HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-11 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesSolid Waste Advisory Committee October 11, 1995 Employee Lounge, Town Hall
Present: (Members) Bob Brown, Jean Krogh, Anne Mark, Martha Moore, Sally Sabo, Lynda Zarrow;
(Staff) Ruth Clay (late due to another commitment)
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Bob Brown.
Presentation by Michael Berardo and Marilyn Martyniak from Eastern Middlesex Industries. They spoke about
a new recycling program at Eastern Middlesex Industries (EMI). EMI is a part of the East Middlesex Assn. for
Retarded Citizens (EMARC) and is a business employing many of EMARC's consumers/clients. Some of the
points made:
-Five months ago Michael had the idea of starting a recycling program to create jobs for their clients with
mental retardation and to help the environment. The program is building up a base of businesses which donate
paper to this non-profit organization (EMARC/EMI). EMI turns over the paper to a recycler who takes the paper
to a mill. EMI and recycler share profits. The recycling business has been extraordinarily successful and is
"taking on a life of its own."
-Michael is suggesting that EMI start a recycling center, open 24 hrs./day, so residents and small businesses can
drop off papers. He is considering acquiring a large recycling container/truck, if there is enough interest in this
idea. Any resident can now drop off paper at the EMI office behind Frugal Fannie's between 8-4, M-F. Or people
can leave paper outside the door when the office is closed; it doesn't matter if it gets wet. EMI can accept
shredded paper, too.
-Computer paper is worth alot of money now, as is white paper. Corrugated cardboard doesn't bring much. If
mixed and white paper are separated, the paper brings the maximum amount of money.
Discussion followed this presentation. It was mentioned that businesses and condos currently have nowhere to
take newspapers, magazines, cardboard, etc. Anne talked about possible changes in the town's recycling contract,
due to be renewed June `96. We could possibly then have curbside paper pickup, which could change the demand
for the EMI Recycling Center. Perhaps Wakefield residents would benefit from this Recycling Center. Michael
said he offers this idea as a service to Reading, if it's worthwhile to us. He doesn't need the business. But he
doesn't want to buy the recycle container/truck until he knows if the SWAC thinks it's a good idea and could help
promote it to residents. Marilyn said Reading's Church Council currently drops off paper.
Approval of Minutes from September's meeting. There was discussion of the addition put in by the Town
Hall typist; that line was removed from the minutes. Lynda will talk directly to Peg, Ted McIntyre's secretary,
about this. Bob suggested that motions be more formally documented in the minutes. The minutes should state
the motion, who made and seconded it, and the vote numbers. The amended minutes were unanimously approved.
Reports on Motions Made at September meeting:
a. Kay reported on her phone talk with John Cappadona, a VP at Biosafe, and she showed Biosafe literature to
the committee. In addition to mining landfills, Biosafe cleans soil and cleans medical wastes. If they clean a
landfill, they then expect to run it.
Kay also called DEP and the towns of Fairhaven and Newbury. She found out that even if a landfill is mined,
it still needs to be monitored for 30 years. Therefore, mining Reading's landfill would not save us the cost of
monitoring for 30 years.
Discussion followed. Lynda asked if the state would even let us reopen our landfill. Martha said that the
results of research show that the most common reason to mine is to extend the life of the landfill. Bob suggested
that whoever gets the contract for capping could consider mining the landfill. Kay will call Joe Lambert at DEP
for more information. The committee agreed not to proceed further until we have more information. Sally will let
Peter Hechenbleikner know we're still working on this.
b. Bob reported that the button battery box has been removed from the DPW garage, and the Town Hall box has
been moved upstairs to a more visible spot.
c.Bob also reported that the application for a grant for 25 Earth Machine composters and 25 Brave New
Composters is waiting for Peter Hechenbleikner's signature.
Reports and Comments:
A. Lynda collected two batteries; Bob collected 1/2 oz. Quantities may be declining.
B. Anne plans to write a press release saying that Johnson's Hardware is collecting rechargeable batteries; she
may also mention button battery collection. She'll write a small article for the Reading Notes and send an
article to the Suburban News and the Chronicle.
C. Bob reported on the NSRRC meeting of 9/21 which Bob, Anne, and Jean attended. DEP's Ann McGovem
spoke about composting. Bob has composting survey forms, which several SWAC members will fill out. We
can then decide whether to distribute these to townspeople who have purchased Composters (Ted McIntyre
has a list).
- Bob went to the DEP unit pricing conference in Millbury on Sept. 20th.
- Anne, Martha, Jean, and Bob attended the EPA-sponsored Pay-As-You-Throw conference in
Waltham on Sept. 26th and came back with much information.
D. Anne removed four items from the library circulation box. It was suggested that, since the box is overly full,
permanent items be put in a binder to be kept next to the box. New items for the box were passed out for
perusal by committee members.
E. Anne sent a letter to Michael Linnane of the Reading Chamber of Commerce, informing him of a possible
speaker (Michael Berardo) and letting him know the EcoExpo is happening this weekend. She also called
Bruce MacDonald, who will mention the EcoExpo to the Downtown Committee.
F. Sally will ask Paula (Peter Hechenbleikner's secretary) why our Reading Notes articles were not published
last month. Could they put our articles in the Suburban News if there's no room in the Reading Notes?
G. The EcoExpo is this weekend at the World Trade Center. Bob and Anne plan to attend.
Linda King will convene a computer recycling subcommittee in Nov. or Dec. We are tentatively planning to hold
a computer recycling day in the spring. Jim Biller, a Reading citizen on the Coolidge School Parent Committee, is
a good contact.
Status of Grants: the DEP-funded flyers were mailed but were neither striking enough for notice nor accurate in
their color coding. Sally asked if we should apply for another flyer grant at this time. Bob suggested that we
should apply, since it is available to us. Martha suggested that when there is new information to put on a flyer,
we should apply for new flyers and have the new information highlighted. We need to have more control over
what is on the flyers, when they're mailed, to whom, etc. Compost bin grant will get in late.
Status Disposal Contract. Ted McIntyre told Bob that Ted Cohen is still reviewing the final language of the
contract, but it looks like we'll go with Ogden-Martin.
Unit Pricing Presentation. A subcommittee, consisting of Anne, Martha, Kay, and Jean, met twice to plan the
Pay-As-You-Throw presentation to the Board of Selectpeople, scheduled for 9:15 p.m. on Oct. 24th. Martha,
who will be the chief presenter, went through the presentation. Discussion followed.
Jean reported on calls to Maynard, Concord, and North Reading, three towns with unit-based pricing for trash
disposal. None of these towns have a separate line item on their tax bill for trash costs. The committee's
consensus is that since trash costs are a relatively small part of the town's total budget, it might be better to
inform residents of trash costs through education rather than through a line item on the tax bill.
There was no new business. The next meeting is November 8th.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
Submitted by
Jean Krogh