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Section 2 <br />Waste Reduction and Management Goals <br />County population has increased by 57 percent <br />since 1991 -1992. An interim waste reduction goal of <br />10 percent has been established for County waste <br />disposal rates per person by 2011. The Waste <br />Reduction Goal Sheet for the 2009 -2019 planning <br />period is provided in Appendix F. <br />The jurisdictions of Cabarrus County continue to <br />take actions to increase waste reduction rates on a <br />per capita basis. For example, in January 2008 the <br />County implemented a curbside recycling program <br />to increase residential recycling and reduce the <br />amount of waste landfilled. Nevertheless, many <br />factors continue to impact per capita waste <br />generation rates that bear little relationship to the <br />extent to which residents, businesses, and <br />institutions make progress in implementing waste <br />reduction programs and reducing the amount of <br />landfilled material. Natural disasters, construction <br />starts, industrial output, and the health of the <br />economy all influence waste generation rates. The <br />relatively moderate cost of disposal is also <br />recognized as a disincentive to waste reduction. <br />These factors have impacted waste generation in <br />other communities such as Mecklenburg County, <br />which has long been recognized as a State leader in <br />waste reduction and recycling. Mecklenburg <br />County experienced an increase in per capita waste <br />generation rates over the last several years. Their <br />reported per capita disposal rate increased from <br />1.67 tons in FY 2005 to 1.87 tons in FY 2007. <br />While it is the County's primary goal to implement <br />measures that will reduce waste generation and <br />preserve landfill airspace (thus extending the life of <br />the landfill), it is also a goal to provide for cost - <br />effective solid waste disposal to citizens, <br />businesses, and institutions. The cost of solid waste <br />disposal generally increases, on a per ton basis, as <br />disposal rates decrease. As such, there is a <br />continual balancing of priorities (disposal cost vs. <br />waste reduction) that must occur. <br />2 -4 <br />F -15 <br />M <br />Attachment number 3 <br />Page 377 <br />