HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-28 Solid Waste Advisory Committee Minutes1 `''_lJ
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Solid Waste Advisory Committee Minutes rMASS.
April 28, 2004 L005 J1 N1 € A 10: 3
Attendance - Members: Bob Brown, Susan Giacalone, Lois MacElhiney, Gregory Russo,
David Williams - Staff Liaison: Ted McIntire, - Selectmen Liaison: Gail Wood.
1. Call to order at 7:37 PM. David Williams appointed as recorder. February and
March minutes approved as revised (vote 5:0).
2. Ted's Report: .
a. Hazardous Household Waste collection will be held on May 22, from
9AM to 1 PM.
b. Two incidences reported at the Compost Collection Center. Problem of a
car with no sticker dumping his load outside the collection center. Also, a
person with no sticker coming back to harass the collection center
attendant. License plates noted, and police followed up.
3. Unfinished Business:
a. Friends and Family Day (Reading Fair at Coolidge School, Birch Meadow
Drive) - Susan reported that she has raffle tickets to be given out for a
free compost bin for home composting. Other information will be
available at the table (6 ft), which can be set up at 8:30 AM, for the Fair
opening at 10AM. Lois may be available from 10-12; Greg volunteered
from 12-2; and David volunteered from 2-4.
b. Chemical Safety Workshop (funded by MA DEP and US EPA, April 14,
Wannalancet Mill, Lowell) - David reported that he, Lt. Paul Jackson
(Fire Dept.), John Thiffault (Director of Facilities, Public Schools), and
Jane Fiore (Health Dept.) attended from Reading. Principle problem is
storage of chemicals, ordering procedures, and the need to dispose of old
and unwanted materials in art and science departments. David gave an
Aldrich Chemical catalog to the Fire Department for general safety
information on chemicals (more concise than MSDS's), and may be asked
for opinion on chemical disposal in summer when several science teachers
are retiring.
c. Discussion of proposed Recreational Outreach Subcommittee - Greg
passed out a revised vision and mission statement for the proposed
subcommittee. Without a specific action item to be accomplished, this
matter was not acted upon.
4. New Business:
a. Discussion of Rubbish Collection Rules and Regulations - An early copy
of these rules was distributed with the April 28th agenda, along with a draft
of revised rules. Numerous corrections and suggestions were made, and
noted by Ted. The DPW office will prepare a second revision.
b. Revisiting the "Implementation Plans for Apartment and Commercial
Recycling Programs for the Town of Reading" - About three years ago
Reading received a grant to hire a consultant (John Merritt of Merritt
Communications, Inc.) to do a feasibility analysis on this subject. A draft
of the project summary report and a draft RFP to provide commercial
paper recycling services to businesses and apartment buildings were
distributed with the April 28th agenda. These documents were not
discussed at length. However, it was noted that condominiums now have
trash and recycling services, apartment buildings might pay for these
services on a unit cost, but other commercial enterprises would be more
difficult to assess fees. The RFP for paper recycling assumed a weighing
and billing operation. David has made an initial contact with the Chamber
of Commerce. They remain open to ideas.
c. Contact of kindergartens - Lois has suggested that she would be willing to
contact schools to set up site visits to the four kindergartens to make a
presentation about the advantages and opportunities to recycle.
d. Town Meeting water bottles not recycled - Susan noted that at the Town
Meeting water bottles were available, but that there was no provision for
recycling. The water vendor will be contacted, and should provide a
container for the empty bottles.
e. MA Producer Take Back Campaign - A letter from Clean Water Action
lobbying group was received to support a computer manufacturer take-
back bill, which has been sent to the House Ways and Means Committee
to cover CRTs, and also to support an amendment to the bill for the take-
back of the entire computer. A suggested letter was attached for a vote of
the selectmen. This matter was tabled.
Susan made motion to adjourn at 9:31 PM
Next meeting will be at 7:30 PM on May 26th.