HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-01-10 Solid Waste Advisory Committee Minutes~Sc~'gG
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
January 10, 1996 - Employee's Lounge, Reading Town Hall Annex
Present: Members - Bob Brown, Anne Mark, Jean Krogh, Martha Moore, Kay Clark, Sally Sabo, Lynda
Zarrow. Staff - Ted McIntire
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Sally Sabo.
2. Approval of December Minutes
The December 14 minutes were unanimously approved as amended.
3. Unit Pricing
Members of the Unit Pricing subcommittee met on January 5 to review the tasks necessary to address the 5
questions we previously indicated to the Board of Selectmen that we would address. These questions were
addressed by Martha, Anne and Kay.
Martha determined how switching to unit pricing would impact Reading's grade on the Recycling Report
Card. We could improve our effort grade and gain points by (1) simply introducing unit pricing, (2)
conducting public education via at least 2 municipal mailings per year. Also, if condominiums are
included in recycling, our grade should improve.
Anne researched CONEG information to identify alternative ways to handle multi-family units. We have
four options, which were outlined in Anne's handout:
a. continue to require multifamily dwellings to contract with a private hauler and keep 1-3 family
trash collection the same as it is now.
b. continue to require multifamily dwellings to contract with a private hauler but change 1-3
family trash collection to a pay-as-you-throw system (thus making the financial burden more equitable)
c. institute a pay-as-you-throw program and allow multifamily dwellings to choose whether or
not to participate (residents buy bags) or contract with commercial haulers
d.. institute a pay-as-you-throw program and allow multifamily dwellings to choose whether or
not to participate (by paying per dumpster load of trash) or contract with commercial haulers
Anne spoke to Dover, New Hampshire, a Town in the CONEG data similar to ours. Multifamily
dwellings purchase bags in that community. In her review of CONEG, Anne found that success/failure
hinges on education. The involvement of interest groups in crucial, as is the support of elected officials.
Kay looked into financial issues using Ted's data on number of households as well as waste tonnage from
FY87 through FY95. Her analysis showed a drop in tonnage per household in FY91, when curbside
recycling was introduced. She now identifies about 1.3 tons of trash per household per year. Kay
obtained data on the number and location of condominiums and apartments in order to estimate the
additional cost of including these residents in collection. She calculated FY97 costs of $54/household for
MSW collection, $58/household for disposal and $16/household for recycling costs. Using these average
costs per household, Kay estimates an additional $90,000 to add multifamily dwellings to curbside
collection.
We discussed offering residents one free bag per week for the first year, with the option of purchasing
additional bags. We now need to determine what `unit" condominium dwellers would get for free (i.e.
one free dumpster pick up per month).
For each of the next 2 -3 weeks, each S WAC member will determine the net weight of his/her trash and
provide this, as well as the container size, to Martha. This information should be useful to Kay for further
calculations/support of her analysis to date.
Anne will contact Camille Anthony to update her on our progress concerning unit pricing. She'll tell
Camille we expect to complete our analysis by late February or early March.
4. Discussion of Landfill Mining
Discussion postponed.
5. Discussion of Survey on Compost Bin Use
Ted delivered two more surveys to Lynda, who will add the data to the other 19 responses and write to
Anne McGovern with a summary of Reading's survey results. We will revisit this issue next October to
decide whether a follow-up survey should be mailed to bin recipients.
6. Reports and Comments
A. Button Battery Collection
Bob made a motion to remove the collection box from Town Hall, which was seconded by Lynda. Others
stated that the public relations factor may be more important than the volume of batteries collected,
especially since checking the box is not an inconvenience. Bob's motion was voted down: 0-6-1. Bob will
contact Wheelabrator to determine when the button battery collection program is expected to end.
B. Rechargeable Battery Collection Program
Collection boxes are now at Johnson's Hardware and Radio Shack. This item will be dropped from the
agenda for the time being.
C. Library Circulation Box
Bob distributed materials for members to read and place in the library box.
D. Computer Recycling
There is no news on this project, which will involve Linda King.
7. Upcoming Events
Anne may attend the New England Earth Day Conference on January 20.
8. Establishment of drop off location for recyclables
Jean will send a list of apartments and condominiums to Michael Berardo so that he may contact them
about dropping off paper.
9. Discontinuing Recycling Phone
Lynda will call Ruth to see if the phone has been disconnected. If not, we'll ask her to hold off until we
determine if the phone could be useful for unit pricing, and less costly than adding a new line later.
10. Status of Disposal Contract and New Recycling Contract
Ted will include both white goods and paper board as alternatives in the recycling contract. Bob will write
to Camille Anthony expressing our concern that Ted Cohen has not expedited the disposal contract.
11. Old Business
There was no old business.
12. New Business
Earth Day was discussed. Bob noted that Woburn's Recycling Committee coordinated a big event there in
the past. At this time, we will devote our attention to unit pricing and may use Earth Day as a forum to
educate residents about this alternative.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30.
Submitted by Lynda Zarrow