Opinion ID: 2276751
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: The Solid Waste Facility Charge, the Collection Fee and the Recycling Surcharge

Text: The foregoing analysis enables us to dispose of the remaining issues, relating to the solid waste facility charge, the collection fee and the recycling surcharge. Since Judge Eilperin emphasized the solid waste rather than the statutory language operating a solid waste facility in examining the constitutionality of the solid waste facility charge, and thus, has not had an opportunity to resolve the issue using the analytical framework set forth in this opinion, and because factual development may be relevant to his conclusions, we remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings regarding the solid waste facility charge. Finally, we need not address the issues raised by ETW's appeal, that is, the recycling surcharge and the collection fee, because, even assuming, without deciding, that we have jurisdiction over these matters, we agree with Judge Eilperin that further factual development is essential to a determination of the constitutionality of the collection fee and recycling surcharge. In summary, for the foregoing reasons, we conclude that: (1) this court has jurisdiction to entertain the interlocutory appeals relating to the injunction and the solid waste facility charge; (2) on the peculiar circumstances of this case, § 47-3307 does not bar this court from considering the constitutionality of the solid waste facility charge, which we deem to be a tax rather than a fee under applicable case law; (3) the trial court did not abuse its discretion in modifying and extending the July 7, 1995 temporary restraining order; and (4) nothing in the trial court's July 7, 1995, or September 27, 1996, orders precludes the District from enforcing its zoning laws. Furthermore, we are constrained to remand the trial court's judgment regarding the solid waste facility charge for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Finally, we agree with the trial court that additional factual development is essential to the resolution of issues regarding the collection fee and the recycling surcharge, and thus, do not determine whether we have jurisdiction over ETW's appeal; nor do we reach the merits of the issues presented by ETW's interlocutory appeal. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's judgment in part, and remand these cases to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.