Trash update; do it for the dogs

At last night's BOCC work session, Mayor Tom Stevens proposed something that might not come up again unless there is a "worst-case scenario" with the transfer station siting process.

One of the proposals county staff floated to commissioners last month, in case an advanced boondoggle prevented a waste transfer station from being built by the mid-2012 deadline (when the landfill will be full, based on current inflow), was to cut off all non-Interlocal agreement partners from depositing waste on Eubanks Road. The partners — Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough, account for only about 83 percent of waste deposited at the landfill. Various private companies' waste account for the rest; under this proposal, non-residential construction site waste could still be landfilled.

But that idea, combined with the fact that Hillsborough could actually save a nominal amount of money by sending its trash to a Durham waste transfer station, led to a proposal from Stevens — Hillsborough could stop sending trash to Orange County's landfill, though recycling would still be sent to Eubanks Road. This, of course, was only a brainstorming session. Read more about the transfer site developments next week.

Do it for the dogs
If you read the print edition, you already know about the garden tour and related events, but here's one from next weekend for a worthy cause:

Three Hillsborough neighborhood watch groups will hold a live demonstration from the Hillsborough Police Department’s two K-9 officers and handlers next weekend to raise funds for bullet- and stab-resistant vests for the dogs.
The fundraiser will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 30, in Gold Park, 415 Dimmocks Mill Road
Items will be sold during a silent auction, including a Triangle Sportsplex membership, a watercolor painting by artist Chris Kanoy, a teddy bear and assorted vases, pottery and serving bowls from local businesses and artisans.
A bake sale will also be held to raise funds.
All donations are tax-deductible, and receipts will be given on site. Checks should be made payable to the Town of Hillsborough.
Any funds in excess of the vest cost — approximately $1,600 — will be reserved to assist with the purchase of a new dog upon retirement.
For more information, call 732-1692 or send an e-mail to mahauth@earthlink.net.

Have a good weekend.