05 2017 BWRC Minutes May 4 2017Beverly Waste Reduction Committee
MINUTES: Monthly meeting, Thursday, May 4, 2017
6:00 PM, City Hall, 3rd Floor, Conference Room A
CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 pm
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Sandy Burgess, Connie Krueger, Charlie Perlo,
Toni Mutant, Susan Beasley
ABSENT. Rebecca DuPont - Coutu, Maureen Cronin, Joyce Herman, Jim Bauer
OTHERS: Nancy Dillon, Wendy Frontier, Jennifer Bassett, Reye AI- Khalil, Emily
6:10 — 6:30:
PRESENTATION - "Bringing Environmental Change to Beverly"
High school students Kevin MacDonald and Brittney New gave a PowerPoint
presentation on the rational to ban plastic Bags in the City of Beverly. This presentation
is part of their internship with Salem Sound Coastwatch, and will be [resented to the
Beverly City Council on June 5, 2017. This was a run - through on their presentation for
feedback from the Committee.
• From 193 responses through a Google survey, they found most would support a
reduction of plastic bags, and that there was a 50/50 split between those who use
reusable bags vs. plastic bags.
• Of Beverly businesses impacted, they identified 4 second hand stores, 15 grocery
stores, 18 convenience stores, and 20 restaurants.
• 45 cities and towns in Massachusetts have a bag ordinance, including Salem,
Marblehead, Ipswich, and Manchester. The ordinance they are proposing is based on
the Salem ordinance.
• Along with the ban on plastic bags, they are advocating a Bag Share program where
shoppers donate reusable bags at stores for people to use and bring back
Feedback fro the Committee was positive, with a few questions to clarify as to how the
survey was taken.
6:30 — 6:35:
UPDATE - Electronics Recycling Event scheduled for Sat,. May 5, 2017
10 members each from the Beverly High School football and wresting teams will be
assisting at the event. After last year's issue with the boys taking off from the event and
being discovered by Connie at a local restaurant, the coaches gave assurances they
would be there to supervise the boys. Work schedule for the Committee members and
volunteer was distributed.
6:35 — 6:50:
UPDATE - Beverly Arts Fest & Block Party
• Committee needs to meet with Pricilla Walsh to discuss funding for Change is Simple
to assist with events. General discussion surrounded issues with Arts Fest and Block
Party and their unwillingness to provide adequate recycling, even through it is required
by MA DEP law because they are City events.
• Committee discussed how to et more volunteers to assist with these events and places
to post appeals for volunteers, including those who participate in the compost program,
Change is Simple, and the Beverly high School environmental club.
• Discussion on having a new t -shirt designed for volunteers who work on events to
promote recycling, and so that volunteers will be easily recognizable to event goers to
assist them recycle their drink cups, etc.
VOTE: For design and purchase of 72 Official "Beverly Recycles" t- shirts for event
volunteers, not to exceed $1000. Charlie Perlo motion, Sandy Burgess second, 5 -0
vote in FAVOR.
• Sandy Burgess offered investigate pricing of t- shirts, volunteer Nancy Dillon offered to
create design.
6:50 — 7:15:
UPDATE: Beverly Curbside Compost project
Committee was given previous notice that cost would climb to $98 /year ($49/6 months),
but price would drop if more households signed up.
• Current price is $67 /year with 300 households participating. If City can reach 600
participants, price will come down.
• City has agreed to give $10 back on water /sewer /trash bill to those who participate and
will buy new compost bins.
7:15 — 7:20:
UPDATE: Beverly Waste Reduction Facebook page "Beverly Recycles"
Norrie Gall has given Connie Kreuger admin access to page. Susan Beasley offered to
investigate making page more current and will reach out to Norrie for details.
7:20 — Motion to Adjourn