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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-04-09 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesREADING SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF APRIL 9, 1991 CONFERENCE ROOM, TOWN HALL 1. Call to order by Anne Mark, Chairperson, at 7:35 p.M. Attending Members: Sally Sabo Anne Mark Trish Brigham Linda King Don Anglehart Also attending were volunteers Debbie McCully and Sue Cohen and DPW liaison, Ted McIntire. 2. Presentation of Recycler of the Month Award made to Mike Shannon for month of April, plastic recycling efforts since October. 3. Approval of minutes of previous meetings. Meeting minutes of March 19, 1991 with minor adjustments for spelling of names - approved. Meeting minutes of March 26, 1991 and April 3, 1991 approved as is. 4. April Plastic Recycling - will be coordinated by Sally Sabo and Anne Mark with the help of three Girl Scout Troops and a high school group. Curbside plastics pickup discussion was tabled until after Town Meeting, but it may begin July 1, 1991. 5. Nominations for May Recycler of the mOnth. Sally Sabo nominates Dave Williams, Middle School Teacher, for his Earth Day 1990 work and his coordination of townwide elementary school recycling project. Dave is approved unanimously by committee. Rotary and Colonial Manor are listed for future consideration. 6. Discussion regarding adding additional associate members to committee. Anne explained that there is an extensive procedure to do this. The committee questioned "how many", "how long a term". Sue Cohen, Debbie McCulley agreed that they did not object to being just "volunteers" to the SWAC. Stan Wirsig was not present, but also is a SWAC volunteer. Subject was tabled. 7. Battery Recycling - Anne informed the committee about a Battery Recycling Forum she and Ruth Cogan attended recently. Ruth is considering adding a "dry battery" collection to the existing "wet battery" collection day. She also suggested getting local businesses to assist in an ongoing "button battery " collection process. Sally Sabo questioned the costs associated with these collection processes. Don Anglehart strongly objected to the SWAC or Town initiating a collection process due to hazardous waste liability risks. Don suggested getting a battery manufacturing company or such, to initiate, collect and dispose of batteries. SWAC will seek Town counsel's opinion. It was suggested that we attempt to write some legislation to resolve the battery disposal liability problem. Don will research Mass. Municipal Association regarding this issue. Geoff Beckwith and the Hazardous Waste Committee will be invited to May SWAC meeting to discuss this issue. SWAC April 9, 1991 Page 2 Debbie McCulley suggested that in in-store, on-going collection would not be feasible because people will not "separate" their batteries into buttons, wet and dry, and deliver to two or three locations. Better to keep collection of all types of batteries to one location, if we do, in fact, proceed. Debbie McCulley and Trish Brigham agreed that education of the consumer regarding battery purchases is vital to the entire process since some batteries are more hazardous than others. 8. Trash Fee - Town Meeting passed the trash fee 108-62. Frank Gorgone may ask for a reconsideration of the vote, but there are doubts that he has filed in time to do this. If he succeeds in calling for a special referendum, it could stall and defeat the trash budget which would end the curbside/recycling efforts. Ted McIntire doesn't think it will get to that point, but SWAC will be present at Town Meeting to answer questions. 9. SWAC must make suggestions for Trash Regulation alterations by May meeting. SWAC will sit down with DPW, Ruth Cogan, Hiltz to discuss regulations. Areas highlighted are the weight limit (now 80 lbs.), compost area dates, free bulk pick up suggested by Don Ensminger. The last item, it was suggested, defeats the purpose of recycling. The public will, invariably, hold bulk items until the once per year "free" pick up. Wealso will potentially lose the $5,100.00 in revenue the bulk item stickers brought in, in the last six months. 10. New Business: Boy Scouts rejected the junk mail project. Linda King is considering a White Paper Recycling Project. It was suggested that she contact the High School Recycling Club or Martha Moore or Dave Bolnick, student. Magazine Recycling - Hiltz has a problem having to deliver newspapers and magazines to two separate locations, but this could be included in the new contract in two vears. Meeting adjourned at 9:55 P.M.