2004 ANNUAL REPORT
1/18/2005
The South Shore Recycling Cooperative is a voluntary association of 15 South Shore towns established by Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) and Special Legislation in 1998. Members of the SSRC are: Abington, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Plymouth, Rockland, Scituate, Weymouth, and Whitman.
Each member town is represented by two town associates appointed by the Selectmen (see attached list).
According to the IMA, the mission of the SSRC is: "… to provide a forum of cooperative management of solid waste by members, to assist each member Town to improve the cost-effectiveness of their recycling efforts by providing economy of scale while maintaining full control over solid waste management; to assist members to improve programs to divert waste materials from the waste stream and to reduce the amount and toxicity of wastes; and to provide such assistance on an individual basis to each member Town and cooperatively in joint programs with other Towns."
Each member town pays an annual membership fee of $4,000. In 2004 the raised a total of $60,000 through these fees, which the SSRC supplemented with various state and private grants. Those funds pay for the services of an Executive Director and support various solid waste and recycling activities during the year to benefit member towns. The SSRC estimates that in 2004 these activities saved member towns a total of $84,000, and provided over 250 hours of direct services to the towns.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS PRODUCT COLLECTIONS: By using the regional contract negotiated by the SSRC with Clean Harbors for the collection and disposal of household hazardous products, Member Towns saved about 25% plus the $700 setup fee required in the State contract, and avoided the administrative time to bid it out and publicize them. At 2004's ten collections, which were attended by 1725 residents, savings were approximately $26,000 for this service. The contract also enabled 136 residents and businesses to attend other towns' collections in the region that year using the reciprocal arrangement, which is administered by the Executive Director (ED). The SSRC publicized the events with several thousand flyers delivered to the town halls and libraries and ongoing press releases in all local papers, on cable TV and the radio. The ED attended and helped run nine of the collections, handed out paint stirrers with cost saving instructions on latex paint disposal, provided signs and calculated the proper billing for the vendor to ensure that discounts and allowances were credited and visitors billed properly.
CONSTRUCTION AND BULKY WASTE. By using the arrangement negotiated by the SSRC with the Bourne ISWMF, Member Towns enjoyed a disposal rate of $70/ton for construction and bulky waste. The gate fee is $75/ton. With a generation of 8,095 tons, Member Towns saved $40,475 in CY04 with this arrangement. The ED also spent 25 hours conducting an RFP for future construction & bulky waste processing, as the Bourne Facility may no longer be able to accept this material at some unknown time in the near future. Four companies responded to the RFP, and a contract was awarded to Waste Management, but has not been signed yet.
MATTRESSES. The SSRC conducted an RFQ for mattress processing when the surcharge at Bourne increased from $10 to $15 each plus the tip fee and transportation, coupled with the elimination of the 10 mattress/load allowance. Three companies responded, and the SSRC accepted an offer by Miller Recycling in Plainville to transport and process mattresses for $14/each, including container rental. This arrangement saved the three participating towns approximately $3,000 in the 3-4 months the agreement has been in place, with the potential of $16,000/year savings if all eight eligible towns use the agreement for management of the 3,000+ mattresses/year their residents dispose.
WASTE OIL. The SSRC negotiated a 10¢/gal rebate from Cyn Environmental for waste oil. Towns had previously received nothing from either Clean Harbors or Cyn. This should generate $3,000 for Member Towns for the six months it was in effect in 2004.
COMPOST AND BRUSH PROCESSING. The SSRC extended its contracts for brush grinding and compostscreening for the processing of compost, which were used by several of our towns in CY04.
THERMOMETER SWAPS. The SSRC assisted the thirteen member towns that have long term contracts with SEMASS to maximize their benefits from the Material Separation Plan (MSP), including the provision by SEMASS of hundreds of digital thermometers for exchange, Dunkin Donuts coupons as incentive for residents and contractors to turn in mercury thermostats, reimbursement for mercury disposal costs, and outreach assistance (HHP flyers, radio ads, and signs) valued at approximately $11,000. These programs removed over 45 lbs. of mercury from the waste stream in 2004.
RADIO ADS. The SSRC produced five one-minute radio ads promoting recycling and waste reduction, which were broadcast 68 times on WATD 95.9 fm (Marshfield), and WJDA 1300 am (Quincy) in November. The SSRC obtained sponsorship from American Ref Fuel at SEMASS to cover half of the airtime cost. Holbrook Selectman and SSRC Board Member Jeff Lowe, a radio professional, co-wrote and recorded the ads. Total cost was $1,200.
EVENT RECYCLING. Through a grant from the Mass. DEP, the SSRC worked with event organizers to establish event recycling programs at the South Shore Arts Festival, the Sustainable South Shore Climate InfoFest, and the Marshfield Fair. While public education was the main benefit, five tons of material was also diverted from the trash for recycling. Recycling containers were included in the grant, and are available for loan to all Member Town events.
LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST. The SSRC held a Legislative Breakfast in May at which Rep. Mark Carron (D- Southbridge) was recognized with our “Environmental Hero” award for his sponsorship and support of a bill requiring computer manufacturers to take financial responsibility for proper recycling of used electronics.
ADVOCACY. The ED orchestrated municipal advocacy for State budget items that benefit municipal solid waste programs. Legislators seek her advice on solid waste matters. She also attended policy meetings, forums and conferences hosted by the DEP, Solid Waste Association of North America, the Council of SEMASS Communities, the Mass. Recycling Coalition, and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, and attends most Mass. DEP Solid Waste Advisory Committee meetings. She shares what she learns with the Managers, and relays the Managers' concerns to the professional and State organizations and regulators.
WEBSITE. With help from Norwell volunteer John Garvey, the SSRC went online at ssrc.info. The site includes town-specific recycling information, household hazardous product collection information, press releases, Business Partnership information, links to other sites, annual reports and the newsletter.
ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE. The ED's help is frequently sought by the solid waste managers, both on site and over the phone, on such issues as curbside contracting, disposal of special wastes, alternative vendors for different materials, regulations and accessing grants. She met with the solid waste managers from each town to discuss how to maximize their SSRC benefits, improve their bottom lines, and any other specific needs each town had. She spent extra time consulting with and making presentations to Hull officials and residents about implementing a new curbside collection program, spoke to the Holbrook Selectmen about implementing PAYT, met with Whitman officials to discuss a proposed PAYT program, gave guidance to the Norwell Board of Health on abandoned waste management, and assisted Marshfield in preparing to hire a Recycling Coordinator.
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER. The SSRC publishes a newsletter filled with information of immediate interest to the South Shore solid waste community, including local solid waste news, regulatory and legislative proposals, meetings and seminars. The newsletter is circulated to over 300 town officials, legislators, regulators and volunteers, and is posted online at ssrc.info.
PUBLIC OUTREACH. The SSRC releases articles and provides information to the local press about waste reduction and recycling, and the proper disposal of hazardous waste. The ED also fielded 94 calls from Member Towns’ residents in CY04 to answer questions, mostly about HHP and CRT disposal.
MONTHLY MEETINGS. The SSRC provides valuable networking opportunities and information sharing at our well-attended Solid Waste Manager meetings, at which solid waste collection, disposal and recycling service, pricing and proposed laws and regulations are discussed among member towns. Guest speakers provide information on subjects of interest to the local MSW community, including special waste disposal, regulatory compliance, legislative and budget issues, and grant assistance.
The SSRC exists to serve its member towns by facilitating their solid waste disposal and recycling functions. It always welcomes suggestions on how it can better serve its Members.
Respectfully submitted,
Claire Sullivan, Executive Director