North Reading Recycling Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date |
April 20, 2005 |
Present |
Ed McGrath Meg Robertson John Rogers Greta Barresi |
Meeting opening – opened at 7:30 PM, quorum established.
Points covered, discussion, issues:
1) Special collections – Ed reported that special collections dates are set:
a) Special collection (tires, car batteries, propone tanks) – Saturday, June 18
b) Household hazardous waste day – Saturday, September 24
2) Trash/recycling figures
a) Ed showed monthly figures for waste/recycling/white goods collection for FY 2003, 04, and 05. *He will enter the data into the computer and circulate it.
b) Ed reported that North Reading is averaging 65 lbs./week/household, though that figure includes town buildings. That figure is substantially above the state average of 47.
c) Ed showed a copy of a North Reading by-law approved in April 1995 granting selectmen the right to mandate recycling, including fining households that fail to recycle. It is not known whether selectman subsequently exercised the right (meeting minutes since 04-95 would have to be checked). The NRRC may try to get support for such a move if not.
3) Communications plan
a) We reviewed the draft communications plan circulated by Ed. We agreed that a near-term focus would be the development of the website:
i) Basic info – what can be recycled – *John will type up and confirm with BFI
ii) Collection schedule – *John will type up
iii) Special collections – dates, what gets collected
iv) Advice for other materials (as in the brochure we handed out on haz. waste day) – *Meg will forward her version
b) Ed left a VM for the IT contact, Jean Moubhig, and *will follow up. To find out: Is there a standard format for info? Could there be a recycling specific URL/pointer, such as northreadingrecycles.org?
c) *Ed will set up a recycle group on Yahoo.
d) *Ed will check on the status of the old recycling phone number (if it’s still active, where voice mails end up).
e) We need to be thinking about a budget, in case we need to make a request from FinCom in September for the October town meeting.
4) Next meeting – The next meeting was set for Wednesday, May 18, at 7:15 p.m. at Town Hall.
The meeting was adjourned at 9.
* indicates action items
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North Reading Recycling Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date |
May 19, 2005 |
Present |
Greta Barresi Ed McGrath John Rogers Holly Welch |
Meeting opening – opened at 7:30 PM, quorum established.
Points covered, discussion, issues:
1) Minutes – We reviewed the minutes from the meetings of 11/15/04 and 4/20/05 (there was no quorum for the proposed meeting on 12/06/05). The minutes were approved unanimously (John motioned, Greta seconded).
2) Website – John gave an update on the Recycling Committee information for the website. He prepared the basic information, ran it by BFI, and sent it to the IT Committee (Jean Moubhij). She will work on it. The basic information and the calendar will be the first pieces for the site, followed by notices about special collections and information on disposing of other items. *John will continue to work with Jean on the website.
3) Yahoo Group – Ed reported that he set up “NRRecycles” as a Yahoo group (for group e-mail) and site (groups.yahoo.com/group/nrrecycles). Ed encouraged any remaining members to sign up. It will also be opened up to North Reading community members, including, potentially, Neighborhood Captains. We discussed how best to use the group.
4) Special Collection – We discussed how to advertise the June 18 special collection, including flyers, banners, and announcements. Along with propane tanks, tires, and car batteries, we may add fluorescent lamps. *Ed will coordinate with DPW about the collection, including about promoting it in the Transcript, and confirm that NESWC will reimburse lamp collection.
5) Communications Plan – We discussed strategies for decreasing trash, in preparation for the change in contract in September 2006, with significant attention to cost savings for the town.
a) We reviewed the FY 2003-05 data on recycling and waste that Ed posted to the NRRecycles site; Ed and John presented their analyses, showing the increase in trash and decrease in paper recycling, with some seasonality (low recycling in summer, into fall).
b) Ed reported that he found receptivity to recycling in his informal conversations with School Department personnel. A priority recycling target for the schools may be cardboard, particularly before school starts in August. Another opportunity is in plastic recycling in the high school cafeteria.
c) The Transcript is willing to publish a monthly recycling article. *Ed will compose the initial columns.
d) John proposed including the standard recycling flyer in an upcoming trash bill mailing. *Ed will check with Lois to see about the timing of the trash bills.
e) Campaign details: Ed proposed dividing up components (by material) for a “Lose Weight” campaign, with each member develop an action plan for a component. *Ed will develop and send a template and possible roll-out schedule, including:
i) Basic program – September – *Ed
ii) Bulky items – October – *Greta
iii) Magazines (/catalogs) – November – *John
iv) Christmas catalogs – December – *Holly
6) BOS Meeting – A member of the Board of Selectman has requested a report on NR Recycling Committee activities. *Ed and John will compile information to present to acting Town Manager Hanlon for passing to the BOS, possibly in June, with an emphasis on finances.
7) Next meeting – We set the next meeting for Monday, June 6, at 7:15 p.m. at Town Hall.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20.
* indicates action items
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North Reading Recycling Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date |
June 6, 2005 |
|
Present |
Greta Barresi Ed McGrath Meg Robertson |
John Rogers Steve Schuyler Holly Welch |
Meeting opening – opened at 7:30 PM, quorum established.
Points covered, discussion, issues:
1) BOS Meeting – Ed and John reported on their proposed memo to the Board of Selectman. *Ed will present it to acting Town Manager Hanlon for passing to the BOS, possibly in June. *Ed, John, or other NRRC members may attend to explain the plan.
2) Minutes – We reviewed the minutes from the meetings of 05/19/05. With one minor edit, the minutes were approved unanimously (Greta motioned, Meg seconded).
3) Communications Plan
a) School cardboard collection -– Ed reported additional receptivity, from the Middle School, on placing a dumpster for cardboard.
b) Other notes/ideas that emerged:
i) Include a “save-the-date” stuffer on the October Household Haz. Waste Day in the July trash bill mailing.
ii) Have generic banners made, for re-use for Special Collection, Haz. Waste Day, and the “Lose Weight” campaign (“Special Collection next Saturday”).
iii) Request that flyers be put in with new phone books telling people to recycle the old ones.
iv) Consider promoting recycling at Ipswich River Park during the concert series.
v) Monitor trash and recycling at various public buildings, and explore how to get cooperation from different departments by making clear the link to budget/cost savings.
vi) Put together a (recyclable) bag of goodies for Haz. Waste Day, with materials from “Lose Weight”, the water department, RMLD, and others.
c) *John will put together a tentative budget for promotional activities.
d) *Meg will investigate prices with a local sign place.
4) Special Collection – For the June 18 special collection:
a) The town recycling person, Jim, is arranging for propane tanks and tire collection.
b) *Ed will arrange for fluorescent lamp collection, to be reimbursed by NESWC.
c) Other items for collection will include car batteries, and possibly button batteries.
d) *Ed will try to get short articles in the next two weeks in the newspaper.
e) *Ed will follow up with Lois (DPW) about putting an ad in the newspaper.
f) *Ed will ask Lois to make copies of our Recycling Resources handout (300-400, dbl-sided).
g) *Ed will do a flyer for downloading and posting by NRRC members.
h) *NRRC members will gather at 8:30 a.m. (collection is 9-12)
5) Next meeting – We set the next meeting for Wednesday, June 29, at 7:15 p.m. at Town Hall.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. (Steve motioned, Greta seconded).
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North Reading Recycling Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date |
June 29, 2005 |
|
Present |
Greta Barresi Ed McGrath |
John Rogers Steve Schuyler |
Meeting opening – opened at 7:45 PM, quorum established.
Points covered, discussion, issues:
1) EPA Grant Prospect – The committee discussed a request for proposal from USEPA, due 7/20/05, whose potential scope includes recycling. NRRC could request money to cover the costs of the proposed campaign to expand recycling, including targeting mercury (of special interest to EPA) through regular fluorescent lamp collection and placing dumpsters by public buildings. To gauge the prospects, *Ed will discuss with acting Town Manager Dave Hanlon about how the town would apply, and contact the EPA to see about their receptivity and the likely competitiveness (the expected number of applicants for the number of available grants).
2) Special Collection – Ed reported that the special collection on June 18 had gone very well, with 113 households (cars) participating, and substantial collections of car batteries, fluorescent lamps, and propane tanks, plus tires. Notes:
a) NRRC particularly commends the three DPW people involved (Lou, Tom, and Scott) for their efficiency and helpfulness.
b) Ed suggested that for future collections it would be good to note DPW drop-offs (tires and tanks) separately, to help with financial reconciliation of payments collected from other drop-offs.
3) BOS Meeting – Ed is coordinating with Dave Hanlon on the memo submitted. NRRC will be invited to attend some upcoming meeting to present the proposal, likely 8/8 (or 7/25).
4) Minutes – We reviewed and unanimously approved the minutes from the meetings of 6/6/05 (Steve motioned, Greta seconded).
5) Budget – We reviewed the “strawman” budget that John had put together, and discussed other items that could be included. To get it to a usable state:
a) *John will edit the budget and upload it to nrrecycles.
b) *Steve will check on the costs of advertising in The Transcript.
c) *Meg will check on the costs of signs.
d) *Ed will check on the costs of flyers/brochures.
*John will also work on the website with the IT committee contact.
6) Next Meeting – No date was set for the next meeting. We will coordinate that after knowing the date for the BOS meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. (John motioned, Steve seconded).
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North Reading Recycling Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date |
August 2, 2005 |
|
Present |
Greta Barresi Ed McGrath Meg Robertson |
John Rogers Steve Schuyler |
Meeting opening – opened at 7:30 PM, quorum established.
Points covered, discussion, issues:
1) Minutes – We reviewed and unanimously approved the minutes from the meetings of 6/29/05 (Meg motioned, Greta seconded).
2) Water Bill Mailing, Trash Bill Mailing – We discussed the proposed bill stuffers. The first, due within 1-2 weeks, will introduce the “Lose Weight” campaign.
a) *Committee members will submit bullet point ideas on why people should recycle.
b) *Ed will send around a (non-Publisher) version for member review.
c) It will include a mention of the Sep. 24 Hazardous Household Waste Collection.
3) Budget – We reviewed the revised budget. One error needs fixing, and we agreed to budget for fewer ads, relying more on the promotional impact of the free monthly articles and DPW announcements about special events. *Meg will check on banner costs. *John will revise the budget again and re-circulate. We do not have a budget figure, but Dave Hanlon has indicated that expenses can be covered out of the DPW budget.
4) Fall Promotions – We discussed promotion strategies and ideas.
a) We agreed that the campaign target would be 47 lbs. per household, a 28% drop from the current 65 lbs. Because town buildings are included in that figure, we felt we could make significant progress quickly.
b) T-shirts? Maybe, for committee members on HHW Collection, to promote “Lose Weight”
c) Have schools compete? We agreed that it might be better to use that strategy later in the campaign, when it is in need of reinvigoration.
d) *John will follow up on the NR website.
e) We discussed, as material for a future article, telling the town what is banned under state law.
f) We also discussed having places for townspeople to comment or complain: web, phone.
5) Outreach to Town Departments – Ed reported that he has Dave’s permission to approach different departments about their waste habits and needs.
a) *Ed will talk with Brian Woods about adding a recycling plan requirement to the permitting process for use of the town fields.
6) HHW Collection – We discussed the promotion strategy for the HHW. It will include:
a) Article, ad, and PSAs
b) Banners, yard signs, and sandwich board
c) Sign about “no yard waste”
d) Handouts (for people arriving)
7) Old/New Business –
a) *Ed will formally (in writing) commend the three DPW employees who helped with the Special Collection.
8) Next Meeting – We set a tentative date of Tuesday, August 30.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. (John motioned, Meg seconded).
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North Reading Recycling Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date |
September 19, 2005 |
|
Present |
Greta Barresi Ed McGrath |
John Rogers Holly Welch |
Meeting opening – opened at 7:20 PM, quorum established.
Points covered, discussion, issues:
1) Chair’s Report – Ed mentioned that he and Dave Hanlon had been discussing alternatives for collecting paper from the schools. They met last week with ABITIBI and will meet soon with JRM Hauling. He also reported that he had applied for a grant ($3400) from the DEP for recycling carts, totes, and cash for marketing the new campaign
2) Minutes – We reviewed and unanimously approved the minutes from the meetings of 8/2/05 (Holly motioned, Greta seconded).
3) Website – John gave an update on the website. He and Ed met with Mark Clark based on the new Town Administrator’s interest in having all the departments submit material for a new town website, and subsequently submitted draft pages and material for the Recycling Committee. NRRC members should have a chance to review and edit it before it goes live.
4) Household Hazardous Waste Day – We discussed HHW Day, scheduled for next Saturday, September 24:
a) Ed handed out flyers for posting around town.
b) Ed submitted an article about HHW Day to the Transcript, to run on Thursday.
c) *Ed will contact Lois about posting a sign during the week alerting people to the fact that the compost will be closed.
d) *John will print out resources from the Web for common questions that may come up on Saturday, and bring paper to note additional questions that come up, including material for the website’s FAQ section.
e) *NRRC members are to meet at 8:30 a.m.; the crowds begin arriving at 9 a.m.
5) Campaign
a) *Ed and Meg have lawn signs promoting “Lose Weight”, for placing in strategic areas around town.
b) *Ed also had three banners made up, including for the IRP fence and the corner of Haverhill and Park.
c) *Ed also had T-shirts made up, and presented one to each member of the Board of Selectman during the 9/19/05 meeting.
d) *Greta presented a draft of an article for next month’s focus item: bulk waste.
6) Next Meeting – We discussed options for a standard meeting day (third Monday of each month, for example), but did not set one.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. (Holly motioned, Greta seconded).
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North Reading Recycling Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date |
November 14, 2005 |
|
Present |
Greta Barresi David Long Ed McGrath |
Meg Robertson John Rogers |
Meeting opening – opened at 7:30 PM, quorum established.
Points covered, discussion, issues:
1) Chair’s Report – Ed reported that:
a) The request for a DEP grant appears to have been rejected, because we were late with the application (website troubles).
b) He met with the School Committee and Dr. Troughton’s Administrators Council to discuss recycling in the schools. Per Dave Hanlon, the target date for recycling in all town buildings is 1/1/06. Hanlon has asked all department heads to assign a point of contact for the building and an alternate.
c) He spoke with the Police Department to arrange to have a dumpster for paper while the department prepares for its move to Central Street.
d) Mike Sideris, a junior at NRHS, will be working on the recycling program at the HS as part of his community service.
2) Minutes – We reviewed and unanimously approved the minutes from the meetings of 9/18/05 (John motioned, Meg seconded).
3) Tonnage Figures – We reviewed the latest figures for commingled and paper collected.
4) Website – John gave an update on the website. He gave DPW’s Mark Clark a suitably complete version for posting, for later editing/expanding. *John will send out word to the committee when the pages are up and running.
5) April Town Meeting Warrant – Ed proposes changing the warrant on recycling revenue that appears at each April Town Meeting, to cover a variety of recycling revenues and expenses. *Ed will circulate the proposed edits.
6) Promotional Efforts/Campaign
a) We will wait on the article on bulk waste, to focus on magazine and catalog recycling in advance of the holiday season. *Ed will draft an article for The Transcript.
b) We discussed items to ask BFI about, concerning recyclability, for a December article: Christmas cards, wrapping paper. The article can also mention other (confirmed) seasonal recyclables such as wrapping paper tubes. *All – Please submit other ideas to ask about or to mention.
c) We also discussed other items that could be collected at the Special Collection (or monthly, perhaps), including electronics, scrap metal, and alkaline batteries. *David will look into the alkaline-battery recycling options, even though they can be thrown away. *All – Please submit other ideas.
d) Greta mentioned the importance of getting the message out that oil is collected regularly (in season), not just on the special collection days.
e) *All - Ed encouraged members to find different places to post the remaining Lose Weight lawn signs for a few more weeks.
7) Next Meeting(s) – The proposed fixed meeting date is the second Tuesday of every month. The next meeting, therefore, is Tuesday, December 13, at 7:15 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. (John motioned, David seconded).
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North Reading Recycling Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date |
December 13, 2005 |
|
Present |
Greta Barresi David Long Ed McGrath |
Meg Robertson John Rogers Holly Welch |
Meeting opening – opened at 7:25 PM, quorum established.
Points covered, discussion, issues:
1) Minutes – We reviewed and unanimously approved the minutes from the meetings of 11/14/05 (Meg motioned, Greta seconded).
2) Recycling in Public Buildings
a) Ed reported that Dave Hanlon and others had met this morning to discuss the Jan. 1 transition to JRM for paper recycling.
b) The police station move is still an issue, to figure out how to capture all the waste paper.
c) We discussed re-considering the dumpster policy at public buildings to control illegal dumping, perhaps by eliminating them except at the DPW facility.
3) Website – John reported that the website is up and running.
a) *John will check with Mark Clark to see how to update the website (preferably with direct access, rather than through DPW). One near-term target would be holiday announcements—what materials can/should be recycled over the next month. John also has other update ideas for the re-use/reduce section, on books and appliances. *Meg will send some sample language for a disclaimer.
b) *John will check with Mark on the ability of the website to sign people up to receive e-mail updates on recycling.
4) April Town Meeting Warrant – Ed read the proposed text for the warrant on recycling revenue that will appear in April. The committee approved it unanimously (Meg motioned, Holly seconded).
5) Public Hearing – We discussed the idea of convening a public hearing to figure out how to get people to recycle, perhaps during the scheduled NRRC meeting in Feb.
a) *Committee members will survey friends/neighbors who don’t recycle to find out some of the issues, possibly in preparation for a January article on “Why I Don’t Recycle.” We discussed possible issues: weight, capacity (of bins), confusion (1&2), what’s in it for me?
b) *Meg will see about getting NRRC on the agenda for a brief presentation/dialogue during the January Girl Scouts leaders meeting.
6) Promotional Efforts/Campaign
a) Ed reported that the NRHS student is producing some good material to target recycling in the schools.
b) Meg suggested we begin to consider give-away options for the summer barbeques at IRP.
c) *John will draft a holiday article for next week’s Transcript.
d) *Greta will draft an e-mail to the Historical Commission to find out the procedures for posting banners in the center of town (the “Lose Weight” banner was removed under orders).
e) We discussed forming sub-committees to focus on particular issues: Rec. recycling, membership, public buildings, others
7) Old/New Business
a) We discussed the issue of quorum, given that there are eight official members of the committee.
b) Ed said that DPW will reimburse committee members who would like to attend the recycling workshop in Worcester on Jan. 11.
8) Next Meeting – The next meeting is Tuesday, January 10, at 7:15 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. (John motioned, David seconded).
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