HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-05-11 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesMinutes of Solid Waste Advisory Committee
May 1 1, 1992
Present: Carol Edwards, Mary Ellen Becker, Anne Mark, Steve Thomases,
Sally Sabo, and Ruth Cogan
The meeting was called to order by Chair Anne Mark at 7:30 p.m.
The minutes of the meeting of April 1, 1992, were approved as presented.
Reading Recycles Plastics will run a drop at the end of May, but Bill
Currier has gone out of business and there will need to be a new hauler.
Pete Johnson , current chair of RRP, is stepping down. Petra Conboy will
be interim chair for the summer. The ti re and battery collection will be
at the same time as the June drop off.
North Shore Recycled Fibers is one possible hauler for some plastics,
HDPE 2 and mixed HDPE 2, as well as other recyclables such as
newspaper, cardboard, magazines and office paper.
Regarding the Recycler of the Month, it was suggested that we contact
Bruce Morang for a clarification of the type of picture they would like to
get when the award is given each month. Nominations were then taken for
the next Recycler of the Month. After some discussion, Carol nominated
Atlantic Supermarket, and this passed unanimously.
There was then a discussion of how to publicize the idea of backyard
composting. Two ideas were a composting demonstration at Strout Ave.
or a video available from a composting conference that could run on
channel three. Anne will call Judith Mitchel``, who is knowledgeable in
composting, to ascertain her interest in doing a composting
demonstration. Ruth will call John Upton to see whether he would run the
video. The upcoming ban on yard waste as of December 31.1992, gives
some urgency to finding alternatives for disposing of it.
Carol suggested that we find out whether Hiltz will accept such metal
items as bandaid boxes, throat -lozenges containers, metal spice cans,
and the like.
The committee next turned its attention to the revised trash regulations.
Through Ruth, Ted suggested changing Section 6.3 to clarify the new
rules. For section 3.3 Ruth would like to include the Board of Health
regulations re the earliest time trash can be put out.
Selectman Dan Ensminger arrived at 8:30 to discuss with the committee
the fee system voted by the selectmen and other issues. It was noted that
the bulk waste pick-up recorded 497 tons of trash vs 160 tons on
a usual week. The committee wished to comment on their hope that a
volume-based system could be implemented in the future. Dan noted that
the constituency for a per-bag fee seems to have melted away in the last
year. The exclusive franchise concept was not possible this year because
of time constraits. Reading may have to pay part of the pass through and
thus tack on more to the fee. After additional discussion, Dan left at
9:00.
The committee will state once again to the selectmen why volume-based
fees should be instituted.
In answer to a question about the method by which new residents are
made aware of recycling, it was stated that such information is available
through the Welcome Wagon
The meeting adjourned at 9:10..