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SSRC MSW Manager Breakfast Forum Minutes 1/13/2005, 9:00 am, Cohasset Town Hall accepted 2/9/05 Present: Abington: Michelle Roberts*; Cohasset: Merle Brown*, John McNabb*, Arthur Lehr, Carl Sestito; Hanover: Steve Herrmann*; Holbrook: Ken Brown*; Plymouth: Arthur Douylliez*; Whitman: Al Scoglio*, Joseph Lambert, MA DEP, Claire Sullivan, SSRC Executive Director *appointed Board members Chairman Merle Brown called the meeting to order at 9:20. Joseph Lambert, a liaison to municipalities on solid waste issues from the Mass. DEP, who also serves on the Marshfield BPW, gave an overview of some statewide municipal solid waste issues. He pointed out that solid waste contributes to global warming and climate change, noting a 20% reduction in the polar ice pack and a northward migration of temperate tree species. Pay as You Throw (PAYT) is an effective tool in reducing municipal waste, and 111 of the 331 Mass. municipalities that provide solid waste services to their residents now charge based on trash volume. He recommended that towns that use that model run the receipts through an enterprise account. He described Marshfield’s new punch card system limiting disposal at the transfer station to once weekly, weight based billing for commercial loads, and fees for white goods, which have resulted in a 25% reduction in trash volume. Marshfield has just hired a PT recycling coordinator, will rewrite specs in the new curbside contract to capture more cardboard by eliminating the need for ratepayers to cut it up, and establish Green Teams in the schools. He reminded the managers that demand and pricing for recyclables is up due to the hot Chinese market. Ken Brown noted some quality problems with their new PAYT bags, but was pleased with BFI’s enforcement of the rules. Merle Brown suggested that DEP offer scales for transfer stations as grant items. Ms. Sullivan encouraged the sharing of part time recycling coordinators among towns. Minutes: Mr. Scoglio moved that the 11/15 minutes be accepted as written, Ms. Roberts seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Treasurer’s Report: The executive director reported that the balance as of 12/15/04 was $55,368.38. Report was not available. Review Plan: The Exec. Dir. noted the status of each item in the Plan. Mr. McNabb noted that there was 3-4 months until hearings are scheduled on new legislation. Bills of interest to the SSRC include the EWaste Producer Responsibility HD1960, the Updated Bottle Bill HD3689, and the inclusion of electricity from waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities in the Renewable Portfolio Standard HD(?). Merle Brown recommended that the SSRC pursue Hanson, Pembroke and other towns to join. The Exec. Dir. was asked to investigate how to measure the effectiveness of our radio ads, and to ask the local weekly papers to include our web address in their recycling space fillers. Annual Report: Mr. McNabb requested that the Exec. Dir. use a narrative rather than an outline format, and summarize time spent rather than breaking it down in each item. The Report should be submitted by each town’s Board reps. Mr. Herrmann noted that Cyn Oil has typically allowed his waste oil to contain a small quantity of gasoline, which is prohibited in the agreement the Exec. Dir. signed. The Exec. Dir. will investigate. Legislative Breakfast: Plan for April 22 (Earth Day) at Cameron’s on the Green. Exec. Dir. suggested rep. Teahan be awarded Environmental Hero status, because she always attends the breakfasts, has sought the Exec. Dir.’s advice on outreach, and she spearheaded an effort to increase the Recycling line item in the Supplemental Budget last fall. Others felt this wasn’t sufficient to warrant the award, and requested that the Exec. Dir. solicit other nominations. Mr. Herrmann moved to authorize the Exec. Dir. to spend up to $1000 for the Breakfast, Mr. McNabb seconded, passed unanimously. Executive Director’s Report: Ads on CD – the five-one minute radio ads recorded for the SSRC by Holbrook’s Jeff Lowe were distributed, with the recommendation to play them at transfer stations and any other appropriate venues. Decals for our grant recycling bins (SSBRP and Events Recycling) were passed around for inspection Exec. Dir. will affix to bins shortly. Signs for HHP days are ready for pickup at South Shore Sign. SEMASS covered the $650 cost through the Material Separation Plan (MSP). One sign directs cars to the collection, one instructs about latex paint disposal, and the third advertises the thermometer swap. Grinding/screening/removal IFB: Exec. Dir. sent 33 notices to contractors, sent out 11 bid packets, opening scheduled for 1/18, 1:15 pm, at the Hanover DPW. Lion’s Head Organics noted some potentially erroneous assumptions on the relative efficiencies of trommel and star screeners on which the award was to be based. Exec. Dir. had gotten the information from non-bidding dealers the last time it was bid. Merle Brown suggested that we invite Chip, who bought a screener for Needham recently, Laffey to our next meeting. New MSP -12 Universal Waste Sheds will be made available, may be sited at schools or other municipal locations where fluorescent tubes are generated. Managers were reminded to submit mercury reimbursement forms with cost info from Onyx, Complete Recycling Solutions, and/or Clean Harbors. Exec. Dir. has Clean Harbors household haz prod figures. CRTRecycling will provide a second trailer at no cost to towns that want to separate televisions from other electronics. It also does free pickups of computers from schools, and is not charging for air conditioners. Brockton Iron and Steel is accepting TVs, computers, a/cs and fridges at no charge, delivered from munis only, no walk ins. A board member also reported that PC trading in Whitman does take TVs and computers at n/c from walk ins. Review newsletter – Exec. Dir. reminded board to read the newsletter, there is a lot of important information in it. She was directed to send it to the local weeklies, WATD, WJDA, WPLM, and Bob Carroll at the Globe South Weekly. She had already sent it to some of those media outlets. Revised Visitor Authorization Form was distributed. It clarifies some details that posed problems last year. Mercury trainings – offered by SEMASS through the MSP. All staff who handle mercury items should be trained. Hosts were solicited. Mr. Scoglio volunteered Whitman, Mr. Sestito volunteered Cohasset, and Ms. Diebel volunteered Rockland. Exec. Dir. will schedule. Data - Exec. Dir.. apologized for not compiling all the data she badgered the managers for in CY04. The database program is a little unmanageable, and she needs help streamlining it. Ken Brown moved that she be authorized to hire someone to help her, Mr. McNabb seconded the motion, passed unanimously. New Business: Mr. Scoglio pointed out that in some recent correspondence, Ms. Sullivan’s title was listed as Solid Waste Planner rather than Executive Director. She will try to track it down and fix. Mr. McNabb reminded the Board that the DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee would convene on 1/27 to discuss revisions to the Solid waste Master Plan, and C&D regulations.. Next mtgs: Feb. 9, Abington Town Hall; March 9, Hanover Town Hall Meeting adjourned at 11:07. Respectfully submitted,
Claire L. Sullivan, Executive Director |