Subject:
Title
Solid Waste tipping fee waiver for Red Tide clean-up activities.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the tipping fee waiver extension to support County and municipal clean-up from the Red Tide event.
• The County Administrator is granted delegated authority to waive solid waste tipping fees per Resolution 97-284.
• This fee waiver applies to all debris from red tide clean-up activities performed by municipalities and their contractors.
• Debris must be from County beaches and/or waterways.
• The fee waiver will remain in place through April 30, 2025, unless formally extended by the County Administrator.
• The total amount of this waiver is unknown at this time because the number of tons of Red Tide debris is unknown at this time. The current tipping fee is $54.50 per ton.
Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources.
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
Summary:
Approval provides for a Solid Waste Tipping Fee Waiver for County and municipal partners responsible for coastal beach and waterway cleanup attributed to a Red Tide event through the end of the current bloom. Without any approved extension, this waiver will expire on April 30, 2025.
Background/Explanation:
Red tide events may result in large fish kills that wash up on County coastal beaches and waterways. The County Administrator has delegated authority to waive tipping fees for Approved Special Events such as countywide beach cleanups, waste from oil spills and other events of countywide benefit. Cleanup from red tide events qualifies under the stated criteria.
For public safety and odor control, red tide debris delivered to the Solid Waste campus is immediately landfilled and covered. Due to severe abrasive effects on Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Facility equipment, the mixture of sand with dead marine life is not conducive incineration.
Fiscal Impact:
The current tipping fee is $54.50 per ton. The solid waste revenue loss cannot be calculated until total weight is determined.
As with past red tide events, it is anticipated that the Solid Waste Fund would be reimbursed by the State of Florida after the event.
Delegated Authority:
Rate Resolution Number 97-284 provides for waiver of tipping fees for Approved Special Events, such as countywide beach cleanups, waste from oil spills and other events of countywide benefit approved by the County Administrator.
Staff Member Responsible:
Paul Sacco, Director, Solid Waste
Partners:
Municipal Partners
Attachments:
Solid Waste Memo dated October 3, 2024
Resolution 97-284