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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.24.19 SWAC Minutes JEFFERSON COUNTY SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SWAC) MEETING Minutes - Thursday, January 24, 2019 Public Works Conference Room 623 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, Washington OPENING BUSINESS 3:00 pm - Meeting called to order by Bart Kale, Chair Roll Call and Introductions – Bart Kale, Chair Committee Members Present: Bart Kale, Citizen-at-Large Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner Lisa Crosby, District #1 Brian Reid, City of Port Townsend Glenn Gately, County Conservation District Chad Young, Waste Connections Alysa Russell, Skookum Contract Committee Members Absent Jenifer Taylor, District #2 Staff Present: Tom Boatman, Public Works SW Manager Jerry Mingo, Public Works MRW Coordinator Chris Spall, Public Works Support Staff Laura Tucker, Public Health, Education Guests/Visitors Brian Tate, Waste Connections; Steve Gilmore, Republic Services; Greg Lanning, City of Port Townsend; Pinky Mingo and Sara Groth, Jefferson County Public Health; Tracy Grisman, Samantha Janes, and Austin Kerr, Citizens. Quorum Determination: There is a quorum. Approval of October 25, 2018 Minutes: Approved with change: under ‘Recycling discussion,’ change ‘Pulling paper/sorting..’ to ‘Pulling paper contaminants..’ Lisa motioned to approve the minutes with the change and Glen seconded the motion. Motion carried. Correspondence received for discussion: None. NEW BUSINESS Manager’s Report – Tom Boatman, Solid Waste Manager 1. Status and Progress of Transport and Disposal Contract RFP (SWMP 7.3 Waste Export) The current contract is nearing completion. Republic Services’ proposal was selected as being best for the County; working out final details that are acceptable to both parties. A Public Hearing is scheduled for February 4th to receive public comment. Planning for BOCC resolution to accept the contract and execution of the contract on February 11th. Contract to begin on April 1, 2019. Tom mentioned Steve Gilmore’s 1/22/2019 email about Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), and how solid waste at the Roosevelt Landfill is part of the process of creating it. The email was passed around for reading. 2. 2018 Solid Waste and Recycling Summary Report to SWAC Tom spoke about the data in the tables and charts included in the documents emailed to SWAC before the meeting. Recycling declines are attributed to market changes caused by China no longer accepting materials. a. Solid Waste Tonnages Received – 4yr Summary; Up 2.5% from 2017 to 2018. Exceeded 2006 totals therefore are highest annual tonnage on record. Vehicle counts up 4th quarter compared to last year and attributed to an increase in the number of small haulers. Construction debris included in the tonnage. b. Enterprise Fund Revenues – 4yr Summary; Fee for service; all Solid Waste expenses paid from revenues generated and no payments to county general fund. BOCC gave a 5 year rate increase schedule of 2.5% per year in 2014. No increase in fees planned in 2020. Excess money put aside for capital and repair and maintenance of existing facility, which was built in 1994 and is aging. c. Yard Waste Debris Received – 9yr Summary; d. Recovered Recycling Products – 4yr Summary. Discussion of fluctuation of recovered recyclables over time. Tom presented a bulletin from the Washington Association of County Solid Waste Managers (ACSWM) titled ‘Comingled Recycling Guidance.’ The bulletin discussed problems and emerging solutions on recycling. Main message is a statewide county supported recycling list which is different from WRRA guidance list. Some discussion on a statewide list that included a July 2018 template for accepted material lists. The bulletin was passed around the room. Related discussions Laura Tucker said she’s had reports of curbside recycling pickups going into one truck and not being separated. Chad said separate trucks picked up TAP, paper, and glass that day. Laura asked for data on material collected and taken directly to Tacoma instead of going to Skookum first. She needs numbers to explain why her recycling numbers are down 20%. Jerry said what is reported to State Ecology includes where it is collected and sent. He suggested looking at Ecology’s reports on recycling by county. Greg Brotherton wondered if education is improving what people are recycling. Lisa also had reports of recycling going into one truck and not appearing to be separated. She spoke to a recycling truck driver and he said two trucks were being used because there was so much material. This could lead to confusion as to whether recycling is being recycled or appear to be trashed. Laura said glass had the largest decline in recycling rates. Skookum reported that monthly reports on amount of recycling shipped are misleading, if a shipment is delayed to a future month the monthly tonnages will be significantly affected. Tom agreed and pointed out annual total tonnage comparisons are more accurate. Committee Membership Report – Jerry Mingo, MRW Coordinator SWAC resignations accepted and appointments approved on January 7th by the BOCC: Resignations accepted from Robin Merrill as Alternate for Skookum, David Zellar as Representative for City of Port Townsend, and Carol Cummins as Representative for District 1. Appointments approved for Brian Reid as Representative for City of Port Townsend, Jim Madden as Alternate for City of Port Townsend, Stacy Hall as Alternate for Skookum, and Al Cairns as Alternate for County Conservation District. SWAC was asked to recommend the BOCC accept and approve the following member changes. Resignation of Chris Giraldes as Representative for DM/Olympic Disposal, Appointments: Tracy Grisman as Representative for District 1 Samantha Janes as Representative for District 3 Chad Young as Representative for DM/Olympic Disposal Brian Tate as Alternate for DM/Olympic Disposal Reappointment of Glenn Gately as Representative for County Conservation District. Bart motioned to recommend the BOCC accept and approve the member changes, and Lisa seconded the motion. Motion carried. Committee and Open Public Discussion Question about the transport and disposal contract and choice to use Republic. SWAC has as much information as given to the public about this. The BOCC was briefed as to status of the contract negotiations and conditions of the contract. Contract will cost $1.4 to 1.6 million annually over next 15 – 17 years. Questions about a legislative bill for a paint stewardship program; similar to state-wide drug take back program. At least three bills related to recycling being discussed. One banning plastic bags state wide and an ecology bill focused on developing local markets for recyclables. McKinley Paper said to be interested in only running OCC when they open at former Nippon site in Port Angeles. A Chinese firm, Nine Dragons is investing in processing mills across the US and is part of the market expansion in the US that will increase markets for recyclables in the future. Eleven old paper manufacturing facilities in US acquired by Chinese firms for paper recycling reported by Steve Gilmore. Republic taking their mixed paper to East WA and paying extra for them to take it. It is being used to make cardstock in China. State environmental laws make it problematic to build new plants in Washington so old ones are being purchased, updated and expanded. Are there separate collection boxes for newspaper at Fort Worden and Port Ludlow? Either old mislabeled box or is not Skookum’s box. Jerry asked that the containers be labeled according to the current recycling list. Signs asking people to flatten their boxes have been put up to allow collection of more boxes. Port Ludlow gets gold star for decontamination rate. Discussion about bioreactor Finn River is applying for a grant to buy. It will make biogas, leachate, via anaerobic digestion. Offers opportunity for 100% use of material. Port Townsend HS sustainability club presentation on 3/21 on the Yakama conference they attended. Laura to coordinate and unanimous support expressed for presentation. Next Proposed Meeting Date: 3/21/2019 - the 3rd Thursday in March. Adjournment called at 4:25 by Bart Kale second by Lisa and passed. Near or at 4:30 pm, Bart Kale called for the meeting to be adjourned.