HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Minutes 3.28.2013JEFFERSON COUNTY
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES – Thursday, March 28, 2013
Jefferson County Public Works Building, Conference Room
1. OPENING BUSINESS:
Meeting called to order by John Merchant, Co-chair at 3:00 PM
Members Present: John Merchant – City of Port Townsend
Matt Hall – Skookum
John Austin – County Commissioner
Kent Kovalenko – DM/Murrey’s
Paul Rogland – District #2
Terry Khile – Port of Port Townsend
Julie Robertson – Department of Ecology
Members Absent: Richard Dandridge – District #1
Valerie Johnstone – District #1
Staff: Richard Talbot – Public Works Solid Waste Manager
Tina Anderson – Public Works Administration Support
Al Cairns – Public Works Solid Waste Coordinator
Pinky Feria-Mingo – Environmental Health
Guests: Ewan Shortess, Port Townsend High School Student
Coleman Riddle, Port Townsend High School Student
Laura Tucker, Port Townsend High School Advisor
Jenifer Taylor, Citizen
Approval of Minutes: John Austin moved and Kent seconded to approve.
Motion carried.
Two corrections made after approval: Add date of last meeting to header.
In the report from Recycling change the new baler cost to $230 thousand
instead of $130 thousand.
Correspondence: None
Guest Speakers: Ewan Shortess and Coleman Riddle from Port Townsend High School.
Ewan explained the following:
Students for Sustainability are a club at the High School looking to reduce Green House emissions and
Carbon Footprint at the High School. They are currently focusing on the waste aspect.
They formed in May 2012 as the Climate Change Action Committee when the City & County Climate
Change Committee requested students on their board. The students decided to form this sub-committee
because more than 2 students were interested. They are not an actual sub-committee of the City/County
Committee due to liability. They are also not considered a School Club. Students met over the summer
and decided recycling would be an easy issue to start with first and learned that it is not.
They discussed cafeteria waste. A proposal has been made for staff to change the daily bulletin from 3
pages of paper to email. The group also talked about going to Olympia or Washington DC to lobby for
actions that they thought were a good cause.
In August, Ewan met with Brian Goldstein and assessed the recycling at the High School and spoke
with teachers. A plan was written from information gathered with Brian including what the students
want to do. The first meeting in September included Pinky, the school superintendent and people to
help them with their lobbying efforts. The plan has gone thru various revisions, was submitted to
Administration and approved. Students decided that short meetings once a week during their lunch
would be best. More students have joined – they are up to 15+.
Kent at DM was contacted about bins; he is supportive of their project. They talked with janitors about
their contract not covering the take out of recycling. There were so many RIFs; students looked at their
program for potential cost savings to cover the cost to hire someone to do the recycling.
Students surveyed teachers for support of the paperless bulletin program and audited all the waste
dumpsters to see if anything could be done immediately to reduce them.
Coleman spoke about the current projects:
The plan started with the cafeteria trying to reduce the carbon footprint by making it more efficient.
Currently there are daily pickups of waste bins that are not always full. There are trucks that come
twice a week to pick up other bins. The process is currently inefficient. They are working with DM on
pick up schedules. The cost savings on the dumpsters are planned to offset the costs for other areas.
Paper trays are used every day and thrown away. They propose reusable trays that can be washed in the
current dishwashing system. Cafeteria staff estimated it would only take an extra hour to wash the
trays. They are willing to do this, but need to be paid for their time. The cost of trays has been looked
into. The district is behind this effort but needs the plan in writing.
The plan is about to be submitted for approval by the district. The savings do add up if they can reduce
as much as predicted. The savings for the district will be significant even with the tray purchase cost and
the extra hours for the staff.
Changing the paper bulletin to email is still waiting for the principal to respond.
They attended a Local 20/20 meeting. They plan using them for a resource and forming a partnership
between the 2 groups. A mixer meeting is to be scheduled.
Students are behind going to Washington DC next year to lobby for a Carbon Tax.
They plan to take Amtrak instead of flying to reduce the carbon effects.
There is still some confusion about the bins from Waste Connections re: pick up times.
Kent will discuss this with them after the meeting. He and his drivers are in support of picking up full
bins instead of daily almost empty bins.
Questions:
Automatic dishwasher is available at the school. Washers are currently being used by cooking staff.
Janitors do not pick up recycling bins. Teachers empty bins.
If there is no money to pay janitors, would the students empty the bins?
Old cafeteria trays – why don’t they use them? Ewan will look in the Lincoln Building in a few
weeks for any trays.
Cost of paper trays? Estimated at .13 to .20 per tray. (Approximately 50 trays per day)
Have they checked into the State warehouse for trays? Pinky will get the link for them
The dollar savings? Less the cost of the trays would be about $15.00 per day.
Has the group looked into the Farm to School Coalition? Al will send contact info.
Ages of members? Mostly Juniors.
Laura Tucker commented:
The students have done all the work on their own. They asked questions first then went to staff and
asked what could be done to make this work. She is very impressed with their approach and
consideration of staff.
Ewan: Only interested in mutually beneficial partnerships with all our partners.
Action Items: None
Sub-Committees: None
2. OPERATIONAL REPORTS:
Education: Pinky: Working with Val & Richard on a series of ads for the Rose theater and more
advertising on Jefferson Transit for Household Hazardous Waste. Trying to balance between how to
dispose of household hazardous waste and how to reduce household hazardous waste. Will do another
series about the MRW for the Rose theater. There should be a short clip in the Port Townsend
newsletter about Electronic recycling next month.
Jennifer has done about 20 in-class presentations on waste reduction/recycling with mainly ages K – 6.
Still gearing up for the “one less bag challenge”. Plan a table every month at the Farmers Market for
education and outreach on solid waste. Will reiterate what can go in the plastics and glass.
Schools include Blue Heron and Chimacum. More information at the next meeting.
Recycling: Skookum: Matt reported that prices are up a little for cardboard and paper. Volume is
about the same. Looking at making change in combining newspaper with mixed paper. The buyer will
sort if they want to upgrade the material. Glass is still negative at about $50. Currently glass was too
contaminated with ceramics and mirrors to sort and take for glass recycle. It will be taken to Olympia to
be ground. Discussed signs with pictures to relay the effect of putting contaminates in with glass. May
change how they collect aluminum cans at the center. Overall in the negative for everything.
Compost: City of PT: John reported compost is still selling, never stopped. Jenifer asked about
testing of Biosolids. John explained the class A unrestricted use rating and regulations required.
Received the draft permit from DOE. Discussion on “compostable” containers and bags. The containers
are not accepted but the bags are.
Solid Waste: Public Works: Al distributed copies of the staff report.
Revenue is above the 2012 level for the same time last year.
Vermicomposting workshop last Saturday. With the City of Port Townsend contribution there will
be another 20 bins available to total 130 for the two year project.
Still doing tipping fee planning. When Capital Facility replacement plan details are complete the
recommendation can move forward.
Coordinated Prevention Grant Planning preliminary numbers from Ecology on the value of the grants.
With concurrence from the City and Public Health there will continue to be funding to keep the
education and outreach program whole.
SWAC reports have changed slightly to a new reporting format. The format will be quarterly rather
than monthly. The new process cuts down on the wait times for customers and staff time.
3. OLD BUSINESS:
Tipping Fee Analysis: Al presented copies of the Tipping Fee Allocation Comparison. Polled and
or compared 11 other counties and averaged 5 similar counties for comparison.
Frank Gifford brought in Darrel Erfle to say goodbye. He is retiring and worked at the MRW for the
last 15 years.
4. NEW BUSINESS:
Legislative reworking of Model Toxic Control Act: Pinky reported that if passed, as written, this would
severely reduce funding to the county level while increasing funding for large clean ups. Almost every
county including Jefferson County Public Health wrote letters of non-support.
5. FROM THE FLOOR:
Matt: New Baler would actually cost $230 thousand.
Richard: Advertising in the PDN about recycling that does not apply to Jefferson County. This could be
confusing to customers. Kent took a copy of the ad.
Kent: a new market/demand for rigid plastics.
6. NEXT MEETING DATE:
Public Works polled members for a special meeting April 25th. This would be for the Tipping Fee only.
This is contingent upon staff having presented this to the commissioners. Members are agreeable. Al
will send notification of a special meeting; otherwise the next meeting will be May 23rd.
7. ADJOURN: 4:15 PM