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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrash/Recycling Comm. 8/24/2020Trash & Recycling Task Force Ad Hoc Committeg August 24, 2020 MEETING MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Schoonveld, Select Board Member Lee Azinheira, DPW Director Mike Ahern, Public Buildings/Special Projects Manager Christina Collins, DPW Office Manager Neil Rhein, Select Board Clerk Graham Wilson, Board of Health Jack Cooney, Finance Committee Amy Donovan -Palmer, Health Agent Kevin Dumas, Town Manager SPECIAL GUEST: Chris Macera - Republic 1. Call to Order — Reading of virtual meeting law — 2. Approval of Minutes - July 13, 2020 - August 3, 2020 Mike Ahern makes a motion to approve the minutes for July 13, 2020 and August 3, 2020; Lee Azinheira seconds the motion; motion passes unanimously 9-0 3. Presentation by Chris Macera from Republic Services (15-20 minutes) Republic Services is a nationally recognized company with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona; they do business in 41 states and Puerto Rico; with over 36,000 employees; they have over 2000 municipal contracts with all forms and fashions; and have the 7°1 largest rolling fleet in the country; Currently have 35 to 40 contracts in Massachusetts; Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are located in Auburn, Fall River and Tyngsboro; transfer a lot on rail and that situation is evolving and growing; Chris gave an overall presentation of what other communities are doing and what can be expected in the future with trash and recycling collection. Chris commented that he is very familiar with Mansfield's trash and recycling model and it works very well overall. Many communities are trying to adopt Mansfield model or similar for new contracts. 4. Questions & Comments from Committee Members Kevin Dumas asks what system is the most prevalent in Massachusetts; fully automated like the system we have is most efficient and quickest; many hybrids off base system with regards to bulky items; white goods; construction debris; etc. Recycling is the expense now because of all the recycling issues; wouldn't recommend taking anything out of recycling as most plants use the single stream system; Discussion ensues about recycling costs and effective ways to improve recycling and the current trash and recycling program we currently have in Mansfield; educating the public about recycling and such helps keep recycle clean and people doing it correctly; trash and recycling has been about 2.25% of the budget and town would like to keep it in that range; 5. Review & Development of Trash & Recycling Budget Projections Steve Schoonveld provided a general synopsis of the budget projects in a spreadsheet he prepared. 6. Review & Development of Committee short-term and long-term initiatives Discussions about different trash and recycling proposals begin; ideas such as reducing cart size and maybe getting a trash compactor for the recycle park and then maybe have bags residents can purchase and bring directly to the Mansfield Green; many different ideas are discussed and the pros and cons of each idea are also discussed; or maybe two different size carts and families pay extra for a larger cart; Would like to do an inventory of current carts for both trash and recycling and sizes; also would like to try and get an average of how many current residents fill their current trash carts every week; Lee Azinheira will arrange a meeting with the truck drivers and ask them for their input as to what they see with the cart capacity and how much they are being filled on a weekly basis. 7. Items Not Known 48 hours prior to meeting Mike Ahern gives updated numbers for the recycle park — they are as follows: 8/l/20 — 391; 8/3/20 —174; 8/4/20 — 72 — total - 637 8/8/20 — 615; 8/10/20 —192; 8/11/20 — 58 — total - 865 8/15/20 — 465; 8/17/20 —181; 8/18/20 — 92 — total — 738 Memo will be prepared with regard to changing the hours at the Mansfield Recycle Park, which is proposed to take place during the month of November when the Mansfield Green is open on Sundays for composting; Also, discuss changing location of sticker placement on vehicles as they are difficult to see where they are currently located; would like to move to driver's side lower windshield; Lee Azinheira will check with parking enforcement officer also with regard to placement of sticker and will include in memo to board; Discussion about the clothing bins at the Mansfield Green — coming up with some type of policy with regard to donations bins will be discussed at the next meeting; Lee will reach out to Simple Recycling for additional information with regard to their services; 8. Next Meeting - September 28, 2020 — agenda items: discuss clothing / donation bins with regard to creating a policy for placement of them; also projection of trash and recycling expenses; and start formulating proposal packages for trash and recycling 9. Adjournment — Mike Ahern makes motion to adjourn; Lee Azinheira seconds motion; motion passes unanimously 9-0 Respectfully Submitted Christina Collins OJ tz� Signature of Commission Clerk Date of Acceptance