TOWN OF MANSFIELD

Solid Waste Advisory Committee

Minutes of the Meeting

January 11, 2007

 

Present:  Ames, Knox, Hultgren (staff), Walton (staff)

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m.

 

The minutes of September 7, 2006 were reviewed, but not approved since there was not a quorum. Approval is delayed until the next meeting.

 

Walton stated that the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition has been preparing for the 2007 legislative session by holding meetings to learn about other state (Maine, California, Washington) electronics recycling laws. The CRC will be testifying for manufacturer product responsibility and along those lines will support the Northeast Recycling Council’s model electronics legislation.

 

The committee decided that the second paint swap will be held on May 12, 2007, from 9:00 to 2:30 (or 3:00 pm) at the Transfer Station.

 

Walton reported that the Festival on the Green yielded an 85% waste reduction between recycling and composting – each year there has been a 15% improvement. A letter was sent in October 2006 to Dunkin Donuts requesting their participation in this low-waste effort for next year. (They did not participate in 2006 to the chagrin of the event organizers.) No response has been received from them.

 

Walton stated that Wesleyan College took the Earth Tub composter from Southeast School in October. Public Works staff will build a compost bin at Southeast School, similar in style to the Middle School’s, once another construction project at the elementary school is complete. Until then, the food waste from the elementary schools is being delivered to MMS where it is being composted temporarily.

 

Hultgren reported that with the new single-family contract, which Mayo & Sons has retained, there has been a noticeable decline in Mayo’s feedback on service issues. Staff is not sure if this is related to underbidding the new contract, but is staying aware of other changes in service.

 

Walton stated that Town Council approved the adoption of an organic land care program. The program has four parts –manage the municipal fields and parks organically, inform and encourage local landscapers  to become accredited organic landcare providers, promote local retailers who carry a full line of organic products for lawn management and offer a series of organic land care workshops for residents. An organic lawn and turf management training for municipal staff is tentatively scheduled for March 6, 2007. The homeowner workshops are as follows: Organic Lawns, March 24; Backyard Conservation, April 21; Native Plants, April 28; and Composting workshop, May 5. The Biostack composter has been discounted at the composting workshops for the past eleven years, but the price has risen to $105.  The committee decided to start offering the Soilsaver composter ($47) at the workshops instead.

                                                                                                            

Hultgren reported that the swap shop volunteer guidelines have been adopted. Small gift certificates were sent to the five volunteers who have been faithful helpers over the years.

 

Walton stated that on November 4, 2006 sorority and fraternity members went out to selected apartments where they handed out recycling literature. The apartments they canvassed were Carriage House, Celeron Square, Hunting Lodge, Orchard Acres, Knollwood, Oakwood, Clubhouse, Millbrook, and Maplewood Unfortunately, the group canvassing Celeron Square Apartments was asked to leave the premises.

 

Hultgren reviewed the Solid Waste budget expenditures and income. The budget of approximately $1 million continues to lose about $25,000 each year; however, there is enough money in the enterprise fund to buffer this difference. A rate increase for collection will be necessary in 2007 to minimize these losses.

 

Although Big Y and Grand Union are not specifically at fault, Walton is getting a steady stream of complaints from residents who are having difficulty getting paper bags at the grocery stores. It was decided to send a letter to Big Y and Grand Union thanking them and encouraging them to continue to carry paper bags, as it has an impact on the Town’s recycling program. There was discussion also about asking Big Y to use recyclable containers in their take out section, but this idea will be revisited at a future meeting.

 

Walton distributed a flyer on two energy saving lighting sales –February 11, 2007 from 1 pm to 5 pm at the Community Center and March 15, 2007 from 12 pm to 6:30 pm at the Town Hall.

 

Members were invited to attend the Building Energy 07, a conference on alternative energy.

 

The committee requested that staff find out if the markets are good enough for all numbers of plastic containers to be recycled. Walton will ask Tim Wentzell, the regional recycling coordinator, to contact Willimantic Waste Paper with this question.

                                                                                                    

The next meeting is scheduled for March 8, 2007 in Conference room C. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Virginia Walton

Recycling/Refuse Coordinator

                                                                 

Cc: Lon R. Hultgren, Director of Public Works, Members, file, Town Manager, Town Clerk