A.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a comprehensive county-wide solid waste system for handling all solid waste generated in the unincorporated areas of the county and generated in cities within the county. This system is intended, among other things to:
1.
Protect public health and safety;
2.
Prevent land, air, and water pollution;
3.
Prevent the in-county processing or disposal of solid waste at locations other than designated disposal sites;
4.
Conserve and protect the natural resources and environment of the county;
5.
Limit the potential liability of the county for improper solid waste disposal;
6.
Provide financial support for the county's solid waste management activities; and
7.
Provide for disposal charges that are fair, just and reasonable for the public and the private operators of disposal sites.
B.
The county has determined to implement aggressive programs to reduce the amount of solid waste that enters the waste stream; to reduce, through recycling and other approved methods, the amount of waste that must be disposed of; to use disposal facilities with energy recovery prior to disposal facilities without energy recovery or landfilling; and to ensure that facilities process and dispose of solid waste in a manner that will not create a health hazard and that will reduce environmental pollution. These objectives require the county to direct the in-county processing and disposal of all solid waste generated within the unincorporated area of the county and generated within cities to a disposal site or sites consistent with this chapter and the plan.
C.
To carry out the foregoing purposes, to the extent permitted by law, this chapter is adopted to regulate the establishment and operation of all solid waste disposal sites in the county that process or dispose of solid waste generated in unincorporated areas of the county and in cities, and to require that all such sites meet state-mandated standards.
D.
The county, pursuant to powers granted by law, hereby exercises its authority:
1.
To control the in-county processing and disposal of all solid waste generated within the unincorporated areas of the county;
2.
To negotiate contracts with private parties that operate disposal sites relating to rates to be charged by such private operators for their disposal services and additional amounts for the purpose of providing financial support for county solid waste programs; and
3.
To permit the cities to use county-owned or privately owned disposal sites for the processing or disposal of all solid waste generated in such cities.
(Ord. 91-041 § 1; Ord. 96-055)