220707 BWRC Minutes CITY OF BEVERLY
WASTE REDUCTION COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Beverly Public Library, Sohier Room
Call to order: 6:33 p.m. The meeting began with introductions.
Committee members present: Susan Higgins (Chair), Sandy Burgess, Amy Henderson, Joyce
Herman, John Swain, Lisa Willwerth
Committee members absent: Bonnie Dean, Nancy Dillon
Invited participants and guests: Mayor Michael Cahill, Erina Keefe, Ward 1 City Councilor
Todd Rotondo
Committee business
a. Treasurer report/reimbursements: Green Beverly submitted request for reimbursement for
the CSA share through New Entry Farm at Moraine Farm that BWRC sponsored, and
there is still $175 balance for the moneys authorized for Green Beverly raffle
items/giveaways.
b. Review and confirm (or adjust) next meeting dates:
o August 4, 2022: Higgins will email everyone before the August meeting to
coordinate everyone's availability.
o September 1, 2022
Review minutes for March 3, 2022 meeting
Willwerth moved to approve the March minutes; Swain seconded. The motion carried (5-0-1);
Henderson abstained.
Homecoming/Lobsterfest
Higgins & Dillon met virtually with the Homecoming Committee in June, and the event format
will be the same as prior years. Higgins suggests having a volunteer checking in with the
catering station more often this year(providing composting tote, clear stream, and cardboard
recycling tote for caterers' use). In the morning, gathering one example of all Creative
Catering's materials (cutlery, plates, bowls, trays, etc.) helps so volunteers will know which
items can be recycled, composted, etc. Recycling all goes into the clear stream throughout the
event, and is separated by volunteers at the end 4 cardboard/paper, returnables (Burgess donates
to charity), film plastic (goes to the grocery store). Dillon circulated the volunteer spreadsheet,
and will resend to Herman. Awaiting approval from the Homecoming Committee for the
composting cost: Black Earth quoted $900 this year for delivering 12 clean lined toters, returning
for 3 collections (2pm, 5pm, 8pm)to empty and reline the toters, and picking up the 12 toters
plus cleaning them before putting back in service for others. Last year's estimate was $800, so
fairly comparable. Quote for Senior Day is $200 minimum plus $25 per pickup/toter.
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Last year's Lobster Fest collected 18 totes of compost, 3 totes of cardboard, 1 tote of
bottles/cans, a 36-gallon bag of returnables, a 36-gallon bag of film plastic, and a 36-gallon bag
of chip bags/snack wrappers. Ira Subaru no longer collects in the Terracycle recycling program.
Members discussed options for chip bags/snack wrappers: purchasing Terracycle box, driving to
a farther Subaru dealership, and places to bring a box if purchased and not filled by Lobster Fest
and Senior Day. Terracycle boxes are priced at$86 for small I lx11x20" box, $141 for medium,
and $218 for large.
Mayor Cahill thanked the Waste Reduction Committee for their leadership and work for the
community, and for doing so well with the stations at Lobster Fest each year. He shared
thoughts on Senior Day, ways it has worked well in the past and how it may work this year, with
the focus on providing an enjoyable time and meal for Beverly's seniors.
Senior Day: Rotondo reviewed the plans to provide beverage pitchers with compostable cups,
compostable trays, and using more compostable than recyclable materials. Each table will have
its own condiment bottles, rather than ketchup/mustard/relish packets. Higgins mentioned other
things to look for when composting are if people leave handiwipes on trays, or chip bags/snack
containers. Senior Center is providing compostable 3-compartment 10-inch plates, larger section
for chicken, hot dog, or hamburger and smaller sections for sides. Higgins confirmed less
containers (not having sides in separate cups) will mean less chances for contamination—
wrappers, wipes, miscellaneous items should be visible on top of a plate and not in a closed
container. Logistically, Higgins suggested volunteers serve and remove plated meals, and think
about incorporating long tables or a surface for them to check for personal effects from the
compostable meal to throw in the trash.
Higgins shared concerns from past Senior Days included food cooked for people with tickets
who may not make it, and large portions leading to food waste. Rotondo suggested portion sizes,
and to prepare in advance but cook to match the number of attendees that day. That way,
prepared but unused food can be donated to groups in the city. Swain offered to help facilitate
leftover donations; Henderson offered to help volunteer with Senior Day. Lastly, in past years
the seating was all under a tent and the volunteers and waste sorting stations were outside the
tent, which can be challenging on a hot sunny day. Keefe confirmed Parks & Recreation has
pop-up tents at Lynch Park they can look into using to provide shade. Higgins and Keefe will
also coordinate what materials (clear stream, metal frames, plastic tops, laminated signs, etc.) can
be stored overnight in the Carriage House to use for both events.
Discussion on whether Black Earth can provide a combined quote for both events, and if that
would save trips/money. Black Earth may also have a sponsorship opportunity for Lobster Fest
and is communicating with Medley Long regarding options to offset the committee's composting
costs that way. Suggestions for future years to talk with Black Earth about more advantageous
event pricing if the City can provide the dates/weekends for large citywide events for advance
planning.
Higgins shared a letter from the Council on Aging looking for sponsors for Senior Day. BWRC
has provided volunteers and purchase compostable products in the past(this year they are using
the leftover products already purchased). General discussion about sponsorship and difficulty to
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pull together a sponsor table this year. Revisited conversation around Terracycle options for
Homecoming. Swain moves to buy a medium-sized Terracycle box for the estimated price of
$141 to be used for Lobster Fest and Senior Day; Willwerth seconded. The motion carried (6-0).
Swain moves to not sponsor the Senior Day event in 2022; Willwerth seconded. The motion
carried (6-0).
City updates and discussion items
a. Boston Globe: front page article on how the MassNaturals composting facility spread
'forever chemicals' across a town in Massachusetts—contaminating homes, water, soil,
farms, etc. It is devastating news for the communities, families, and for a company
that's been trying to do the right thing for such a long time. In light of the article, Keefe
reached out to the vendor to confirm current compostable materials are BPI certified,
and whether they contain PFA chemicals (called 'forever' because they never go away).
b. Loaning water stations— Inspector Reale provided guidance if the City wanted to own
things and loan for a deposit for groups to use at events: (1) have a dedicated volunteer
sit next to an igloo station, and filling each container/cup for people; or (2) have a
dispenser pump sitting on top of an office cooler jug for people to fill their own cups.
Library of Things is not an option, as they lack staff to handle sanitation. Goal is to have
an events protocol document on reducing waste:
• Talk with vendors/ incentivize options for sourcing food/beverages/containers
• Water stations
• Waste stations
• Vendor-led options (information needed to request quotes from City Compost,
Bootstraps Compost, Black Earth Compost, etc.)
c. Republic Services/JRM: Keefe met with city's liaison Tyler Finnegan who is going to
confirm whether black plastics can be recycled, and whether recycling will be collected
via single or dual stream in Beverly. Sue advised on the education/outreach side, she
has worked with Gretchen Carey from Republic Services who Keefe confirmed will be
Beverly's contact for education/outreach moving forward. Higgins requested whether
someone could attend BWRC meetings, and Keefe will inquire. Trash/Recycling and
Technical Compliance Officer Gerard Rathe has been overseeing the work haulers do in
the trucks— riding along with them and working on education with the staff. He may be
able to share his observations at a future meeting too.
d. June Styrofoam Event— not a strong Beverly showing of less than 30 cars at the event,
maybe 15 car loads of Styrofoam collected at the Library leading up to the event. There
were more Salem residents, and a lot of medical coolers for shipped medications.
Unsure whether twice annually is worthwhile for Beverly, whether it makes sense to
include a third community. Filled % of the 53-foot container, so slightly less than
January but still pretty close. Higgins advised Nancy Gilberg of Salem requested a
collection summary.
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Old business and miscellaneous items
a. Reuse and recycling research: Henderson drafted a spreadsheet for collecting research
into specific items that everyone has conducted. Members discussed ways to collate
information in advance of the next meeting. Spang offered to create and circulate a
Google form for people to separately enter their data for review at the next meeting.
Members can designate editor(s)for the spreadsheet from there, and provide viewing
access by link to all other members and the general public through the minutes.
Upcoming events
None.
Other updates and discussion items by Committee members
None.
Adjourn: Henderson moved to adjourn; Willwerth seconded. The motion carried 6-0.
NEXT MEETING:
TBD via email
Location: Beverly Public Library, Sohier Room
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