3/19/2003 RECYCLING COMMITTEE Minutes

Home Browse Search

f Recycling Committee Meeting Minutes March 1 , 2003 Members present: Glenn Santos, Nikki Descoteaux Others: Catherine Laurent, Bary Keleher The meeting began at 4:15 P.M. G. Santos asked C. Laurent if she has had a response from Glenn Harrington regarding the regulations of the local trash haulers. G. Darrington asked C. Laurent to send hire her recommendations. C. Laurent would like to make it a requirement that hauler"s give an end of the year report for their recycling tonnage fere they're allowed to renew their licenses. C. Laurent printed a copy of all the towns in the state that have a pay-as-you-throw program. The recycling percentages for many of the terns were lo . The towns in western Massachusetts had higher recycling percentages. G. Santos explained that the western towns have the MRF (Materials Recycling Facility.)The only town on the Cape listed as having a pay-as-you-throw program is Pr vinct wn and they have a very lover recycling percentage. G. Santos explained that the problem the Cape towns have is that it costs more for the town to get rid of recycled items than it does to get rid oftrash. C. Laurent said that M shpee's recycling costs the same or maybe even a little less thea trash. C. Laurent asked if there are any towns on the Cape that have mandatory recycling. G. Santos explained that when a hauler purchases a permit in the Town of Barnstable they have to show proof that they offer recycling.N. Descoteaux feels it's a waste of time to head in the direction of mandatory recycling. Both G. Santos and N. Descoleaux agreed that the reporting of recycling tonnages by the haulers is a good idea. C. Laurent said that unless the Town goes to a pay-as-you-throw program to encourage people to recycle or goes to curbside pick up, there probably isn't a way to force people to recycle. C. Laurent suggested exploring three options, a pay-as-you-throve program, curbside recycling and trash pick up for the entire Town or curbside recycling for the entire Town. G. Santos informed the committee that Mailboxes Etc. would take popcorn packaging at their stores. C. Laurent suggested adding that information to the supplemental recycling list. N. escoteaux will check with Mailboxes Etc. to see what their requirements are before adding them to the list. She will also check with Stop n Shop and Starmarket et about.recycling plastic bags.N. Descoteaux informed the committee members that she went to the Staples in Falmouth and they take all kinds of cartridges except laser cartridges. C. Laurent informed the committee that she met with members from the Environment al Coalition. They had concerns about the set up of the recycling area as well as concerns about the stairs at the newspaper drop off. C. Laurent explained that there is a sign at the gatehouse to inform people that if they need any help to ask the attendant. She will-also look into swapping the two forty yard close top containers with another town for two thirty yard closed top containers. The thirty yard containers are lower to the ground and would eliminate the need for stairs. The next Recycling Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 2 , 2002. The meeting adjourned at 5.30 p.m. v