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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-13 Solid Waste Advisory Committee Minutes(-Off z eat /Ijujuxv-J. SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes from October 13, 1999 meeting Berger Room, Town Hall Present: Members: Lynda Zarrow, Jean Krogh, Joan Hoyt, Jennifer Culbert, Bob Brown. -"-I ` 0 Staff Liaison: Ted McIntire. Cruest: Susan Giacalone. The meeting was called to order by Bob Brown at 7:50 p.m. (when we had a quorum). September minutes were approved with corrections. Election of chair and vice-chair was postponed until next month. Everyone present agreed that the second Wednesday of each month is fine for SWAC's meetings. DISCUSSION. Brief discussion of MRIP for our new member and guest. MRIP (Municipal Recycling Incentive Program) is an incentive program and is not intended to cover all costs of recycling. In year one, Reading received $12,000 from MRIP, in year two, $13,000. Status of update of "Reading's Hidden Treasure." Lynda finally was able to retrieve the computer discs from Kay. At this moment the discs are temporarily lost but are probably in Jennifer's husband Rob's car. Jennifer and Rob will update the booklet information from the discs and from our corrections. Some of the corrections are probably out-of-date and will need to be updated. Jennifer, Lynda, and Jean will be the booklet subcommittee. If we don't get a DEP grant to over the cost of booklet printing, we could ask Waste Management if they could help with these costs. Bob estimates $6500 for printing. We're still within our time frame for producing the updated booklet, but there is a lot of work to do. Mass. Recycles Day. Lynda has arranged for SWAC members to staff a booth (actually, a shopping cart) at the Atlantic on Thursday October 28 h, Saturday October 3&, Thursday November e, and Saturday November 60. The theme will be "Buy Recycled." Judy at the Atlantic has been very helpful. Lynda has already registered our event on-line with MassRecycle (at www.inassrecycleWnwrg). Lynda and Jennifer are asking Girl Scouts and CampFire groups if they could help us staff our "booth." Lynda will write a press release and get our buy recycled video to the cable station. Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Bob reported that the state is encouraging the formation of more regional HHW facilities in the hope of reducing the amount of toxic waste thrown out in the trash. We discussed some pros and cons of Reading's becoming part of a regional facility. Ted pointed out that Reading wouldn't have enough money both to be part of a regional facility and to continue our 2x1year HHW collections, and he feels that maintaining our twice-a-year collections is important. But there would be some cost reduction in going to a permanent collection site, though there are also expenses. Would residents drive to another town (perhaps farther away than Stoneham) to dispose of hazardous waste? Would people do this if they had to pay for the privilege? This issue needs to be investigated more. REPORTS AND COMMENTS Proposed changes in SWAC duties. The Select Board hearing on amending the policy on responsibilities of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee did not take place last evening as scheduled. The hearing will take place at another Select Board meeting. We discussed Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner's proposal concerning changes in Town Regulation "Section 2.4 - Solid Waste Advisory Committee." SWAC members agreed that we do not want to get involved in hazardous waste issues such as the threat to our water supply from the North Reading toxic plume. Therefore, we do not support the inclusion of numbers 2, 4, and 5 of the proposed policy. We do agree with number 8, "Work to modify recycling efforts including efforts to recycle hazardous waste as appropriate." Bob will convey our wishes to Peter. School participation in buying recycled products. Rick Barrett is Jeff Griffin's successor. Lynda will write a letter to him about buying recycled products and will mention the all-day Buy Recycled conference in Boxborough scheduled for October 296'. MRIP. Reading will get more of a bonus next time: $20 per ton for every increase over the same 6-month period last year. Our district is the Northeast District #2, and our coordinator is Sharon Kishida. OLD BUSINESS Fluorescent lamp collection - Ted is suggesting possible shed hours of Mon.- Fri. 8 - 2 and every third Saturday (when waste oil is accepted) from 9-12. When Peter H. approves the shed operation, publicity can begin. Sally Hoyt has offered her women's organization's help with advertising. RMLD would consider paying for part of the town's fluorescent light disposal. NEW BUSINESS Lynda talked about environmental curriculum in her daughter's classroom and wondered if we could get MRIP credit for some of this elementary school curriculum. Lynda reported that Camille asked if SWAC would be interested in helping with Community Earth Day again. Committee consensus was No, we would not be interested this year. Millennium party. Lynda talked to Anna Foulds and said we could get them some recycling containers. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Submitted by Jean Krogh r.