HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-06-10 Solid Waste Advisory Committee Minuteslzt_
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
June 10, 1998 - Minutes
Berger Room, Reading Town Hall
Present: Bob Brown, Jackie Chipman, Kay Clark, Jennifer Culbert, Jean Krogh, Anne Mark, Ted
McIntire (late due to another commitment)
The meeting was called to order by Kay Clark at 7:39 p.m. May minutes were approved as
corrected 4-0-1. Jean will call Lynda with corrections.
(torts and Comments:
1) MASSPIRG report on PVC packaging (#3 plastic) Bob explained the harm PVC plastics
cause when incinerated and that #3 plastics contaminate all plastics when recycled. Anne said the
industry has had little success establishing a market for post-consumer PVC vinyl/plastic. PVC may
eventually be declared a non-recyclable contaminant. Kay said PVCs contribute to acid rain. There
may be a connection between PVCs and some cancers. It would be best not to use PVC vinyl at all
unless absolutely necessary.
We talked about some facts from Bob's notes on the MASSPIRG report:
--Some personal care products sold at Wild Harvest are sold in PVC packaging.
--Saran Wrap and Reynolds (Plastic) Wrap are both made from PVC while Handi-Wrap and
Glad Cling Wrap are not.
2) We've sent a disk of our "Reading's Hidden Treasure" booklet to Chelmsford and Stoneham.
- ' Focus, Goals, and Planning:
Committee members engaged in lengthy, discussion of goals..
Jean distributed a sheet with her thoughts on goals and focus.
Meeting MRIP requirements should drive us. We could also focus on events like Earth Day and
Mass. Recycles Day. Jackie: the more specific we are, the more people can absorb our message.
Anne: Mass Recycles Day will again be Nov. 15`h; the theme will be Buy Recycled. Kay read the
MRIP requirements. The town is working on tracking and reporting recycled-content purchases
(buy recycled requirement). Multi-family recycling might be one of the MRIP requirements.
Private haulers that collect from condos would also have,to_offer recycling services at no additional
cost, but this would not work in Reading; or we could have mandatory recycling, where residents
have to sort trash from recycling. We'll need two town-wide mailings per year. If we're going to use
block leader program to meet MRIP requirement, we have to actually do something with them.,:Bob
will call Sharon Kishida re: MRIP
The town has received $12,500 from MRIP so far
Fluorescent bulbs. Has the Select Board given any thought to the disposal of fluorescent bulbs,
which contain hazardous mercury? The Select Board should direct this issue to either the Hazardous
Waste Committee or the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, depending on where this issue most
= appropriately resides. Where could the town recycle fluorescent bulbs? All programs for this at
present would cost the town money. Where would the money come from? The Select Board could
set aside money from MRIP for this purpose. Jackie will call Bruce MacDonald, Bob will write out
facts, Kay will write a letter.
1
We agreed to focus on the following, using the numerical goals (100% diversion, etc.) as
background framework rather than foreground focus:
1) Meeting MRIP requirements
2) Bob's proposal at Town Meeting re: condo recycling
3) Mass Recycles Day
For Town Meeting, we need concrete examples of where MRIP money might go. Ted is writing
articles for the warrant. The best bet is to tie condo collection to MRIP criteria. Anne: Our SWAC
focus (re: collection from condos) should be environmental impact, access to recycling, participation
in MRIP, not fairness.
A Town Meeting Subcommittee was established, to prepare background info. for the Select
Board and Town Manager: Jackie, chair; Jennifer, Kay.
Action items: contact other SWACs, get information on their concrete achievements, concrete
examples of what an MRIP revolving account could go for. Bob will get clarification on the issue of
an ordinance mandating separation of trash and recyclables. Anne will call Joseph Lambert.
A big project this year could be a booklet for children, based on "Reading's Hidden Treasure."
Information, upcoming events. Bob informed the committee of upcoming events.
Old Business. A motion was made and approved to recommend the reappointment of Bob Brown
and Jean Krogh to SWAC.
Collections from condos: Ted and Bob were at a May 28"' meeting with representatives from
condos. Some of the people did not understand that they'd have to recycle, too, if they had town
collection of trash, but there didn't seem to be much opposition to the recycling requirement. How
much interest is there in this issue? Are we pushing the wrong issue?
New Business: Advance Disposal was bought by Truck-Away. This is a positive change.
Video. We watched a good video, "Pay-As-You-Throw in the Northeast." Some points from the
video: costs of solid waste management are escalating. In PAYT programs, people pay only for the
service used. Each community comes up with its own unique PAYT program; there are no two
programs alike. People on fixed incomes can use smaller 15-gal. bags. Free bags can be supplied to
the local welfare office for people who cannot afford to pay. Some benefits of a PAYT program:
reduced trash volume, lower disposal costs, people are less likely to litter, people more conscious of
what they're throwing away, people see the true cost of disposal and also see the benefits of waste
reduction and recycling. We agreed that it would be beneficial for the Selectpeople and the Town
Manager to see this video. For info. 1-888-EPA-PAYT.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50. s t f
Submitted by Jean Krogh Z) i