BWRC Minutes Nov 2021 CITY OF BEVERLY
WASTE REDUCTION COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 6:30 PM
Beverly Public Library, Barnet Gallery
Call to order: 6:30 PM.
Committee members present: Susan Higgins (Chair), Sandy Burgess, Nancy Dillon, Joyce
Herman, Lisa Willwerth
Committee members absent: Toni Musante, John Swain
Invited participants and guests: Amy Henderson
Review minutes for October 7, 2021 meeting
Dillon moved to approve the minutes; Willwerth seconded. The motion carried(5-0).
Committee administrative business
1. Treasurer report
Same balance - $24,320 in the account.
Higgins to email Dean Berg as the committee authorized funding for Green Beverly
to buy raffle prizes to promote events and activities, reimbursing as needed.
2. Term expiration dates
Kerin Cotter updated the website with correct expiration dates for committee
members: Musante & Swain—2022; Dillon, Herman& Higgins—2023; Burgess &
Swain—2024.
Event discussion and planning
1. Pumpkin Smash (11/7/2021)
Green Beverly event, at New Earth, BWRC supporting with education and outreach
as well as overseeing the waste station—trash can, recycling tote, and 2 BHS compost
totes. Old Planters will be on site—carrying out and providing receptacles for their
beverage containers. Root is bringing food from Salem —unsure if compostable
containers/utensils or not, will find out before the event so volunteers know for waste
station. Anticipating —150 people, interest growing through social media, and there will
be signage but they will use the third entrance as you're driving up from Beverly.
Higgins to drop-off table, tablecloth, composting bin, tabletop and select materials;
Henderson mentioned Keefe was going to print flyers similar to the mailers with QR
codes to display as well-people are receiving mailers, agree they're well done.
Burgess &Dillon volunteering 12:30-2:30pm;Higgins & Willwerth 2:30-4:30pm.
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2. Styrofoam collection event
Working together with Salem, received two quotes for the event: 1) Gold Circuit
(used before) quoted $600/box truck, 4 hours collection time, one person on site (same as
before), but with a new charge of$20/vehicle; 2) Save That Stuff(Charlestown, MA)
quoted $2,185 estimate for the event that includes a trailer dropped off with 2 staff for 4
hours, buying roll(s) of big bags as needed, and then paying $10/bag for disposal, and
other charges brought the estimate to $2,185. After discussing pros/cons for going with
flat rate vs. charges per car, consensus reached to collaborate with Salem for flat rate, and
possibly reaching out to a third city/town to defray costs as well.
Dillon moved to partner with Salem for a Styrofoam collection event, only in
collaboration with them, to request a portion +/or all of Beverly's fees for the event from
the City of Beverly's Recycling Dividend Program (RDP)funds, and to authorize the
BWRC to spend up to$1,200 of its own funds to cover the fees or any remaining portion
thereof. Burgess seconded. Motion carried(5-0).
Higgins will reach back out to Salem with the preference for Save That Stuff vendor
and to finalize plans/set date January 8" or 15th, so that it can be publicized if the event
is moving forward by both cities.
City updates and discussion items
1. Community meetings (10/14 and 10/21 at 7:00 PM via Zoom)
Keefe held the community meetings, BWRC attended, Mayor Cahill was at the first
meeting with a handful of people and a good discussion. Keefe plans to use recordings
from second meeting presentation to post on social media. Dillon to follow-up and ensure
the recordings are accessible for Keefe.
2. Composting
Drop-off is in place, and open to anyone who registers. Higgins and Dillon signed up,
and are working with Ben Hacker to provide feedback and monitor the pilot program.
Higgins is no longer distributing bins, and will give the excess back to Keefe. Unpacked
Living will be working with Black Earth as the new distribution contact point for Beverly
residents. Today's count was 1,388 just shy of officially hitting 1,400.
3. Other
None.
Old business and miscellaneous items
None.
Upcoming events
1. BMPAA Electronics Collection (November 6th, 8 AM—noon)
Fundraiser for Beverly Music and Performing Arts Assoc. this weekend, the City
helped promote. Moving forward, discussions with City on handling electronics
collection quarterly, once or twice a year, etc.
2. Pumpkin Smash (November 7th, 1-4 pm)
See above.
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3. MADEP Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-Palooza (November 10 and 15-18, webinars)
November 15'is America Recycles Day, linked to the agenda where Mass DEP is
hosting numerous webinars at different times of the day on topics that may be of interest.
4. City Council Meeting (November 8')
Councilor Rotondo, Ward 1, called Higgins as he's received many complaints about
JRM re: yard waste collection— delayed, and people are watching it go in with trash
collection as well. Higgins reviewed the JRM contract, and Councilor Rotondo is going
to request someone from the City Engineering Dept. as well as a JRM representative
attend an upcoming City Council meeting to answer questions; unsure whether
representatives are available for Monday, or if it will be a future meeting. Here is the
November 8'Agend with Google Meet connection details for the meeting.
Committee member roles and responsibilities— review draft outline
Higgins reviewed draft outline for roles, and to help identify skills/responsibilities for the two
remaining seats on the committee as the City works to fill them. Group reached consensus for
separate Chair, Vice-Chair(possibly combined with Outreach& Education—liaison to Keefe,
etc.), and Treasurer; Burgess interested in continuing as Treasurer; Dillon interested in
Community Event Supporter/Volunteer Coordinator; Herman interested in Composting
Specialist and Recycling & Waste Reduction Specialist; Marketing& Communications/ Social
Media—Mary Barthelmes has been running the Instagram account and expressed interest to
Higgins in possibly joining as a committee member; Data and Metrics Specialist—Karen Milo
sends data from JRM—point person would request routine updates, as well as emails from the
schools on textile recycling, and data from Black Earth on households.
Higgins to revise the draft document, identifying roles/skills as chosen by current members
and confirming with Willwerth, Swain, andMusante on the roles)/responsibilities they will take
on as point person;group to identify skill/role gaps discussed social media, legislative
activities, data tracking& metrics, identifying grant opportunities, etc. Finally, requesting
Keefe to advise if there are other ways BWRC can assist the City, Mayor and City Council.
Other updates and discussion items by Committee members
Burgess asked for clarification on JRM contract whether Stanley Street closes Dec. 15tn
Higgins said Kerin Cotter advised there's verbal agreement from JRM that Stanley Street will
stay open at least one day per week through the winter months. Higgins confirmed any extra
costs for contaminated recyclables are paid by JRM through the contract, not the City— City
pays $60/ton of recyclable material, and —$90/ton of waste, so it incentivizes JRM to recycle as
much as possible.
Dillon raised possible ecobrick event for the future; TerraCycle also discussed, and possible
lawsuit on whether collected materials are truly recycled.
Adjourn: Dillon moved to adjourn;Burgess seconded. The motion carried(5-0) at 8:25 PM.
NEXT MEETING:
December 2, 2021 at 6:30 PM
Location: Beverly Public Library, Sohier Room
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