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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-11-13 Solid Waste Advisory Committee Minutest /6 IVD GLERh Solid Waste Advisory Committee READ NG, MASS, 13 November 1996, Berger Room, Town Hall Annex Present at meeting: (Members) Bob Brown, Jackie Chipman, Kay Clark, Je'a Aghjkafi4jj ' 7 Mark, Carol Nelson, Lynda Zarrow; (Staff liaison) Ted McIntire The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Kay Clark. Approval of minutes Lynda Zarrow moved and Carol Nelson seconded that the minutes of the October meeting be approved as amended. The motion passed unanimously. Discussion of drop-off center for recyclables Carol provided a report of her conversation with John (last name not available) at Waste Management in Gloucester. He recommended that Reading rent a 20-vd. roll-off container for collecting drop-off recyclables. He will let Carol know the rental price. He recommended looking at the drop-off set-up in Ipswich; Carol and Jean will get an appointment to visit Ipswich. The committee discussed possible sites for a drop-off center in Reading: at one of the condominium or apartment buildings, in the Union Street parking lot, or in a parking lot at the new Osco (formerly Cerretani's), the Atlantic, or Marshall's. Placement would need to be approved by the Community Planning and Development Commission (CPDC). Ted cautioned that the drop-off center be organized with the least possibility that trash would be thrown in with recyclables. Discussion of Reduce/Reuse/Recycle public education campaign Kay provided a plan listing the objectives and goals of this campaign discussed at the October meeting and the activities that were suggested to achieve them. The committee amplified and amended the list; members agreed to be responsible for implementing certain activities; and tentative start/finish dates were added to some items. SWAC will try to finish setting numerical goals (percentage of households participating in curbside program; percentage of weight of recyclables in relation to weight of trash + recyclables) at the December meeting. Parlicipation survey Regarding the baseline survey of households participating in curbside recycling, Ted reported that DPW staff will follow the recycling truck for one month to count bins; he plans to finish this survey by one week before the January SWAC meeting. Bob will request a spot for SWAC on the Selectmen's and -women's agenda after the January SWAC meeting. Election Day survey The survey of recycling habits was passed out at the November election--306 voters filled it out! Lynda provided written results. Notable statistics: 95% of respondents said they recycle; only 281i set out cardboard Ior recycling; only 44% were aware that mixed paper can now be recycled. Action items regarding education campaign Kay will pass out copies of the survey to Town Meeting members on November 14. Jackie and Jean will write to the Atlantic requesting permission to set up a table in the mall on a Saturday in January to continue this surveying and recycling education effort. Jean will find out what education and surveying activities SWAC can undertake at the Public Library. Carol will find out about putting messages on bills that go out to townspeople (would start with message about being able to recycle mixed paper). Jean will look into publishing the survey in early December in the Chronicle. Jean, Jackie, Kay, Lynda, Carol, and Anne will serve as a subcommittee to develop presentations and programs for Reading adults on the reduce/reuse/recycle theme--program to be launched by Earth Day 1997. Jackie suggested holding an educational forum at the library. Anne mentioned videos available about recycling and "buying recycled" and suggested trying to have them shown on cable. Regarding comparable education for youth, Ted noted that under the recycling contract, the contractor will undertake some educational effort. SWAC will talk about the "incentives" component of the education program at the December meeting.. Status of bids for disposal and recycling Ted reported that 3-year contracts have been awarded to Advanced Disposal of Danvers for trash collection and to Waste Management for recycling and that Reading is entering into a 15-year contract with Ogden-Martin in Haverhill for trash disposal (incineration). Service will start January 6. SWAC expressed interest in meeting with a representative from Waste Management to talk about the recycling program and in touring - Ogden-Martin (possibly in March). Leftover paint Lynda is trying to contact the Reading Hazardous Waste Committee about the possibility of a community "paint swap." Old business Grants Ted reported that the DPW has applied for a DEP grant to produce a flyer about recycling in Reading. Textile collection Anne reported that almost 8,000 pounds of used textiles and leather goods were collected for reuse and recycling at the DPW garage on October 5, bringing the 1996 total to almost 20,000 pounds. New business Invitations Jean and Anne will speak about Reading's recycling efforts at the Wilmington Women's Club in November. Anne and Kay will speak at the Reading AARP meeting in February. Committee The committee learned with great regret that Jackie will be resigning her position on SWAC. The committee can look forward, however, to continuing to work with her on special events. Bob closed the meeting by noting that November 21 has been designated as "Use Less Stuff Day." The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:30 p.m. Submitted by Anne Mark