Minutes of Shaftsbury Solid Waste Committee
July 19, 2005, 7:30 p.m., Cole Hall
Present: Bill Pennebaker, Trevor Mance, Karen Mellinger, Forrest Snyder
Absent: Michael Biddy and Christie Coleman
Bill called the meeting to order at 7:45 p.m. The minutes of July 5, 2005 were approved.
Recycling Study: Forrest noted that he had not had an opportunity to contact N.E. Resource Recovery representative Bonnie Cook regarding the amount they pay for plastics. He recalls from previous contacts that the process of recycling the plastic would involve baling the material and NERR would pick it up. However, they would require a minimum number of bales for pickup. Trevor advised that baling is a difficult process – it can take approximately 4 hours for two people to bale. They must use a skid steer and baling wire to create 800 lb bales – the baling wire is expensive. Trevor added that there is a risk of bales “exploding” in the process of baling.
The committee also discussed possible recycling programs involving sneakers, cell phones, textiles, electronics/computer recycling. It was pointed out that a future swap shed could help to facilitate the recycling of such materials.
Landfill Closure Update: It was noted by Bill that a possible new low cost cover material has been identified. This material is the tailings produced by OMYA’s mining operations in Florence, VT. This alternative cover source will be presented to the second round bidders as a possible cover material to investigate. Transportation costs could be a problem – perhaps the rail could be considered as a means of getting the material down.
Solid Waste Disposal Options: Bill noted that one of the questions that has arisen as the Town considers the TAM private transfer station proposal is what could TAM do regarding Shaftsbury’s needs into the future. Trevor advised that when he started designing the transfer station several years ago, he looked at a facility on Martha’s Vineyard. That facility has an area outside of the building with a “cafeteria type” building wall where residents throw separated garbage over the wall. He would anticipate that there would be accommodations on his potential site for public disposal of waste.
Bill noted that he had visited the Bennington/Casella transfer station and he presented a paper he had prepared on his observations (attached).
It was suggested that a part of any HTA with TAM could stipulate that residents of Shaftsbury would be guaranteed access to the facility. Perhaps specific accommodations could be made regarding residents entering with town stickers.
The committee discussed possible future options for the Town. Ideas presented included:
-A user- pay system. Residents would pay a set fee per bag.
-An increase in the sticker fee. Trevor noted that in North Adams the sticker fee is $55/year and Pownal’s is $25/year. Currently, the first Shaftsbury sticker is free and the second is only $5. Increasing the sticker fee could help to ease residents into the idea of paying more for trash services, thus relieving the burden on the Town budget.
-One idea was to give residents a set number of free bags per year (ex: 26), together with an allowance for a certain number of tires and/or appliances. Any additional waste would require a fee. In terms of recycling, the committee was in agreement that the greatest incentive to recycle seems to be a pay as you throw system. The Town might try to identify a recycling volume goal and then tailor a program that attempts to achieve that goal.
-Shaftsbury has the option of running its own municipal transfer station and transferring it across the street to the TAM facility if that becomes permitted. The Town could also continue to bid out the municipal station. Trevor advised that he would anticipate bidding on the job if that were the case.
-The Town must consider the question: Is the goal to be a totally user pay system – or one that is paid primarily by the Town and supplemented by specific tipping fees?
-Another suggestion mentioned was that hazardous waste collection fees should be paid by the Town, while residents pay for regular municipal solid waste (msw). It was the consensus of the group that hazardous waste costs should be borne by the Town.
-Trevor suggested the Town could consider the idea of operating the present municipal facility as a recycling center only. In North Adams, residents take their recycling to a separate facility from the msw. Karen expressed concern that this would not be as convenient to residents as having all drop-offs at the same location. Bill noted that if recycling were free, it would provide greater incentives to residents to recycle.
Bill suggested this discussion and the ideas generated could be the basis for “white paper” options to present to the Town. Forrest offered to draft a position paper on a pay as you throw system.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Submitted by Karen Mellinger