HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.21.19 SWAC Minutes
JEFFERSON COUNTY
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SWAC)
MEETING Minutes - Thursday, March 21, 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 Tracy Grisman, District #1 (Participated via phone)
Brian Reid, City of Port Townsend Chad Young, Waste Connections
Alysa Russell, Skookum Contract Samantha Janes, District #3
Committee Members Absent
Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner Glenn Gately, County Conservation District
Lisa Crosby, District #1 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
Janet Welsh, 20/20 Beyond Waste; and Kenna Eaton, Port Townsend Food Co-op General Manager.
Quorum Determination: There is a quorum.
Approval of January 24, 2019 Minutes: Approved as stated. Samantha motioned to approve the minutes with the
change and Tracy seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Correspondence received for discussion: None.
NEW BUSINESS
Port Townsend High School Sustainability Club Presentation
Postponed due to students’ busy school schedules.
Manager’s Report – Tom Boatman, Solid Waste Manager
1. Completion of Transport and Disposal Contract with Republic Services:
a. February 4th: BoCC Public Hearing;
b. February 11th: BoCC Resolution and Award of Contract
c. April 1st: Commencement. Long-term contract that does not have an end date. BoCC can
end it when needed.
2. Port Townsend may award collection contract for solid waste and recyclables to Waste Connections.
Legislature considering establishing a list of recyclables acceptable state-wide, which will affect the
SWMP. Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission will want to know what we are
processing and any increase in cost of recycling. Washington Refuse & Recycling Association
(WRRA) and Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) have different missions. WRRA more
business aligned and different priorities than WSRA. Bart and Laura going to upcoming WSRA
conference. British Columbia has an industry based recycling system and lower contamination rates.
Yearly inspection by JC Health Department to recycling centers. We must reduce contamination rates
which are about 25 to 30% at the Hadlock site. Instead of being open 24 hours a day, make Hadlock
site accessible only during the day could help. Cameras and signs another way to deter the illegal
dumping. Signs asking people to report illegal dumping and help to continue recycling. Rotate signs
so they will not lose effectiveness. Sandwich boards are a good option to easily move and change out
message. Show contamination rates on sign in Port Hadlock to give feedback. Chad said Clallam
dealing with same problem due to unmanned, free box which attracts illegal dumping.
Skookum still having problem with mixed paper. Going to Spokane. Chipboard and brown paper
contaminating the mixed paper.
In the new solid waste contract the index did go up, but did not jump a huge amount. Good contract
because of the competitive proposals received.
Composting food still up in air. Week 2 of trial to put food waste into yard waste compositing.
Olympic Organics hoping to take overs to Transfer Station.
Related discussions
Laura requested oops tag to use in a targeted area in PT (100 households) to bring attention to
contaminants in recycling. Data will be used in grant she’s writing. Chad said crews take snap shots
with cameras on their phone and send to recycler.
Jerry reports processing 130,000 pounds of Household Hazardous Waste per year. Will be holding a
collection event on April 20th for Earth Day.
Committee and Open Public Discussion
Bart offered to give a presentation on recycling steel with an electric arc furnace process. It’s the same presentation
he gave recently to a retired scientist group in Sequim, and it was well received.
Kenna Eaton, General Manager of the Food Co-op, said biggest component of co-op’s waste stream is compostable
containers. She would like to see them not end up going to the landfill.
Next Proposed Meeting Date: May 23, 2019.
Adjournment called at 4:20 by Bart. Samantha made a motion to approve and Tracy seconded the motion.