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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-11 Solid Waste Advisory Committee Minutes' f Solid Waste Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - October 11, 2000 4 ki Members present: Bob Brown, Susan Giacalone, Joan Hoyt, Anne Mark, Ten McIntire (Staff Liaison) 1. Reading's Hidden Treasure Update Mike has 7 printers that he's looking at. They may be ready by the next SWAC meeting on 11/8/00, which is within the Mass Recycles Program time regulations. Ted is mailing the booklets out to residents. There may be volunteers available to help put "occupant" labels on them. Anne suggested notifying residents that the booklet will be coming. This could be done by cable tv, newspapers, the Reading web site. Cheryl Johnson is the person at Reading Notes that Bob will check with regarding the available schedule for the notification. 2. Mass. Recycles Day Project for 2000 Ideas: Would we do something at Atlantic similar to last year? Discussion. was made about the congestion at the front of the store. Bob suggested putting Mass Recycles Day Project forms in the Hidden Treasure booklet. Ted suggested a table at the voting polls on Tuesday November 7, 2000. Joan suggested having a recycling "tip" each day printed in a local newspaper during November. Ted suggested having a table at the library. Ted will speak to Paul Feeley at the Chronicle to see if he can commit to 1 or 2 weeks in November and having the recycling tips printed, maybe from November 6 thru November 17, 2000. Susan will contact Cheryl Johnson (942-9050) to ask if we can set up a display table at the polls. The fleece jacket could be displayed along with a recycling bin. Possibly Linda Zarrow, Jennifer Culbert or Debbie McCulley would be available and willing to help out with coverage for this event. 3. Ted's Report The Town of Reading is now billed for what residents bring to the Household Hazardous Waste drop off site. Global Recycling - we're having a space problem with them. The preliminary rubbish and recycling budget will increase by $171,000. - Ted is looking into a bid to include businesses in Reading who would like to have the option of recycling. They would have to have a central location to bring their items to. Curbside leaf collection will take place on October 23, 2000, November 6, 2000 and November 27, 2000. Leaves must be in paper bags which can be purchased at Johnson's Hardware or Atlantic Food Mart. Ted met with Sharon Kishida and Bob regarding MRIP. We're in good shape so we will be submitting again. The requirements are getting more and more demanding. 4. Pay As You Throw (PAYT) Ted suggested sending a questionnaire to other communities to ask them about their Pay As You Throw programs. He would like to find out whom to send it to in each community. Anne will develop a list of communities to talk to. Anne will work to get a list for the questionnaire together after November 3, 2000 and the communities to send it to. The following discussion took place in response to the questions that were asked by George Hines, Mary Grimmer Peter Hechenbleikner and committee members at the September gathering: 1. If the cost of trash disposal is taken out of the tax rate (meaning that homeowners will no longer get a tax write-off on that amount), residents' taxes are lowered by that amount, and residents buy trash stickers, what will the financial effect be for the average Reading homeowner? Al. Ted will ask Beth Klepeis, the Finance Director, and Richard Foley, the accountant for the Town of Reading, this question. 2. What (a) increase in recycling and (b) decrease in trash tonnage above the amount accounted for by the increase in recycling can Reading expect under a PAYT program? (What has other towns' experience been?) A2. Lisa Skumatz has done some research on this which may help answer this question, as well as gathering information from other towns. 3. What savings/cost avoidance might Reading expect under a PAYT program? (What has other towns' experience been?) A3. Information from similar towns may help answer this question and then Ted can do some projections. 4. Is there another way of achieving the same projected recycling increase, trash tonnage decrease, and savings/cost avoidance besides PAYT? (For example, have other towns achieved the same results by other means?) - question posed to Anne Mark by Camille Anthony (Selectwoman). A4. Regulation is a possibility such as Stoneham and Wakefield have done. Hire a person to enforce recycling. If there is no recycling bin with their trash, the trash is left for the next week. Incentive programs could be helpful. Pick a resident at random each week and they win a prize. 5. What would the program look line (bags vs. stickers? first bag free? price of bag? etc.) A5. The questionnaire will help to decide this. 6. Participants in the September meeting urged us to "keep the program simple." How can we do this? A6. This can be asked on the questionnaire in the "Suggestions" portion. 7. What would the time line for approving and implementing a PAYT . program look like (in terms of elapsed time, not specific dates)? AT The questionnaire will help to decide this. 8. What would (a) the public outreach/input segment before the Selectmen's and Town Meeting's decision on PAYT and (b) the public education segment leading up to implementation of a PAYT program look like? A8. The questionnaire will help to answer this. Also, the DEP has lots of information on this. 9. What advantages would a PAYT program have for Reading? What challenges might the town face (e.g., illegal dumping)? What has other towns' experience been? A9. The questionnaire will help to answer this. Suggestions for the questionnaire design - 1 sheet and should be 2 sided and keep it as simple as possible. 5. Other Business Bob: There will be an October 26, 2000 Buy Recycles Conference which is a vendor fair with recycled products, paint paper, plastics, etc. Bob and Susan attended the KTI Plant tour in Charlestown, MA, which they enjoyed. Bob will try to obtain a video of the tour to share with whoever is interested in viewing it. Bob wanted to know if business cards are a possibility for SWAC members Anne reported that the 10'h textile collection collected 6,125 lbs., which is the 3rd lowest collection they've had. Bob reported the names of Petra Conboy and Mary Ellen Becker as possible new members. Bob suggested we try to recruit new members at the polls table in November. Anne reported speaking with Anne Doyle who told her she supports PAYT and is willing to verbalize her support whenever needed. 6. Anne moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Joan. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. The next meeting is on Wednesday, November S, 2000.