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BWRC Approved Minutes Nov 5 2020Beverly Waste Reduction Committee Meeting Minutes — November 5, 2020 Beverly Waste Reduction Committee MINUTES: Monthly Meeting, Thursday, November 5, 2020 6:30 PM, via Zoom CALL TO ORDER: 6:31 pm COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Susan Higgins (Chair), Nancy Dillon, Joyce Hermon, Toni Musanti, John Swain, Lisa Willwerth COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Sandy Burgess INVITED PARTICIPANTS AND GUESTS: Stacy Ames, Ward 3 Councilor; Erina Keefe, Sustainability Director; Sharon Kishida, MassDEP MAC; Andrew Samperi, BHS student; Mary Barthelmes, volunteer At the start of the meeting, Committee members and invited participants and guests introduced themselves to each other. Minutes Minutes were presented for September 3, 2020. Dillon moved to accept the minutes as presented; Hermon seconded. The motion carried (5 -0, with Swain joining the meeting after the minutes were approved). Resilient Together Erina Keefe, the City of Beverly's new Sustainability Director, provided an overview of Resilient Together, Beverly and Salem's collaborative Climate Action and Resilience Plan. She was assisted by Lisa Willwerth, who is serving as a member of the Climate Action Advisory Committee (CAAC). The Resilient Together planning process is expected to run through approximately June 2021. There will be significant public outreach and input for the Plan. Erina Keefe presented the draft goals for the Climate Action and Resilience Plan, specific to the solid waste category, which were developed by the Plan's consultants and are being reviewed and discussed by the CAAC and the cities. These goals, which will be accompanied by specific action items, are: • Beverly and Salem achieve 80% diversion by 2030 and are net zero waste communities by 2040. • Beverly and Salem are recognized as leaders in resource recovery and sustainable materials management through promotion of a circular economy framework. • Residents and businesses are smart and responsible consumers who minimize waste generation and maximize productive reuse and diversion from landfills. • All municipal capital improvement projects are evaluated with a life cycle assessment. Page 1 of 4 Beverly Waste Reduction Committee Meeting Minutes — November 5, 2020 Higgins discussed the Massachusetts DEP Draft Solid Waste Master Plan, and recommended that the Climate Action and Resilience Plan adopt goals that are consistent with State goals. Sharon Kishida also advised that the State has other related initiatives that could also be considered, and discussed the possibility of achieving a 30% reduction with a full pay -as- you -throw (PAYT) program. Other programs were also identified as being necessary to achieve a significant reduction, including a private hauler ordinance for mandatory recycling (bundled waste and recycling services); City -wide composting, and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Dillon asked about the basis for the numerical goals, and questioned whether the goals would account for growth. Musanti asked about the impact the current state of recycling could have on achieving the goals. Hermon advocated for the importance of mandating food waste composting. Sharon Kishida elaborated on current actions in Hamilton to mandate composting (either backyard composting or curbside program); if no composting, no trash collection. This is a similar model to what Danvers and other communities have initiated for enforced recycling. If Hamilton's model passes, it will be the first program like it in the State. There was a discussion about measures that could be taken to enforce recycling in the City. Stacy Ames raised an alert about the financial impacts of such programs, and noted that the current trash fees do not cover the City's cost. Erina Keefe briefly covered the other goals, and Dillon highlighted the importance of education. Sharon Kishida shared additional information on "buy recycled" policies, environmentally friendly products, and advocacy for legislation (including paint and mattresses). Erina Keefe talked about testimonials (photos, videos, quotes) that will be collected from the public to gather input from the communities. She also provided a link to the Resilient Together website and current survey: https:Hresilient-together.org/home and talked about outreach tactics. Of interest, the library handed out bookmarks with every book checked out that included information on the process. Willwerth provided an update on the first meeting of the CAAC held in early October, including an overview of the breadth and variety of CAAC members. The next meeting will be in early December. She will continue to participate and will pay particular attention to the solid waste aspects of the Plan. Waste Management Best Practices Stacy Ames, Ward 3 City Councilor, provided an overview of some of the concerns regarding waste management in the City. She highlighted that her goal is to work on gaining consensus through different groups in addressing City issues. She highlighted Ward 3, which she represents, and its importance as a centrally located ward with significant diversity and a unique character. Two issues of concern are ongoing discussions about race, including the ties of race to health, and beyond that the issues of economic security and health. She noted that homelessness is a rising problem in the City. These issues provide challenges to waste management practices. Goals set broadly by the City need to factor in elements of economic security, health, and homelessness to bring the needs of all families to the table. Councilor Ames also talked about the need for a best practices document, to better educate residents, and she discussed the importance of understanding financial aspects of waste management. The discussion with Councilor Ames highlighted Ellis Square Friends (ESF), which serves community meals, and the challenges of COVID to -go requirements for food service. The Page 2 of 4 Beverly Waste Reduction Committee Meeting Minutes — November 5, 2020 movement of the City to a carry -in /carry -out (CI /CO) policy this past year has caused specific problems in some areas of the City, including at Holcroft Park. Councilor Ames highlighted that while the CUCO policy is important and appropriate in some places, more consideration needs to be given to locations where it is not working. Her goal is to find consensus, and some proactive solutions to these challenging problems. The Committee openly discussed the various issued raised by Councilor Ames. One of the topics was textile recycling, through the school bin program, and the presence of illegal dumping at the Briscoe location. Higgins shared data on the program, which included 83 tons of textiles diverted from disposal in 2019. This program resulted in revenue of approximately $8,300 to the school PTOs, and achieved an avoided cost for the City estimated at about $5,500 (avoided tipping fees for trash disposal). A second topic of significant discussion was ESF and the problem of homelessness, as well as the need for disposal practices to meet this particular problem. Mary Barthelmes suggested looking at what others in the region are doing. Councilor Ames agreed, but also said that we could lead these efforts. Dillon weighed in on the impact COVID has had, and noted that school lunch distribution is also of concern. There was agreement that the Committee should meet with ESF for first -hand input, and would identify a member of the Committee to lead this effort. Councilor Ames agreed to set up a meeting so we could have more information and better understand impacts. Higgins recommended that the Committee create a best practices document that outlines the Committee's recommendations to the City for waste management practices. Sharon Kishida noted that now is the time for the Committee to make these recommendations. The City is actively considering its options for the next waste management contract. Update on Curbside Composting Higgins presented an update on the curbside composting program. Bin distribution began again on October 1, 2020. In 2019, the City had 180 new participants sign up for curbside composting service with Black Earth. In 2020 through just the end of October, there have already been 201 new participants. This includes 130 new signups from March 17 through September 30, 2020, when the Committee was not distributing bins. It appears from this trend that households willing to pay for the subscription service are also willing to pay for a bin. Higgins also shared a document showing the price and program details for Black Earth subscription service for numerous communities in the greater Boston area. Beverly has the lowest cost structure of all communities, with the exception of communities that provide free town -wide service (e.g., Manchester). Beverly's current pricing structure is $6.99 per month or $79.99 per year, with a free curbside and countertop bin provided by the City. Beverly also continues to offer a $20 annual rebate on the trash fee for participating households. Willwerth requested that we continue to assess the cost of waste management in the City, including the cost impact of composting. Also related to composting, Andrew Samperi provided an update on his BHS DECA project Carbon Less Accomplish More. One of their key strategies is gathering testimonials from elected officials, including Senator Joan Lovely and Congressman Seth Moulton. Samperi highlighted a marketing campaign they held, which included a Salem News article as well as lawn signs. Additionally, they are holding a pop -up thrift store at Beverly High School, in collaboration with Bootstraps. The Page 3 of 4 Beverly Waste Reduction Committee Meeting Minutes — November 5, 2020 money raised from this effort will be used to fund activities to further promote composting in the schools. Samperi will provide a copy of the flyer, and the Committee will assist in promoting the event. COVID Impact to Activities and Events Higgins reported that in collaboration with the City of Salem, the Styrofoam Collection Event previously scheduled for January 2021 has been cancelled due to COVID concerns. The Committee will need to make a decision regarding electronics collection in May 2021. Higgins provided an overview of possible alternate models, including having the electronics collection service provider handle all items (i.e., limit the number of volunteers) and having the company handle all payments (example — City of Salem, which uses RMG Enterprise). In addition, the Committee should consider whether we continue to make this event a fundraiser or if we restructure the event to be the lowest possible cost to the residents of Beverly. Musanti confirmed that this event was originally started for the purpose of removing the items from the waste stream, and not as a fundraiser. Upcoming Events On Monday, November 16, 2020, Sharon Kishida is giving a Zoom presentation on Waste Reduction and Why it Matters. A link was provided to the Committee. Other Updates and Discussion Items by Committee Members No other items brought forth by the Committee. Adjournment There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:19 pm. Page 4 of 4