Any county in the State which may hereafter come under the provisions of this act as hereinafter provided is hereby authorized and empowered:

(1) To purchase, construct, improve, extend, enlarge or reconstruct solid waste disposal facilities within such county either alone or jointly with any municipality, joint meeting or authority located within such county, and in accordance with applicable law, rules, regulations or orders, to operate, manage and control all or part of such solid waste disposal facilities so purchased or constructed and all properties pertaining thereto, and to furnish and supply the services of its solid waste disposal facilities to any municipalities within such county. No county shall furnish any of the facilities provided by this article to any property already being furnished like facilities by any municipality, joint meeting or authority, without the express consent of such joint meeting or authority or the governing body having general legislative authority in the government of such municipality;

(2) To issue general obligation bonds of the county to pay all or part of the cost of such purchase, construction, improvement, extension, enlargement or reconstruction of such facilities;

(3) To fix and collect rates, fees, rents and other charges for the services and facilities furnished by any such county solid waste disposal facilities;

(4) To receive and accept from the State, Federal Government or any agency thereof grants for or in aid of the planning, purchase, construction, extension, enlargement or reconstruction, or financing of any of such facilities and to receive and accept contributions from any source of either money, property, labor, or other things of value to be held, used and applied only for the purposes for which such grants and contributions may be made;

(5) To acquire in the name of the county by gift, purchase as hereinafter provided, or by the exercise of the right of eminent domain, such lands and rights and interests therein, within the county, other than that owned by any governmental unit or political subdivision thereof without its express consent, and to acquire such personal property, as it may deem necessary for the purchase, construction, improvement, extension, enlargement or reconstruction, or for the efficient operation of any facilities purchased or constructed under the provisions of this act and to hold and dispose of all real and personal property under its control;

(6) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this act subject to P.L.1971, c. 198 “Local Public Contracts Law” (C. 40A:11-1 et seq.) and to employ such consulting and other engineers, superintendents, managers, attorneys, financial or other consultants or experts and such other employees and agents as it may deem necessary in its judgment and to fix their compensation;

(7) Subject to the provisions and restrictions as may be set forth in the ordinance hereinafter mentioned authorizing or securing any bonds issued under the provisions of this act, to enter into contracts with the government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof or with any other county or with any municipality, private corporation, copartnership, association, or individual providing for or relating to the collection, treatment and disposal of solid waste, which contracts may provide for the furnishing of solid waste disposal facilities either by or to the county, or the joint construction or operation of solid waste disposal facilities;

(8) To acquire by gift or purchase at a price to be mutually agreed upon, any of the facilities or portions thereof, provided for by this act, which shall, prior to such acquisition, have been owned by any private person, group, firm, partnership, association or corporation; provided, however, if the price for same cannot be agreed upon, the price shall be determined by an arbitration board consisting of three persons, one of whom shall be selected by the board of chosen freeholders, one shall be appointed by the private company or corporation, and the two persons so selected shall select a third member of said board; and provided, further, that in the event said board cannot agree as to the price to be paid by the said board of chosen freeholders, then the board of chosen freeholders shall exercise the right of eminent domain in the manner provided by law.

L.1970, c. 242, s. 4, eff. Oct. 28, 1970. Amended by L.1971, c. 442, s. 4, eff. Feb. 15, 1972; L.1975, c. 96, s. 12, eff. May 16, 1975.