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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-10-14 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesMinutes of Solid Waste Committee ' October 94,1992 Present: Carol Edwards, Linda King, Bob Brown, Anne Mark, Sally Sabo, Ruth Cogan (briefly), Ted McIntyre Ruth reported that a grant application as been written for waste oil collection. The collection point would be open from 7 am to 3 pm on weekdays with a particular town employee responsible. On 4th Saturdays a member of RRP would staff the station. On 1 st, 2nd, and 3rd Saturdays someone from Stoneham or Wakefield would (hopefully) be available for duty. The program would start next spring, perhaps in conjunction with Earth Day. Ruth also reported that household waste booklets are available from Recycling Congress. Anne reported that the minutes from the last meeting are not available. Also, Don Anglehart is resigning from the committee. He will send a formal letter to the selectmen. Recycler of the Month: Debbie McCulley was nominated and elected for her work in the schools with worm boxes. Reports The phonebook collection in September was successful; another is planned for October. Plastics: 3.1 tons were collected for the last three months. They are taking tubs, lids, and the like everything except No. 7. The market currently is very good for 1's and 2's. Waste management is taking them. A contractor from Sudbury is taking the others. Junk Mail: Many junk mail labels received, with 200 to 300 vendors represented. The distribution was very flat. The cub and girl scouts will be collecting labels. It is felt that word of mouth will build volume.. MRF presentation to selectmen: The presentation went well. The selectmen seemed well disposed to the idea. Solid Waste Reduction Subcommittee: The subcommittee decided to focus on specific reduction project: Encourage customers to bring their own bags with them to their super markets. It was thought that the stores would have no problem with this idea, since it will reduce their cost Yard Waste: Applications for the tub grinder are coming out this week. As many as 13 or 14 communities will band together. Reading wants the grinder on site in town for a predetermined period of time. Melrose is to be the lead community. The target start-up date is next spring. The yard waste ban is being extended to April 1, 1993; it will be enforced. If a community has an approved recycling program for banned materials, the trucks from that community will not be checked at RESCO. Ted will check what constitutes an approved program. Brush will be accepted at the composting site starting January 1, 1993. Currently brush is being taken to the Melrose site. There was a composting demonstration at the composting site on October 3, 1992. Material was given out on home composting. Newspaper Articles: There will be an article in the Suburban Shopper about Question 3. Debbie will write something about her worm project. Trash Recycling Contract: There was a discussion of methods of asking for bids. The committee made a list of items they would like to see recycled. As well as the items already being picked up curb-side, the committee added plastic containers of all kinds, cardboard, magazines, tinfoil, white paper, aluminum pie plates. There was a question regarding bulk waste and white goods. Does the town want to continue to supply this service? It was suggested that we send out a questionnaire to 20 or 30 towns. Anne will bring a list of contacts and will develop a list of questions . It was mentioned that the presentation to town meeting should include something about a per-bag fee rather than the current flat fee. It was decided to invite our liaison, George Hines, to either the November of December meeting for a discussion of the per-bag fee concept. New Business: There was a question of whether to endorse Question 3. It was moved by Linda to endorse said Question, seconded by Carol. This was passed unanimously after discussion as to what the endorsement would mean. There will be a letter to the editor. Carol will write the letter. There was some discussion of a new program by North Shore Recycled Fibers that involves magazines and junk mail. Curbside leaf collection will be the weeks of November 16 and 30, plus one additional week. Meeting adjourned at 9:26 pm.