10/28/2015 RECYCLING COMMITTEE Minutes

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Recycling Committee October 28, 2015 Minutes Members Present: June Levy, Sheldon Gilbert, Marion Baker, Glen Harrington (Health) Others: Rodney Collins, Town Manager Catherine Laurent, DPW A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m.. Minutes The minutes of the September 9, 2015 meeting were approved. Waste. Management Committee Update The Recycling Committee reviewed the recommendations being considered by the Waste Management Committee. The Recycling Committee initially recommended to the Town that PAYT be implemented over 4 years ago. The Recycling Committee noted that in the 4 years that Sandwich has operated a PAYT program in Sandwich, they have reduced their trash by close to 50%, saving their town over $400,000. The Committee has also recommended that the Transfer Station be made an Enterprise Fund with users paying 100% of the operational costs. It is unlikely that the Waste Management Committee will recommend implementation of a PAYT program or an Enterprise Fund. Their proposed 5 40 -gallon bag limit maybe better than no limit but the Recycling Committee does not foresee any significant reduction in trash tonnage as a result. The Recycling Committee questioned why a member from their committee was not appointed to participate on the Waste Management Committee but at this time, it is too late in the process to include them. The Waste Management Committee is expected to finalize their recommendations in December. The Town Manager agreed that he does not see the PAYT moving forward at this time. He did note that Brewster also has implemented PAYT with savings to a significant number of households. Catherine noted that the FY16 permit sales are lower than last year. The individual permit cost will have to increase even with the 25% tax "subsidy." The Recycling Committee discussed increasing permit fees immediately but with the incentive that they would be reduced if residents voluntarily reduced trash tonnage. The Committee discussed how high the fee would need to be to cause a change in behavior.