WHEREAS, construction and demolition waste sites in Hamilton county are subjects of significant public health interest, and WHEREAS, illegal disposal of municipal and household wastes into construction and demolition landfills is a violation of existing state laws, and WHEREAS, enforcement of solid waste laws against construction and demolition landfills is difficult if wastes are mixed and dumped into unlined construction and demolition sites that are not suitable for municipal and residential wastes, and WHEREAS, the 123rd General Assembly in H.B. 540 considered legislation, that would have allowed limited quantities of solid waste to be mixed for disposal with construction and demolition debris, now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Policy Committee of the Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District respectfully calls upon the members of the Hamilton County delegation to the 124th General Assembly to take action that will limit mixtures of solid waste with construction and demolition debris, and particularly by establishing a tighter control of such waste with measures such as modification of former H.B. 540 to instead provide the underscored terms: 3714.01(C) "CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS" ALSO INCLUDES DE MINIMIS QUANTITIES OF INCIDENTAL FOOD, BEVERAGE CONTAINERS, FOOD PACKAGING, NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, AND NONHAZARDOUS CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL PACKAGING THAT CAN BE PROVEN BY THE LANDFILL OPERATOR TO HAVE BEEN GENERATED AND COMMINGLED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING AT THE CONSTRUCTION OR DEMOLITION SITE WHERE THE MATERIALS WERE GENERATED. Mr. Aluotto stated that his only concern was whether or not it could feasibly be proven where C&DD originated. After discussion, Dr. O'Reilly motioned to approve the written motion. Dr. Geis seconded and the motion was approved by acclamation.
Mr. Aluotto stated at the last Policy Committee meeting, there was a discussion and report on the Recycling SubCommittee. The Recycling SubCommittee had examined the issue of curbside recycling in Hamilton County. The Recycling SubCommittee had recommended to proceed on establishing a "tool kit" for local communities to implement cost effective contracting methods as a means of keeping curbside recycling economically viable in Hamilton County. At the last Policy Committee meeting, there was discussion on specific items that should be included in the tool kit. One of these items was revenue sharing on the sale of curbside recyclables be included as a common portion of the tool kit. Dr. O'Reilly attached a written motion to the Manager's Memo of January 10, 2001 and was included as Attachment D. The motion reads: WHEREAS, contract costs charged to municipalities and residents for collection service of municipal/residential recyclables have increased at rates significantly higher than the rate of inflation, and WHEREAS, state solid waste laws encourage recycling and in some cases require by means of county plans that communities offer some type of recycling, and WHEREAS, materials collected from Hamilton County residents for recycling are sold by the collecting entities on the marketplace for recycled materials, and WHEREAS, the collection entities' income from sales of recycled goods on the market is highly relevant to public awareness of the total costs and benefits of recycling, and WHEREAS, the public has borne increasing costs of recyclables collection with no apparent offset by, or relationship to, the income received by the collecting entities, now therefore BE IT RESOLVED, and In the absence of cooperative responses, that staff is directed to request assistance of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency staff to obtain such data, and Municipalities Political Subdivisions that have audit clauses in their contracts should be requested advised by staff to of their ability to obtain such data pursuant to such contracts, and The staff is directed to report on the trends of and amounts of net income generated by the sale of such recycled products by the collection entities. After discussion and several amendments as shown above, Dr. O'Reilly motioned to approve the amended written motion. Mr. Corman seconded and the motion was approved by acclamation.
A. NU-BLEND Presentation B. Recycle, Ohio! Grant
Funds C. Yardwaste
Drop-Off Sites D. Groundwater Issue Mr. Aluotto asked if the study could be forwarded to Rumpke to see if any of the findings could relate to landfills in southwestern Ohio. Mr. Riddle agreed to research the study. V. TENTATIVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS H.B. 540 follow-up will be a future agenda item.
VI. POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS' COMMENTS Dr. O'Reilly asked Mr. Aluotto if more information could be put on the web site. Mr. Aluotto stated that the District will be studying the issue of web development and electronic media for 2001. The District will be doing more and more interaction over the internet. 'VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Portune asked how the event was publicized. Ms. Ellis stated that a large advertisement was placed in the community press which ran the last week of December, 2000. Also, monthly, a smaller advertisement will be run in the community press newspapers. Mr. Portune suggested placing an ad in CG&E or water bills. Ms. Ellis stated that although this was a good idea, word of mouth seems to be working the best. Ms. Ellis stated that the Great American Clean-Up is KCB's signature event each year. The event will be held on April 21, 2001. Ms. Ellis thanked the District for funding the tire clean-up portion of the event. VIII. UPCOMING DISTRICT MEETINGS IX. ADJOURNMENT Dr. O'Reilly motioned to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Corman seconded and the meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 3:41 pm. |
