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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrash/Recycling Comm. 03/02/2020Trash & Recycling Task Force Ad Hoc Committee March 2, 2020 MEETING MINUTES } C E MEMBERS PRESENT: Kathy Aguiar, Finance Committee ?: n? Lee Azinheira, DPW Director Christina Collins, DPW Office Manager Mike Ahern, Public Buildings/Special Projects Manager Steve Schoonveld, Select Board Member Neil Rhein, Select Board Clerk Amy Donovan -Palmer, Health Agent Kevin Dumas, Town of Manager MEMBERS NOT PRESENT Graham Wilson, Board of Health 1. Call to Order —Kathy calls the meeting to order 2. Approval of Minutes Approval of January 131h Minutes Motion to Approve Ahern / Collins — Unanimous Approval of February 10"' Minutes Motion to Approve Ahern / Palmer — Unanimous 3. Christopher Macera, Republic Services Mr. Macera had a mix-up of the dates and is on vacation and will be available for the next meeting. 4. Consideration of Fees for Bulky Items and White Goods In depth discussion begins about the possibility of changing the fees for various stickers sold to residents with regard to White Goods, Bulky Items, Mansfield Green Stickers, etc. The Town currently subsidizes the Bulky Item and White Good Sticker fees. If changes are to be paid to the fees, this Committee would make a recommendation to the Select Board to adjust same. Also, Lee would like to look into the sticker fee to get rid of televisions and CRT items as we pay by the pound and some of the older televisions weight a lot. Currently the only other way to dispose of a television/monitor, etc is through Best Buy, which the fee is approximately $25.00; Discussion continues about the fees associated with all the stickers currently in use by the Town; ways to change the system and adjust the fees are discussed 5. Mansfield Green Design / Improvements Discussion begins about the Mansfield Green and ways to redesign and improve same The Mansfield Green design and/or improvements will be broken down into two phases — Phase 1 — see what can be done asap with funds from the current operating budget; for example moving things around and optimizing the space that we have, maybe new layout and moving the guard shed; new traffic flow pattern; and new signage; some of these things, Neil states are in the Recycle IQ Kit; Phase 2 — this will consist of a conceptual design done by an outside consultant; may include changes to grading; containers; etc; Neil would like a Swap Shop to be considered in the Phase II planning; Currently there are four trailers for light bulbs (mercury, fluorescent); some of these trailers came from the military as surplus so the Town received them for free; they are emptied once or twice a year; Colored glass and regular glass bin is picked up by Miller and it is probably emptied every two or so; after long discussion about most cost-effective way to dispose of glass it is agreed upon that it is still most cost-effective to dispose of the glass in the curbside recycling bin There is a cardboard container, a container for plastic; these are probably emptied two to three times per year; Styrofoam container can fill up in one weekend; Miller picks up all the Styrofoam and it basically goes to the landfill (80%); Neil complained about the blowing Styrofoam that is all over the place and basically it cannot be get covered because the backhoe is used to crush it down daily as it sometimes fills up in one weekend; Mike states that the new fence being installed and the new trees will keep the blowing Styrofoam down and in the area; Discussion about what, if anything, can be pulled out of the curbside recycling and strictly brought to the green and after discussing same it is agreed that anything that can be recycled curbside should be recycled curbside - There currently nine clothing bins at the green — and all get filled — one for red cross; several other groups; the Town just recently received a check from Planet Aide for a percentage of the tonnage that Planet Aide collected; The clothes bins are emptied roughly every two weeks; the glass bin is emptied every two years; motor oil is disposed of two to three times per year; The Boy Scouts currently have a bin there which residents can drop of their bottles/cans for deposit; Kathy inquiries about maybe removing the clothing bins and such and relocating them to different areas across town; but after discussion it really becomes that if they are in an area that is unattended they become a dumping ground for all trash and materials; There is also a small cement / asphalt area for small amounts; Lopes picks up this and grinds it up; doesn't really cost as Lopes picks it up when they are in town working; this is not advertised to residents only through word of mouth; probably collect between twenty and thirty trailer loads per year; Freon products are collected in an area and these items are picked up six or seven times per year; Currently there are also two containers for steel / metal — takes two to three weeks to fill both of them; currently the only thing we make a small amount of money on; Continued discussions about the overall green layout; improvements; ways to make it more accessible for residents; maybe a straight shot to the yard debris in early spring and fall; lots of different ideas and suggestions; 6. Follow-up from February loin meeting Discussion then turns to area towns and their current trash/recycling programs and fees Foxboro had curbside pickup and then went to residents finding their own trash/recycling options; Easton currently charges $320 for curbside services; Attleboro is in the process of raising their fees 12% every year; For the next few years it will be $227.69; jumping to $327.00 by FY 25; they currently have a 36 gallon bin and pay for bags for anything above that Sharon is currently $290 for 35 gallon trash and recycling; and $360 for a 90 gallon trash and recycling Wellesley currently has a transfer / recycling facility it is on 17 acres and is a 17 million dollar facility with 13 full-time employees Cambridge offers curbside composting for no fee to every resident — Continued discussion about what a fee program would roughly work out to here in Mansfield and it looks like it would be comparable to the surrounding Towns' fee — continued 8. Goals & Objectives Jessica met with Christina, Lee and Neil she is putting together a few ideas with regard to a flyer/mailer or magnets and what the social media campaign might look like; Chris is working on merging the Town's two current facebook pages so that it is all in one place; Christina and Lee looked into the cost of putting the stickers on the current recycling bins; it would be roughly 1000 stickers and would cost roughly in the $8,000 range; doesn't seem cost effective at this time; going to hold off until the final decision on what program we are going to go with Although committee seems to be leaning to staying with the current type of option we have; definitely need to do due diligence and explore pay as you throw option and all the hybrid options related to both Compost bins — 14 bins left on compost — DEP sent out a video showing the new age composter; this is the area where Jessica can help promote the video and the composter; Mansfield Green will now start accepting checks for the compost bins so it is more convenient to purchase; also discussion about whether the price should be increased for the for the compost bin; discussion about composting and how to attract more people to composting Neil has begun review of the by-laws; they are very old and very vague; In depth discussion about the by-laws and changing same so that apartment and/or condos that currently do not have the option to recycle can participate; discussion about private hauler regulations; this would be something that would most likely be enforced by the Board of Health so Amy will discuss same with said board; In closing - Mike will look into the television issue and the weight and size; Continued discussions about sticker fees and revamping the fees and such; Neil will circulate by-laws and Amy will talk to the Board of Health; Republic will come on April 6`h and discuss the three options; — Chris to work on getting the Town to have only one official Facebook Page 9. Items now known 48 hours prior to meeting Kathy was wondering if an announcement should be made at Town Meeting with regard to the current trash / recycling issues; Kevin advised that basically nothing is set in stone or decided so nothing really should be mentioned; hopefully by fall Town Meeting; 10. Next Meeting Set for Monday, April 6 2020 at 6:00 11. Meeting Adjourned at 8:15 p.m.; Ahern/Collins — unanimous; Respectfully submitted, Lee Azinheira l AnatureComm' on Clerk Date of ceptauce