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FALMOUTH RECYCLING COMMITTEE
FALMOUTH PUBLIC WORKS
MINUTES
Monday, April 14, 2009 4:00 PM
Call to Order Committee members present and answering roll call:
Sally Bitan, Kelly Fernald, Steve Hendry, Bill McMahon, Satoria Pelton
Non-Committee members present:
Jay Reynolds, Bonny Rodden, Falmouth High School Environmental Action Committee
Item 1 Approval of Last Meeting's Minutes -- All
- The meetings from the March 11, 2009 meeting were accepted.
Item 2 Celebration of Recycling Rate -- Bonny
- Bonny brought sparkling cider and congratulated the committee on a recycling rate of 52% in March! This is the highest rate of the ecoMaine member communities and exceeds our goal of 50%.
Item 3 Update on Regionalization -- Jay and Bonny
- Jay gave updated dates for the RFP for the regionalization of trash and recycling collection:
April 1, 2009 Submit to Towns and Haulers for Comment
April 3, 2009 2nd Draft Comment Closing
April 10, 2009 Issue RFP
April 22, 2009 Pre-bid Meeting
June 1, 2009 RFP Closing & Review Beginning
July 1, 2009 Contract Award
September 1, 2009 Contract Start Date
- This puts the dates out farther than anticipated.
- In light of these dates, the Town is working on a contract extension
- Gorham will not be participating in the regionalization effort
Item 4 Update on Town Council -- Bonny and Jay
- The Town budget was approved as is. This includes the intent to adopt the proposed fee schedule.
- The logistics of implementing the new fee schedule have to be worked out.
- As the Town Council looks to reduce expenses to meet budget challenges, items were brought up for consideration that are of concern to the Recycling Committee.
- Bonny will get more details from the Town Council on cost-saving goals for the Committee to consider so recommendations can be made.
Item 5 Corrugated Cardboard to ecoMaine -- Jay and Bonny
- Falmouth has a grandfathered arrangement with ecoMaine concerning recycling of corrugated cardboard. The Town takes cardboard that is compacted at the Transfer Station to ecoMaine outside of the normal recycling program.
- In the past, when recyclable markets were better, the Town was paid for the corrugated cardboard so it was collected and delivered separately.
- Currently, the Town has to pay ecoMaine to take the corrugated cardboard to cover the cost of having it recycled.
- Prior to the Town having to pay for the cardboard to be recycled, the Town earned $1,600 over six months from this program.
- The Committee discussed whether this program should be discontinued and all corrugated cardboard should be recycled through the silver bullets as in other towns.
- The Committee decided to table voting on this item until the May meeting.
Item 6 Greening the Falmouth High School Cafeteria -- Falmouth High Environmental Action Committee
- A group of students from the Falmouth High School Environmental Action Committee (EAC) attended the meeting to present their vision for a greener cafeteria at the high school.
- The EAC presented a Powerpoint slide show outlining how they would like the cafeteria to become more eco-friendly, the benefits of implenting their vision, the steps they can take to make it a reality, some possible obstacles they may encounter, and some ways to address the obstacles. Students spoke to each slide demonstrating the thoughtfulness and enthusiasm they bring to this project.
- The EAC has visited Yarmouth Middle School which has implemented similar steps in their cafeteria with great cost savings and reduced waste. A video of the Yarmouth Middle School visit was included in the presentation.
- The presentation was very well done and well received by the Recycling Committee.
- The Recycling Committee voted unanimously to support the group's plans.
- Steve will write a draft letter of support and circulate it via e-mail to the Recycling Committee. The letter will be given to the EAC to take with them as they meet with school and community leaders.
- Bonny Rodden and Bill McMahon will attend a meeting with the EAC and the high school principal to voice support for the effort (Gary Glick to arrange).
- The EAC is making plans to take their proposal to other school and community groups for support.
Item 7 Next Meeting Date
- The next meeting will be Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 4:00 PM at Parks & Public Works.
Item 8 Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Bill McMahon
Secretary, Falmouth Recycling Committee
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