HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-11 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesSolid Waste Advisory Committee
Minutes, June 11, 1997 meeting
n Berger Room, Reading Town Hall Annex
Present: Lynda Zarrow, Bob Brown, Anne Mark, Jean Krogh, Kay Clark (late due to another
commitment.) Ted McIntire had another meeting to attend but was present briefly.
1) The meeting was called to order by Bob Brown at 7:38 p.m. when a quorum was present.
The minutes from the May 14t` meeting were approved as corrected.
2) Discussion of drop-off recycling center was postponed until next month, since Ted McIntire's
presence was necessary for a full discussion of this issue.
3) The last subcommittee meeting focused on final preparations for Community Day. People did stop
to read our literature and display information at Community Day, but there was little discussion
(partly because the loud music made discussion difficult). As a kick-off to our educational
campaign, Community Day was not effective. As another opportunity for SWAG to be a visible
presence, it was OK. We gave out about 12 red recycling bins. SWAC members agreed that it was
too bad there was not a hronicle reporter at Community Day; that coverage could have provided
good publicity. Bob pointed out that Community Day in Reading is sortof like Earth Day in other
towns.
Anne commented that Reading needs to show improvement on the state report card.
What about kicking off our campaign at a Select Board meeting, with camera and reporterpresent?
We'll talk about this further at the next subcommittee meeting. Kay suggested a sandwich board on
the Common with our kick-off message, using that in conjunction with a meeting with the Select
Board and newspaper articles - a kick-off week concerted effort.
4) Bob Brown wrote the first draft of the SWAC report to the Select Board. Jean will edit the
report and go over it with Anne.
S) a) Recycling truck visiting schools and REAPS grant. Anne had written to Superintendent
Harutunian and talked to Asst. Superintendent Dennis Richards about the REAPS grant and the
recycling truck visit; Dennis said the schools have a new curriculum framework they have to work
within. (Ted McIntire reported earlier that Dennis. Richards had told him that the school
administration didn't want the truck visits this spring but could try to schedule it for the fall.) Anne
suggested that perhaps the REAPS program and the recycling truck visit could go together; she will
follow up with the school Science Committee about how to coordinate a REAPS/SWAC
presentation. Part of what the REAPS program offers is an evaluation of a school to determine
what sort of recycling program would work in a particular school and how best to involve the
custodial staff, how best to work within the existing institutionalized structure. They could help
determine what kind of school recycling education would be most effective and would be involved
in carrying our that education.
b) SWAC staffing for next year. At our next meeting we will select chairs of the subcommittee and
of SWAC. Lynda will stay for another term (yay!) and Bob will call Jennifer to find out if she is
interested in joining the committee as a full member.
c) Question was raised: should we have a presence at the upcoming Summerfest? Kay will look
into this.
d) Discussion of Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. Several SWAC members
volunteered there. Many cars had a long wait.
e) Bob distributed library box items for committee members to read.
6. Discussion of a new DEP grants program followed. The new grants provide incentives to increase
recycling; a town would get more money back if the town recycles more. Is Reading interested in
applying? We will discuss this at our next meeting when Ted is present.
What is the deadline for the next round of DEP grants? Anne is waiting for a response from Nicole
Cirillo.
DEP recycle flyer is in the mail. One problem: many residents don't know whether they are red or
black weeks. What can we do about this?
Bob plans to go on the tour of the Building Material Resource Center in Roxbury. Bob is also now
the Reading Recycling Coordinator for Ogden-Martin. Ogden-Martin is required to encourage
recycling. Part of a $20,000 "pot" could go to Reading. Bob will keep us informed.
Mass Recycles Day will be November 15'h. The subcommittee will get information on what the
state and other communities are doing.
7. Old Business - WasteCap pilot program. If we want to encourage a Buy Recycled or Bag
Reduction campaign with the Chamber of Commerce, we should meet with the Executive Council
of the Chamber. A new president is coming in soon; Anne will follow up. It would be great to
work with local businesses. Anne suggested the idea of "Waste-free Fridays;" another community
has implemented this. Maybe the above-mentioned incentive program would be able to include this.
8. New Business - Lynda received a letter from the Mass. Coalition; 22 households participated in this
year's collection. The Coalition looks forward to doing this annually.
Ted has our new banner and will find a place to display it in Town Hall.
We discussed information on ethics and conflict of interest.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Submitted by Jean Krogh
Minutes from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee Meeting of May 14th
Berger Room, Reading Town Hall
members present: Bob Brown, Jackie Chipman, Kay Clark, Jean Krough,
Anne Mark, Carol Nelson and Linda Zarrow
Guest: Jennifer Culbert
Staff: Ted McIntire
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m.
Drop off of Recyclables
With Union Street slated to become the home of the new police station and
OSCO out of the picture, SWAC must consider a new site for a potential
drop-off recycling center. The site of the current police station may prove
the best future site. Carol suggested providing apartments with all the
necessary information to commence their own recycling efforts with BFI or
Waste Management etc... Ann mentioned brochures from the state
regarding such recycling programs that may assist them in this effort.
Carol also suggested investigating a smaller drop-off container for which
finding a home would be easier. Further discussion and action was
postponed until after Community Day.
'Community Dam
Plans for Community Day were discussed. A sub-committee meeting was
set for Monday, May 19th at Jackie's house. SWAC plans to offer a variety
of children's activities as well as present the committee's goals and
concerns to adults. Ted gave the "go ahead" to purchase a banner for the
event at a cost of $90. Kay reported that Camille Anthony did not believe
any other booths were planning children's activities.
Reports and Comments
❖ Bob reported that only 1#5oz. of batteries were collected and delivered
by him to Resco for the entire year.
Ted is following up with the DEP regarding the Reading Recycles flyers.
There were numerous corrections.
• Linda reports that the Coalition for the Homeless collection went well.
There were over 20 stops.
Sorting of the EarthWeek recycle barrels at the DPW garage took the
committee only 1 hour. Members divided the recyclabies and brought
them home to their own bins.
❖ The table at the Atlantic was a success. All 25 red bins were distributed.
❖ Jackie will follow up the Downtown Steering Committee regarding the
placement of a kiosk.
❖ Anne reports that John Upton at Reading's cable station ran the recycling
videos several times during EarthWeek. He encourages us to send him
more.
Waste Cap is pilot program offered by the DEP to help small businesses
and communities' get together to foster recycling efforts. Waste Cap
administers a grant to consolidate the recycling efforts of small
businesses within a community. Debbie McCauley is our contact on the
Chamber. SWAC may wish to assist the Chamber of Commerce in
investigating this program.
❖ Ted will follow up on the recycling truck's visit to the schools.
Upcoming Events
On May 22"d, the DEP is sponsoring a program concerning municipal
recycling incentive programs. These programs give money back to the
towns; the more the towns recycle, the more money they receive.
SWAC Staffing
Carol Nelson will unfortunately not be returning to the committee. Linda
may or may not be returning to the committee. Jennifer may be applying
to the committee and finally, Anne will be returning to the committee but in
diminished roll until other commitments allow her more time.
Hazardous Waste Recycling
Hazardous waste recycling day is set for Saturday, May 17th. Ted is looking
for volunteers from the committee to assist with the collection.
Old Business
The town received a letter from the DEP praising its composting efforts and
listing future composting workshops. The list of workshops should be
distributed to all compost bin owners within the Town.
New Business
Bob is preparing
Selectpeople.
Jackie Chipman
the first draft of the annual report for the Board of
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