HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-09-13 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesMinutes of Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Conference Room, Town Hall
Wednesday, September 13, 1995
ATTENDEES: Bob Brown, Kay Clark, Jean Krogh, Anne Mark, Martha Moore, Sally Sabo, Lynda ZarKow.
STAFF: Ted McIntire
GUESTS: Camille Anthony, Bob Lynch
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:35. Our newest member, Kay Clark was introduced and guest Selectperson
Camille Anthony was welcomed. The August minutes were unanimously approved as amended.
REQUEST FROM BOB LYNCH:
Bob Lynch, resident and Town Meeting member, was welcomed. He requested that the SWAC investigate the
possibility of "mining" Reading's dump as is currently being done in Fairhaven. Mr. Lynch is concerned with the
cost of capping the landfill as it exists, as well as the task/cost of monitoring the site for hazardous materials for the
next 30 years. After a lengthy discussion, the committee voted unanimously to consider mining the landfill. Kay
will contact BioSafe, who is running Fairhaven's dump.
REPORTS AND COMMENTS:
A. Button Battery Collection
Lynda collected 3 ounces of button batteries, and Bob about the same. The committee decided to remove the DPW
collection box, due to lack of use. The Town Hall box will be moved by Bob from downstairs to a more prominent
location on the first floor.
B. Rechargeable Battery Collection
,urrently, the only collection box in Reading is at Johnson's Hardware. AES, Light n' Leisure and Sound Unlimited
do not carry products amenable to the collection boxes. Fretter is reviewing material on the program, provided by
Anne. Anne will send a letter to Bradlees' home office, since this issue is handled at the store's corporate level.
Martha has given material to REI and Caldor for review, and was told that Lechmere will make a decision at the
corporate level. We will issue a press release once we know all the area merchants participating in the program.
C. NSRRC Meeting - August 10
Anne, Bob and Jean attended this meeting at which Joe Lambert spoke about the next grant application process.
Among other things, grants are available for equipment, educational materials, composting bins, and unit pricing
stickers and bags.
D. Library Circulation Box
Anne has cleaned out non-essential outdated material. Bob gave Jean, Kay and Lynda each a periodical to review
for the circulation box. Lynda will add responses to her survey on communities preference to the Brave New
Composter and the Earth Machine.
Chamber of Commerce Presentation
Anne mailed information to Michael Linnane at the Chamber of Commerce, who expressed interest in a speaker or
speakers. He indicated that he would call Anne in a week after reading her material. She will also send him
material about the EcoExpo and provide him (and the Town Business Committee) with information about attracting
"green" businesses to the community.
Articles for Reading Notes
Jean's article was approved with one minor edit. Lynda indicated that she had spoken to Barb Scavezze, Solid
Waste Coordinator in Chelmsford, about her town's attempt at unit pricing. Ms. Scavezze suggested we could
obtain much more information at the variable rate workshop in Millbury on September 20. Lynda has not heard
back from the town of North Reading. Attendees of this meeting will share information gather with Lynda, who
will prepare a future article for Reading Notes.
COMPUTER RECYCLING:
Linda King called Martha Moore during our meeting to say that she will coordinate a subcommittee meeting during
week ending September 22.
STATUS OF GRANTS:
Ted stated he has the 1996 Municipal Recycling Grant Program application material.
Compost Bins - Ted said that most of the bins on hand are gone.
Flyers - Ted will contact Ruth Clay, who may know why the State has not yet mailed the flyers out to residents.
New grants for next- A motion was made to order 50 Earth Machines under the 1996 Municipal Recycling
Grant Program The committee voted, not unanimously, to amend the motion and to apply for a grant to purchase
25 each of the Earth Machine and the Brave New Composter. Ted said we do not need to apply for a 1996
educational (flyer) grant because the new disposal contract will include an educational component.
STATUS OF DISPOSAL CONTRACT:
Ted informed us that a letter was sent this week to Ogden-Martin containing suggested changes to the proposed
contract. He expects an answer by the end of next week (September 22). Reading and three other towns have
hired a consultant to review and comment on the RESCO and Ogden-Martin contract proposals.
STATUS OF READING LANDFILL CAPPING:
Ted is setting up a meeting with Peter Hechenbleikner and Perrini to discuss the logistics of Perrini hauling free clay
to the landfill site. Ted said Reading is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for a consultant to, address the costs
and legal issues of landfill development. The committee summarized Mr. Lynch's concerns to Ted, since he did not
arrive until Mr. Lynch had left. In order to obtain more details about landfill mining, Kay will contact the DEP
offices for Fairhaven and Newbury (another town mining its dump) and BioSafe (the company that is managing
Fairhaven's dump).
UNIT PRICING:
SWAC will discuss this issue with the Board of Selectmen on October 24, and needs to summarize the unit pricing
manual, other options, how introduction of unit pricing would benefit Reading, and what we recommend based on
our research. We should state why a portion, if any, of the trash costs should come out of the tax base. Ms.
Anthony suggested using visuals to enhance our presentation. A subcommittee will meet, after the September 26
meeting in Waltham, to further discuss unit pricing.
OTHER OLD BUSINESS:
White paper - The first pick-up of white paper from Town offices yielded about 2,300 pounds, even before school
resumed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ms. Anthony requested that, as the Board of Selectmen's liaison the SWAC, we keep her informed of issues and call
on her as needed.
White Paper Reg&gfor Residents - Jean spoke to Michael Berardo (944-5655), Director at Eastern Middlesex
Industries, affiliated with Eastern Massachusetts Associaton of Retarded Citizens (EMARC). His facility collects
white paper, among many other recyclables, from area residents and businesses, and he is willing to speak to the
Chamber of Commerce. Sally will contact Sharon Iovanni at Suburban News and Phyllis Nissen at The Chronicl
promote this organization to residents.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m. - Lynda Zarrow