SARASOTA -- Forty years may seem like a long time, but it really isn't, especially in terms of the life expectancy of the Sarasota County landfill.

This was the information Dr. Mary Jelks, chairwoman of the Solid Waste Management Citizens Advisory Board, delivered to county commissioners recently.

Jelks said the advisory board has focused on increasing the life of the landfill and diverting waste by increasing the enforcement of commercial and residential recycling.

"It isn't that long," she said of the 40-year project life span.

She said that number might be too optimistic, as the recent growth spurt has brought more solid waste to the landfill than ever before.

Adding to the problems is that "commercial recycling is not as successful as we'd like it to be," Jelks added.

Enforcing the solid waste ordinance is one way to help curb the flow of trash, but it goes much farther.

In an effort to determine what is really being brought to the landfill, Gary Bennett, the county's general manger for solid waste, said an audit is going to be done in the spring.

"We have a baseline (of average trash) from years ago and we will compare to what we are dealing with now," Bennett said.

The audit will determine what is going into the landfill and how much could be recycled. To do this, the staff piles the solid waste in a separate area and sifts through it.

He said the focus will be on the commercial solid waste, because it is the greatest unknown.

Commissioners wondered what rules existed for businesses and what they could offer.

Bennett said businesses are encouraged to recycle but must hire a private contractor to provide a container to dump the trash and haul it away.

"This can be cost-prohibitive," Bennett said.

The county has four people who conducted roughly 1,000 commercial recycling inspections in 2005.

"We really focus on larger generators," he said, noting the school district is helping to curb its solid waste and improve recycling efforts.

"I'm encouraged by that because they must generate an unbelievable amount of trash," said Commissioner Nora Patterson. "Think of all of the paper they use."

Commission Chairman David Mills said recycling and the proper disposal of solid waste needs to begin at the county-government level.

"Charity begins at home," Mills said. "We have to set an example right here."

Jelks said the school district is improving rapidly, but that will only go so far until there is consistent Southwest Florida program for recycling and waste disposal.

"It's very confusing for people," she said of the different rules for recycling for each community in the region. "If you live in the City of Sarasota or Venice, your rules are different than the rest of the county."

Commissioner Shannon Staub wondered how closely the county works with other municipalities, as much of the growth is now focused in the Venice and North Port area.

Each community has a representative on the advisory board, but the North Port seat is currently vacant.

"There is massive growth going on in North Port," Staub said. "It is an important part of the county, and not having someone there disturbs me."

Jelks said she hoped someone is appointed soon.

Staub got support for a letter to be sent to city commissioners to encourage filling the vacancy.

While much of the meeting focused on the landfill and recycling programs, Jelks said the advisory board is also working on developing a comprehensive debris management plan for disaster debris.

"We need to be better prepared and have things in place," she said.

She cited the need for vendor contracts, land-use agreements and interlocal agreements with the four cities in the county. All of these items will ensure the efficient and rapid removal of debris should a hurricane strike Sarasota County.

"We have seen what the debris can do to our neighbors to the south," Jelks said. "We have to be prepared."