HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-04-10 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesSolid Waste Advisory Committee
April 10, 1996; Selectmen's Room, Town Hall, Reading
Present: (Members) Bob Brown, Kay Clark, Jean Krogh, Anne Mark, Martha Moore,
Sally Sabo, Lynda Zarrow; (Associate Member) Carol Nelson; (Staff) Ruth Clay, Ted
McIntire; (Guests) Dan Ensminger (Selectman), Bruce MacDonald (Selectman), Dave
Connolly (Briarwood condominiums), Dick Smith (Summit Towers), Barbara Ward
(Summit Towers)
The meeting was called to order by Sally Sabo at 7:35 p.m. The March minutes were
accepted as amended.
Bob summarized his impression of the Board's reaction to SWAC's 3/26 presentation on
unit pricing: that the primary stated goal of unit pricing should be to improve the
environment (not to meet State recycling goals); and that the program should be revenue-
neutral. One caller to the Selectmen's Forum (held after the BoS presentation) objected to
not being able to deduct the cost of stickers from Federal income tax (Bruce noted that he
thought this amount would be negligible). Another caller objected to the idea of "user fees"
and suggested that recycling participation be increased by some other means (education by
block leaders, or perhaps making it mandatory that trash be picked up only if a recycling
bin is also set out). Ruth suggested that more recycling education (perhaps in the schools)
might boost participation.
The impact of unit pricing on Reading's budget was discussed. Bruce noted that unit
pricing would be beneficial in revenue terms because it would address the issue of picking
up trash at condominiums; he believes that were unit pricing and trash collection at
condominiums to be approved, they should start at the same time. He recommended that
when SWAC does public education about unit pricing, the program should be presented as
revenue neutral. Ruth suggested that FinCom be included early in the discussion period
about unit pricing, and Bob suggested talking to the School Committee about it as well.
Bruce and Dan will talk to Peter Hechenbleikner about a meeting between SWAC and
FinCom. Other groups to whom SWAC members might talk about unit pricing are PTOs,
Town Meeting, homeowners' associations, and the Women's Club.
It was, decided to present the unit pricing proposal to Town Meeting on April 22. Bob will
contact the moderator, Paul Dustin, about this. Bruce suggested preparing copies of the
presentation for TM members. The emphasis should be on (1) putting people in control of
their trash disposal habits, (2) the environmental benefits of unit pricing, (3) equity issues.
Bruce suggested mentioning that all aspects of the housing community are involved in the
planning process. The unit pricing subcommittee will meet to plan the presentation.
Recycling and trash pickup at condominiums were discussed. Dick noted that the
condominium owners want to recycle. Setting up recycling would require looking at the
individual logistics at each complex. For example, Summit Towers has outdoor fenced-in
enclosures with dumpsters. Ted noted the availability of (1) 30-cu-yd recycling containers
with compartments and (2) 96-gal toters. Ted has cost figures from Waste Management for
trash collection and recycling at condominiums (using roll-off containers). He and his staff
will get together with Dick to discuss and research logistics. Dick will provide a list of
contact people at the condominium complexes who should receive monthly SWAC packets.
Carol asked about setting up municipal recycling programs in apartment buildings. Bruce
suggested that the issue of trash pickup and recycling at the condominium complexes needs
to be resolved first. (According to Town Counsel Ted Cohen, regulations for apartment
buildings and condominiums can be different.)
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Bruce suggested making a time line for worki4 toward approval of unit pricing, with
suggested implementation in July 1997. Tedineeds information for budgeting purposes in
October; the BoS would need to vote in January or February whether or not to proceed
with unit pricing. Bruce and/or Dan will continue to attend SWAC meetings.
The committee discussed Martha's article on unit pricing for Town Notes. Both Martha
and Lynda wrote reduce-reuse-recycle tips to be published in the Chronicle for Earth Week.
Lynda distributed copies of the letter she wrote to the Selectmen concerning the "Buy
Recycled" program.
Anne reported that Emily Hess spoke to the April 5 Chamber of Commerce breakfast about
WasteCap (a program whereby business owners help other business owners set up
workplace recycling programs). WasteCap may get EPA funding to help four MA
Chambers set up cooperative recycling programs for their towns' businesses.
Anne reported that the used textile and leather collection sponsored by the Unitarian
Universalist Church and held at the DPW garage on March 30 collected 12,020 pounds of
materials.
The computer recycling subcommittee (Bob, Sally, Jean, and former SWAC member Linda
King) has chosen Saturday, June 8, as the date for the collection (at the DPW garage).
Residents will drop off equipment from 9 to 12; from 1 to 3 representatives from the
schools can select equipment they might want. (Martha is the liaison to the schools.)
Remaining equipment will go to East-West Foundation in South Boston; components are
used to make new systems that are donated to groups in the US and abroad. Ruth
suggested that the collection should be publicized to the schools through the
superintendent. Ted suggested the subcommittee should meet with Mike deBrigard about
use of the garage area. Publicity flyers will be posted in stores, and the Atlantic will be
asked to distribute them. Jean is writing publicity articles; she will try to get news about
the program into the paper before bulk collection week (end of April) so that residents will
save computer equipment rather than putting it in their bulk-collection trash.
Martha retaped the 942-SAVE message but the tape didn't record properly. A better
message system will be needed if unit pricing is implemented (perhaps with a menu).
Carol will talk with Bruce about putting solid waste info on Reading's WWW home page.
Jean reported that EMARC still accepts white and mixed paper but no longer takes
newspapers, magazines, and cardboard.
Ruth suggested asking the Atlantic about giving credit for "bag-avoidance" (getting bag-
credit cards punched when shoppers don't take a bag as well as when they bring their own
bags). It was decided to suggest this to the Atlantic individually, rather than as a
committee.
Martha noted that she will be resigning from SWAC in June; she resumes teaching in the
fall.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. The next meeting will be held on May 8.
Anne Mark