HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-01-10-WMTF-min.pdf WASTE MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE
Meeting of January 10, 1989
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Robert Fantasia, Chairman; Mary Miley, Judy
Marshall, Kate Fricker, Jacqui Weinstock; Jacquie Smith, Selectman Liaison
STAFF- Richard Spiers, George Smith, Joseph Medlin
Mass DEQE: Patricia Mullins, Cynthia Bellamy
Representatives from DEQE made a presentation on the need for communities
to become involved in waste oil collection projects. Their statistics
indicate that approximately 6.25 million gallons of waste oil a year are
discarded into the environment. down drains, into the ground or in the
general waste disposal causing problems for the hauler They estimate that
there are 10,000 places in the Commonwealth that sell oil -- many of which
also sell food which constitutes a health risk
The state has little money to use in addressing this problem, but are
working to increase enforcement of the existing law which requires those
entities that sell oil, to take the used oil back This provision of the
law has never been enforced; and they feel enforcement might cut down on
the number of places that sell oil They are also looking at legislation
to require sellers to either take back used oil or contribute to a fund
that would set up collection points for used oil However, this is a long
term goal --nothing to help with the problem now
The DEQE reps had statistics on how various waste oil programs were handled
in California and the general financial statistics The California problem
is quite different -- more optimistic -- since they do have an end use for
the oil, which is a very critical element of any recycling program.
They referenced several communities on the Cape which are currently
developing waste oil programs, but they had little specific information on
how those programs were run, their success rate, or the financials.
What monies there are in the DEQE budget could only provide for collection
equipment, such as "igloos," not operating expenses of setting up a
program.
Dick Spiers referenced the problems (contamination, high disposal costs)
the Town had had when it used to recycle oil at the Hartwell Ave. facility
He did promise that his department would continue to look into the problem
with the hope that we could get a program underway at some time that would
tie in with the other recycling efforts being made by the Town.
It was left that DEQE would keep us informed of future program developments
and we would continue to keep waste oil recycling on our list of
possibilities for future collection.
The Members then moved to a discussion of the recycling program, going over
the most current statistics which show that we have a 69 6% participation
rate and in seven full collection cycles have pulled 739 tons of waste out
of the waste stream. These statistics come from CRINC, but Dick has
checked them against what is going to NESWEC and they tally
Dick reported that all of the condominium associations will be on the
program starting with the next collection cycle. The only group not in now
is the school department. Dick is working with them to overcome some
staffing problems J Smith will contact Paul Newman of the School
Committee to encourage their support of the program. Jacqui Weinstock and
Judy Marshall will seek League involvement to encourage school
participation.
We are currently at about 16% of the waste stream being recycled which
would indicate that we should just about break even on the expenses this
year -- this will be assured if the schools join before the end of the
year This year's contract is the most expensive because it includes
purchase of all the plastic containers Spiers estimates that at our
current participation rate we should net $80,000 each of the next two
years
How to begin to enforce the mandatory aspect of the program was discussed
It was decided that we should pick the section of Town with the poorest
participation rate, send someone around with the CRINC truck to identify
those residences that have not put out recycling We will send them a
brief return request questionnaire -- designed to be positive and
supportive-- asking why they are not participating and offering help if
needed The members felt strongly that this effort should be very
supportive, not in any way punitive. Dick and Joe will work on the mailing
and the process for review by the group at the next meeting
The final order of business was a discussion of the Transfer Station. Dick
Spiers reported that he would like to have the contract ready to go by the
start of the FY90 budget cycle (July 1, 1989) as the funds will probably
have to come from both FY89 and FY90 budgets. Bob Fantasia, Dick Spiers
and Frank Fields will review the necessary process for selecting a firm to
do the feasibility study and report back to the next meeting
The February meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 1989