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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-10-09 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesReading Solid Waste Advisory Committee Minutes of meeting on October 9, 1991 Recycler of the Year Mike Shannon and his family were presented with the Recycler of the Year Award. 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Attendees: Committee members - Chairperson Anne Mark, Trish Brigham, Carol Edwards, Linda King, Sally Sabo, and Don Anglehart. Also in attendance were Susan Cohen (SWAG Associate), Ruth Cogan (DHHS Liaison) and Robert Brown (Reading Recycles Plastics Research Group). 2. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the September 11, 1991 meeting were approved. 3. Plastics Recycling Update Bob Brown, of Reading Recycles Plastics ("RRP"), reported that $273 was collected during the September 28, 1991 collection, and that expenses were estimated at $240. The plastics collection went very well. RRP is investigating container alternatives to the dumpster and whether other vendors would take additional plastics. The materials collected were quite clean. The enlisting of volunteers is going well. 4. Discussion - Recycler of the Month Anne Mark reported that she had spoken with Leslie McGonagle (Reading Chamber of Commerce) about the continuation of the Recycler of the Month series. The Chamber would like to continue the series, but "chasing down awards" has become somewhat burdensome. Linda King volunteered to attend a Chamber meeting to circulate a list for people who might wish to volunteer awards. With respect to possible future nominees for recycler of the month, local print and copy shops that use recycled paper products were discussed, but more information is needed. Should the committee nominate shops` that recycle or use recycled products individually, or as a group? The possibility of nominating the Town for its recycling and purchasing efforts was also discussed. It was noted that Reading recycles more plastics than any other of the 44 towns (except Cambridge) that Currier picks up from. 5. Recycling Plans for the Future Anne Mark posed the questions, What do we do in March when money for recycling runs out? What does DPW think about various alternatives such asGcurbside recycling, a drop-off center, participation in a MRF, etc.? P-off Ruth Cogan asked whether we could do a survey to generate numbers regarding what the public would be willing to pay; on an individual household basis, for recycling. The results of-v such a survey could be used to provide information to Hiltz,' or other competing recycling vendors in.the future. Ruth Cogan will see if Hiltz has any interest in supporting such a survey. Options which the SWAC might want to explore include: "Privatizing" curbside recycling Recycling in cooperation with another Town A drop-off center Involvement with a regional MRF (Materials Recycling Facility) Continuation of bi-weekly curbside Sally Sabo asked whether we should get information about the Somerville and Salem MRFs. Ann Mark mentioned that the by-laws for the North Shore MRF was scheduled for October 19, 1991. That would commence an 18-month development process. Sally Sabo mentioned that the Salem MRF may be in operation by January, 1992. Sally Sabo made a motion, which carried unanimously, that certain committee members prepare specifications for a drop-off center that could be given to DPW for rough "costing out.." Trish Brigham and Ann Mark volunteered for the task, and Steve Thomases was nominated in absentia. The goal is to have a rough "feasibility study" for such a drop-off center by the December SWAC meeting. 6. SWAC Long Range Planning Susan Cohen led the discussion on this item, using the "K-J Method" discussed at the SWAC meeting last August 21. Individual members of the SWAC wrote down suggested goals for the SWAC, each goal was clarified by the SWAC as a whole, similar goals were grouped together, and each group of goals was integrated into one "higher-level" statement. The SWAC voted to adjourn at this point, and to continue the K-J process: at the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. The next meeting is on Wednesday, November 13, 1991. y r ~x 191DLA0000/.AH5 1__ w I L C'7 I ha G T f-4 P=i L I C; E C~ T- - 1 W E D P ~ y North Shore Regional Recycling Committee Meeting Minutes - October 10, 1991 Communities Attending: Erin Battistelli - Gloucester Margaret Lockwood - Rockport John Merritt - DEP Nelson Kesaler - Swampscott Peter Kersey - Melrose Anne Mark Reading George Zambourns - Beverly Kim Lord - Salem E. James Ryan - Lynn Win Snow - Ipswich Linda Bergman - Peabody Victoria DiCologero - Revere Arthur Turner - Melrose Jeff Hull - Wilmington Ernest Stenquist - Rockport Robin Levesque - Beverly Don DeHart - Danvers Rebecca Curran - Marblehead Mary Ellen Schloss - MAPC J. Attubato - Saugus Mark Phelan - NE Recycling 2:13 p.m.- John Merritt reviewed the steps that the Millis Group used in establishing its consortium. He also identified the specific meaning of the consortium by-laws for each community. A critical factor of the by-- laws is that they set a time line of eighteen months for action. The eighteen months was decided upon; as a time frame in order to give those ommun;ties who only have one Town Meeting per year an opportunity to take Action on approval or disapproval of the consortium at their Town Meeting. In general, this time frame would ensure adequate opportunity for each town to review the by-law and consider it at their Town Meeting or other legislative bodies. An assessment of ten cents per head would allow for obtaining legal assistance in preparing the request for proposal and contract documents. Early membership in the consortium and involvement in preparing the request for proposal will allow these communities to derive a specific benefit. Communities who seek to join the consortium at a later wo-thirds of the consortium's membership. date would require approval from two-thirds' John Merritt stressed that the by-laws will not commit any town to anything. There is an eighteen month window of opportunity for the Town's to consider whether or not to join in the consortium. At this time, John Merritt suggested that it would be appropriate to revie,~ the steps in the MRF process. step Adopt the by-laws. John Merritt suggested that today it would be. appropriate for this group to approve the by-law and take the by-law back to their respective communities for review. to : Set a time for Towns to consider and adopt the by-law and commit to the consortium. to : Take the necessary legal steps to join the consortium. Ste : Establish an RFP identifying the terms and conditions. Men 5: Set an RFP due date. Step S: Consortium will reviev the RFP and select one proposal for development of a MRF. Once the winning proposal is-selected, Town's will still have an opportunity to review the winning proposal and the model contract to determine if they want to join. No town will be locked into any arrangement until the model contract is signed. and hel A question was raised reoldinngwafhthemoney total oamount requireddfrom eac~. John Merritt suggested h g 25% community in a joint account with 75% to be held by the individual tows A second question was raised regarding what the money was required for. The concern is that the towns may have the particularly if an override is required. contributions of money will demonstrate commitment. The towns need to show a level of commitment for the MRF project. Considerable discussion took place over how to show commitment other than by raising money. The question was raised as to whether money is necessary to demonstrate commitment. Revisions to the by-laws were considered. specifically, language in sections three, four, six, eight and ten was amended. The by-laws were approved as amended by the committee. Mark Phelan was introduced to the committee to discuss a request for proposal for rubber tire Mdisposal. Mark Phelan is Chairman of the North East Recycling Committee. stated that a RFP has been mailed to all of the towns in Essex County. The RFP is intended to address the land filling of tires which will.be banned request as of January 1, Phelan were presented: for proposal, specifically, the 1. The need for a central collection point.. 2. The need to obtain a commitment from cites and towns interested in participating by the end of October. 3. The cost is determined by multiplying 1.5 times the Town's population to determine the number-of tires. This number is multiplied times 10% then multiplied by $1.75 to determine the cost. ears willing to bid on 4. Oxford Tires is one vendor who app g this proposal. 5. Tires may be made available with or without rims. 6. Conversion factor for weight. 7. Each town must Sign its own contract. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for November 14th at 2:00 p.m. in Danvers. from John Merritt stated that Dan Greenbaum and other represen atives supports office will be out to meet with towns in our group and of for this project. There will be another grant funding round for purchase of bins and trucks related to the. recyclortunptyCfor.obtain~.ngnfundingt A venture such as, this stand a better opp member of the committee announced that. North Shore Recycling has just started taking plastic. Another individual, stated that Peter Breed from Amesbury, is also taking plastic. The city of Gloucester has been using their services and finds them to be acceptable 3:38 p.m. Meeting adjourned. Clerk Jeffrey M. Hull