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BWRC Approved Minutes June 6 2019Beverly Waste Reduction Committee Meeting Minutes —June 6, 2019 Beverly Waste Reduction Committee MINUTES: Monthly Meeting, Thursday, June 6, 2019 6:00 PM, Beverly City Hall, Conference Room A CALL TO ORDER: 6:06 pm COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Susan Higgins (Chair), Sandy Burgess, Nancy Dillon, Toni Musante, John Swain COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Joyce Hermon INVITED PARTICIPANTS AND GUESTS: Kevin Harutunian, Stephanie Bilotti, Mary Barthelmes, Bruce Swanson APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the May 2019 meeting were presented for approval. Dillon moved to approve the minutes and Burgess seconded the motion. The motion carried (5 -0). Discussion of June Meeting Date /Time Higgins advised the Committee that she has a conflict with the current start time (6 PM) of the July meeting and possibly future meetings. The Committee discussed the option of changing the date and /or starting the meeting later. Musante reminded the Committee that we historically started our meetings at 7 PM. The Committee agreed to keep the date as July 11 with a start time of 7 PM. Higgins will look into the availability of the meeting room for future dates at a later start time. Treasurer's Report Burgess reported that the account balance is $27,553.88. Previous Balance 5/2/19 $23,778.88 Plus — funds collected electronics collection $5,952.00 Less — payment to Data Recycling of New England $2,177.00 Current Balance 6/6/19 $27,553.88 Electronics Collection Burgess provided an update on electronics collection. Total receipts were $5,952. The cost for hiring Data Recycling of New England was $2,177. Net receipts were $3,775. Burgess reported that there were 226 cars participating in the event (compared to approximately 140 cars last year). The Committee discussed sharing the profits with the football team, as has been done in past years, in recognition of their substantial help in running the event. Dillon moved to give a donation of $1,900 to the football team; seconded by Swain. The motion carried (5 -0). Beverly Homecoming — Senior Day at the Park (8/8/19) In past years, the Waste Reduction Committee has provided funding to the Council on Aging to purchase supplies to make this activity a zero -waste event (compostable plates, utensils, ice cream cups /lids). Burgess attended a meeting at the Council on Aging to discuss planning for the 2019 Page 1 of 4 Beverly Waste Reduction Committee Meeting Minutes —June 6, 2019 event, after which they conducted an inventory of supplies remaining from last year and an estimate of additional supplies needed. Burgess received a written request (email) from Charlie Perlo listing the items needed with a cost estimate of approximately $491. He requested funding of up to $550 to purchase the required items and have them shipped directly to the Council on Aging. Dillon moved to provide funding not to exceed $550 in support of zero waste activities for Senior Day at the Park; seconded by Burgess. The motion carried (5 -0). Burgess will attend at least one additional meeting with the Council on Aging associated with planning this event. She expressed concern that the set -up of the event has put the volunteers outside of the tented area, exposed to rain /sun for the full duration of the event. She has requested that they move the volunteers under the tent or set up separate sun shades for the volunteers. Dillon agreed to attend the next planning meeting with Burgess to help discuss and address this concern. Beverly Homecoming — Lobsterfest (8/7/19) Higgins advised that she will be meeting with the event coordinator for the Homecoming Committee to review recycling and composting activities from last year and to plan for this year's event. Higgins will also coordinate as necessary with Black Earth and the City. The key problems noted from last year were dirty composting bins at the start of the event, the caterer's inappropriate use of the composting bins for non - compostable trash at the end of the event, and the public's attempt to use compost bins for trash disposal. Dillon agreed to coordinate with Higgins to review notes from last year and make appropriate changes in advance of the event. Styrofoam Collection Event Higgins reported that Hermon reached out to the President of the Beverly Rotary Club regarding potential sponsorship of the Styrofoam collection event. Hermon completed an application and submitted it for consideration of $600 in funding (the event cost). The request was tabled to a future meeting in the Rotary's next fiscal year. The Committee discussed whether it should seek another sponsor. Higgins requested that we consider funding this event ourselves, if the Rotary doesn't come through. There was a discussion about the benefits of self - funding to promote our Committee and our mission. There was also a discussion about the need to promote this event as soon as possible, and to focus on outreach and promotion rather than searching for a sponsor. Dillon suggested that we also consider funding promotional material for the event (e.g., printing flyers). Swain moved to provide funding of up to $700 to pay for the Styrofoam collection event and promotional materials; seconded by Dillon. The motion carried (5 -0). The Committee had a brief discussion about logistics of the event. Higgins advised that she and Hermon will be meeting with representatives from Hamilton, who have expressed interest in participating in our event. Higgins has already requested use of the Beverly Middle School for the event, but following a discussion by the Committee, agreed to change the request to the Beverly High School (rear driveway, behind tennis courts; same location as electronics recycling). It was agreed that the High School site is suitable for a high volume of cars, and most people are familiar with our use of this site. Mary Barthelmes agreed to help prepare a flyer advertising this event. Page 2 of 4 Beverly Waste Reduction Committee Meeting Minutes —June 6, 2019 Introduction to Full Circle Earth and Collaboration with Other Groups Full Circle Earth was not available to attend the meeting. The Committee remains interested in working with non - profits and other environmental organizations in the region that have similar goals and priorities as ours; we will continue to invite such groups to our meetings to learn more about their missions and explore opportunities to work together. Regarding work with other groups, Higgins advised that she was contacted by Emily Flaherty (Salem Sound Coast Watch/Harbor Management Authority) about a proposal to replace trash barrels along the waterfront. HarutunianBilotti provided background information on waste management along the waterfront, including information about interest in possibly going to a carry - in /carry -out policy and logistical issues associated with such a policy outside of Lynch Park. They explained the large white trash barrels have traditionally been used because they hold a lot and can readily be emptied manually by City staff. HarutunianBilotti also discussed considerations for more aesthetic trash/recycling options, problems associated with high levels of contamination in public -space recycling bins, and current plans to enforce proper dog waste management (this is a regular problem along the waterfront). Higgins will request additional information from Emily Flaherty about the proposed initiative. Old Business and Other Updates Due to the lack of time, there were no discussions on this agenda item. Upcoming Events Due to the lack of time, there were no discussions on this agenda item. Discuss and Prioritize Other Activities Discussions were limited to promoting and expanding the composting program. Bilotti provided an update on research the Mayor's office has been conducting on food waste management initiatives that may be suitable for Beverly. The City has met with several local, large -scale food waste producers, including Beverly Hospital, Endicott College, and the Beverly Public Schools (Cove School pilot program). The Cove pilot program has provided some good programmatic information including areas that will require modification to be adapted to a long -term, consistent program across all of the schools. The Cove pilot program is run by the fourth -grade students. It has shown the need for a champion staff member in each school to coordinate and run the program, support by the janitorial and kitchen staff, and modification of the program to involve the students without taking them out of the classroom for extended periods of time. Mary Barthelmes suggested the City reach out to Endicott, Beverly Hospital, and perhaps other entities to see if they can provide volunteer, experienced staff to help coordinate and administer a school -based system for the City. Endicott College has an established food waste management program that includes collection and delivery of food waste to an anaerobic digestion facility. Beverly Hospital, which contracts with Black Earth, has implemented changes including controlled portion sizes to reduce waste. Both institutions have a system that takes waste to the back of the house, with staff responsible for the Page 3 of 4 Beverly Waste Reduction Committee Meeting Minutes —June 6, 2019 sorting /disposal activities. This process results in a more complete sort with less contamination in the composting and recycling streams. The Mayor's office has several areas of interest: steady and long -term growth of the residential curbside program; greater commercial participation in food waste composting; and, composting in the Beverly Public Schools. Harutunian requested information from our Committee regarding ideas for a large - scale, concentrated effort to expand the curbside program. We discussed options such as billboards (perhaps sponsored), and banners (across Cabot Street and /or on the Fire Station). Harutunian noted that a banner across Cabot Street is coordinated through the Chamber of Commerce. Harutunian requested that our Committee put together a suggested marketing plan for promoting and expanding the composting program, particularly for residents. Bilotti suggested we think about a tag line that could be incorporated into outreach. Higgins and Barthelmes agreed to work together to begin to develop a suggested plan, including logistical elements to be considered and possible ways to promote the plan. We will add this topic to the agenda for our next meeting to continue the discussion. Adjournment There being no further discussion this evening, the meeting was adjourned at 7:49 pm. Page 4 of 4