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Solid Waste Action Team, htm.//www.Iemngtonma mgmwat/HomePage htm
Minutes of SWAT Team Meeting 5/27/98
1 George Woodbury reported on financial aspects of trash disposal. Trash disposal now costs
Lexington$2.5 million/year and will grow a total of$5 million over the next 7 years as we pay for
our share of the incinerator improvements. Recycling costs much less than trash disposal,but by
contract we have to pay the tipping fee for 11,300 tons of trash (the guaranteed annual tonnage,
GAT), even if, due to increased recycling,we produce less than that. We can sell any GAT tonnage
we don't use, but the selling price is much less that what we have to pay for it. Essentially, until 2005
(when our contract expires) it will cost us more if we increase our recycling rate. However,we need
to have a working system in place by that time. John Federochko is interested in the money aspect of
our contract. He will write an article for the newspaper(checking facts with George), so more people
will know about it.
2. There is also the political aspect of trash disposal. John Andrews suggested that if enough people
make a big fuss about it perhaps the state would declare the contract invalid. Political action might
have an effect on companies who produce over-packaged goods. If people realize that 1/3 of the
waste stream is packaging and 1/3 is single-use items, they may pressure companies to reduce the
waste, or they may encourage legislators to pass laws requiring less packaging and waste. George
mentioned that only#1 and#2 plastics are easily recyclable. The others cost so much to recycle that it
is impractical for financially pressed towns to do it.
3 In addition, there is the health issue. There was some unresolved discussion about the amount of
pollution from the incinerator, but everyone seems to agree that more recycling will reduce the
contaminants in the environment. It is important to remember that recycling isn't the only change we
need to make. We need to REFUSE (Don't buy one-use items or ones that pollute when trashed.),
REDUCE (Use less.)REUSE(See that things are used over again without reprocessing, instead of
trashing them.) and finally RECYCLE the remainder
4 This Saturday,May 30, will be the first day of hazardous waste collection at the new Hartwell
Ave. facility Volunteers are needed, starting at 8.30am.
5 George is interested in working with Wheelabrator on cleaning up emissions and ash, meeting with
them outside of the NESWC conflict. Wheelabrator is willing to send one or two representatives to
one of our meetings,but no decision was made about inviting them. We don't trust them. We would
like to reduce emissions and ash,but we don't want to be used by Wheelabrator, and we don't want a
snow job.
6. Myla discussed a booklet, "Beyond 46%" Some of the best ideas in it for Lexington were:
Have a swap shop and flea market (This is planned for the Hartwell Ave. site starting in August.)
Make recycling mandatory for businesses.
Initiate a pay-per-bag trash program.
Educate. Do it in the schools, and also reach the adults.
Enlarge our composting program.
7 E-mail addresses for political action:
http://www.lexingtonma.org/swat/MinMay98.htm 10/9/98
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U.S. Sen. Kerry john_kerry@kerry.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy senator@kennedy.senate.gov
U.S. Cong. Markey you have to go through a web page --http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Massachusetts Acting Gov Celucci: GOffice@state.ma.us
Massachusetts Attorney General Harshbarger• scott98@tiac.net.
Massachusetts State Rep Jay Kaufman: rep.jaykaufinan@house.state.ma.us
Massachusetts State Sen Robert Haven: RHavern@senate.state.ma.us
8. Next meeting June 17 We'll try for the 3rd Wednesday each month.
More Minutes
Return to SWAT Home Pave
http://www.lexingtonma.org/swat/MinMay98.htm 10/9/98