Greenfield Recycling Committee (GRECOM)
MEETING MINUTES
7 PM, Thursday, Feb. 2, 201
Upstairs Meeting Room – Greenfield Town Office Building
In attendance: Candi Fowler, Neal Brown, Diane Boilard, Mike Steere, Dan Wolover, John Matthias, John Eber, Carol Burgess Absent: Jarvis Adams
Member of the public John Gryval also attended part off the meeting
APPOINTMENT SHEETS – All members except Jarvis Adams (Absent) and Jon Eber were sworn in.
Jon has to date elected not to be sworn in as a voting member; nevertheless, he was invited by the Chair to
participate as an interested member of the public. Jarvis has been advised by Neal to stop by the Town Hall to be sworn in at his earliest convenience.
FOR THE RECORD - Neal reviewed for the assembled the history and purpose of the Greenfield Recycling Committee (GRECOM). He reiterated that we are an advisory committee which reports to the Board of Selectmen and serves at its pleasure. After several years of inactivity, GRECOM was reactivated by the Board to assist them in preparing a proposal to implement a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system/program for Greenfield beginning on or about Sept 1, 2012.
Neal proposed that we begin the meeting by considering the following question:
IS PAYT IN GREENFIELD A CONCEPT THAT THE GRECOM CAN SUPPORT?
There followed a lively discussion concerning PAYT and the pros and cons of its implementation in Greenfield at this time. It lasted for at least an hour, and therefore, it is not transcribed in its entirety. What follows are some excerpts of what was said during the discussion:
- Jon Eber presented, in writing, and in following discussion, several reasons why he thinks that PAYT is a bad idea for the town – particularly at this time.
- Candi Fowler also stated that she is worried that there will be incresed dumping in the environment
- Neal Brown stated that unless people begin to directly share the cost of dumping trash, they are likely
to seriously conform to the current Town mandate to recycle.
- Diane Boilard asked “Why don’t we have any teeth in the recycling law anyway?”
- Dan Wolaver commentedabout the issue of change – everyone thinks that change is bad!
- Mike Steere disclosed his support of PAYT and as a member of the Budget Committee he summarized that
Committee’s initiative to in stirring the Board’s interest in PAYT as a mechanism of controlling the Recycling
Center’s buget.
- Jon Eber felt that we are taking away a perk for the community….”I’m paying a higher tax and I’m paying a per
bag fee as well…..
- Neal Brown and Carol Burgess addressed Jon Eber’s concerns by noting the mandate to use a special revenue fund which receives the proceeds of PAYT and the gains in recycling and, in turn, reduces the property tax –dependence of the Recycling Center budget on property taxes.
- Diane Bolard spoke about the country’s landfill problems in the future and how there aren’t enough places to put
the trash….
- John Matthias observed – psychological thing – how do we find a solution to this…..cross section of what will
happen at Town Meeting….7 billion people on the earth….he finds trash everyday on his walks….resistance to
change….we need to help people make this change…..
- Mike Steere – What about working with other towns…?
- Diane Boilard – can we figure out what tax reduction will accrue per household? What is the sense of the people
who use the recycling center now? Can they afford it? Will they see the decrease in their taxes to offset the costs
of the bags?
RESULT OF DISCUSSION OF ABOVE QUESTION ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF PAYT IN GREENFIELD:
With the exception of Jon Eber, the rest of the GRECOM membership in attendance favored proceeding with the Board’s request for specific advice on costing out ans implementing a scheme for PAYT
OUR FIRST “CHARGE” FROM THE BOS:
To calculate the amount of PAYT start-up funds that should be requested in a warrant article seeking the Town’s support for the adoption of PAYT. The amount should be sufficient to ensure a supply of PAYT bags and related supplies that would sustain the PAYT program for a period of 12 months.
Carol proposed that bags be sold in two sizes: 14 gal and 33 gal sizes. She assumed that it would take 8 weeks to have them in hand follwomg an order.
Dan moved that users be charged $1.00 for 14 gal bags & $2.00 for 33 gal bags.
Diane seconded the motion. Some discussion followed:
Dan’s motion carried unanimously (Note: Jon Eber, as a non-official member, was not eligible to vote)
ASSUMPTIONS FOR CALCULATING NUMBER OF BAGS
Carol explained that statistics from vendors indicate that households need one to two bags per week….Carol used an estimate of 454 households who would use the bags…..for a total of ~ 35,000 bags/year.
HOW BAGS WILL BE SUPPLIED
Bags are to be ordered in rolls of 5 @ for $5 for the 14 gal bags, and @ $10 for the 33 gal bags
CALCULATION OF COST OF BAGS
150 cases of 14 gallon = 30,000 bags= 150 x $31.96/case = $4794.00
100 cases of 33 gallons = 20,000 bags= 100 x $51.51/case = $5151.00
Total = $9945.00
DISCUSSION AND VOTE
Mike Steere moved that we recommend that the Town purchase the above number and mix of bags
Dan Wolaver seconded the motion
John Matthias asked if the selectmen should round off the sum and specifiy in the Warrwnt article “not to exceed an amount of $10,000”
Mike Steere’s motion passed unanimously (Note: Jon Eber, as a non-official member, was not eligible to vote)
DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF ANTICIPATED INCOME RESULTING FROM PAYT
From sale of bags:
450 (2/3) households anticipated to use the recycling center every week – 2 bags per household = 900 bags per week
x 52 weeks = 46,800 bags (60% are antipated to be 14 gal bags and 40% to be 33 gal bags)
46,800 x 60% = 28,080 bags x $1.00 = $28,080 in sales
46,800 x 40% = 18,720 bags x $2.00 = $37,440 in sales
Total bag revenue = $65,520
Cost of bags to Town:
28,080 bags (14 gal) = 140.4 cases or 141 cases @ $31.96 per case = $4506.36
18,720 bags (33 gal) = 93.6 cases or 94 cases @ $51.51 per case = $4841.94
Total cost of bags used = $9,348.30
Net revenue from bag sales: $65,520 less $9348.30 ========= $56,171.70
Indirect revenue:
Estimated reduction in trash removal costs = $4000
Estimated increase in recycling income = $3300 (assumes current prices for recyclables)
Net “indirect” revenue ==============================$7,300.00
Total annual revenue projected ======= $ 63,471
Next meeting = Feb 6, 2012 7 pm Town Hall
Homework = all members to bring their ideas on what should be put on a FAQ sheet we are anticipating creating. Neal will circulate an agenda and relevant materials by e-mail before the meeting.
Respectfully submitted.
Candice Fowler, Secretary
GRECOM
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