TOWN OF MANSFIELD

Solid Waste Advisory Committee

Minutes of the Meeting

October 14, 2004

 

 

Present:  Gogarten (chair), Smith, Roberts, Knox, McLaughlin, Hultgren (staff), Walton (staff)

 

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

 

The minutes of August 26, 2004 were reviewed and no corrections made.

 

Hultgren reported that staff has been keeping track of the origins of bulky waste delivered to the transfer station. 25% to 30% of bulky waste is from town projects. Based on this finding, the fee of $20 per cubic yard comes closer to recovering the residential share of bulky waste than previously thought.

 

Hultgren stated the trash compactors at the transfer station are already paying for themselves. Unlike the other trash roll-offs, which were emptied two or three times per week, one compacted roll-off is emptied every 7 to 10 days at $125 per haul. With the total rental for both compactors at $300 a month, the town is saving several hundred dollars each month from the reduced number of hauls.

 

Hultgren reported that the landfill closing will be finished in another week, a week later than planned. The surface has been seeded with grass and the final step will be to survey the completed landform. A portion of the capped landfill will continue to be used for processing wood and brush.

 

Walton stated that 55% of the waste was either composted or recycled from the Festival on the Green. Most of the compostable waste was plastic-coated cups. The compost is currently being managed at the transfer station. There have been a couple of inquiries about the use of the compostable knives, forks and spoons since the Festival. Staff was directed to submit some publicity to trade journals. Walton said that Cynthia van Zelm was also going to include this information into the Downtown Partnership's follow-up publicity.

 

Hultgren reported that the proposed LEED policy for town municipal building projects was brought before town council on October 12. The council decided to postpone a decision for two weeks, as they wanted some public input. A press release has been sent out to the local papers and radio stations and staff is gathering LEED case studies that include cost analyses for council members. SWAC members were encouraged to attend the next town council meeting on October 25, 2004. Smith stated that a LEED training workshop is being offered to any interested persons on November 3, 2004 from 5:30 to 7:30  in the town council chambers. This is being organized by Citizens for Responsible Growth.

 

Walton and Hultgren stated progress is being made on transfer station data entry, but no reports were available to review. They should have them ready by the next SWAC meeting. Thus far 2100 stickers have been issued at the transfer station.

 

Walton passed around a draft of a litter ordinance for review. Walton used other Connecticut communities' ordinances as a guide, which are essentially identical to one another. However, Walton inserted an enforcement section that was taken from Mansfield's solid waste regulations.

 

Walton reminded members that America Recycles Day is November 15. She stated that she would be encouraging the schools to take part in a CD/tape swap and recycling  project sponsored by the CRC.

 

Walton reported that in September she, EO Smith teacher Julie Sherman and an EO Smith student met with UConn marketing professor Dr. Srinivasan, to discuss conducting a school survey on attitudes toward recycling. Although Dr. Srinivasan can not conduct the survey, he thought that he might be able to enlist help. No further word has been received from him. In the interim, Walton will work with the student to observe some disposal activities at the school.

 

No further action has been taken with UConn on coordinating recycling promotion.

 

Hultgren reported that a resident asked if he could take electronics from the transfer station. Since no scavenging signs were recently placed at the transfer station, he has not been able to gather materials. His interest is in teaching students how to repair electronic equipment. The resident will put together a proposal for Town review.

 

Some discussion ensued about informing residents to erase information on hard drives from leaving them at the transfer station. One thought was to have a strong magnet available at the transfer station. No action was taken.

 

The next meeting was set for November 18, 2004

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Virginia Walton

Recycling/Refuse Coordinator

 

 

 

       

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