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SHERBORN RECYCLING COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

The 216^th meeting of the Recycling Committee was held at the Town Hall on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 4:30 p.m.

Present: Carol Rubenstein (chair), Andrea Brennan, Ron Buckler, Karl Ludwig, and Jennifer Stoner.

Not Present:  Ardys Flavelle, Susan Higley, Jack Mulhall, Susan Peirce, Jane Pusch and Peggy Weber.

I.        Minutes of the February Meeting were approved.

            Thank you’s:

·        Ardys and Andrea for their eagle eyes on the DEP postcard

·        Ron for making the presentation to the Capital Budget Committee and Karl for       adding moral support

·        Jane Pusch for her work on the Natick Collection Recycling Initiative

·        Karl for writing the February minutes

·        Andrea for her continuing work on the welcome bins

II .Announcements, Old and New Business

1. Carol discussed a request she had received from the Advisory Committee Liaison to level fund our budget to help avoid an override.  As a result, she took out the request for water bottles and the funds for a second person to attend conferences.
2. Ron and Karl discussed the reactions of the Capital Budget Committee to the Recycling Committee’s proposal for long-term upgrades at the Recycling Center.  It appeared that they were receptive.
3. Carol announced that the Town has won a grant for a DEP postcard.  The Committee discussed and agreed on the design.
4. The status of clothing collection was discussed.  Bay State Textiles, which is a “for profit” organization will pay $50/ton while Kiducation is paying only $20/ton.  Carol has talked with Paul Curry, who runs Bay State Textiles, and with two of his customers, the Towns of Randolph and Marshfield.  They are very satisfied with his service.  The Committee decided to proceed with cutting ties with Kiducation.
5. The Spring Clean Up is scheduled for the first weekend in May.
6. Carol announced that her date for meeting with the Board of Selectmen to discuss changing fees for refrigerators and monitors has again been changed – this time to April 15.
7. Ron reported on progress building the new shelter at the Recycling Center.  He is currently seeking bids on the finish work.
8. The Committee discussed the progress of the website http://recycling.sherbornma.org.
9. Carol noted recycling progress at the Natick Collection.  Jane will email Committee members with details of volunteering to help with Earth Day festivities.
10. Prompted by an email from a Town resident, Carol related that she has called CRTR and they told her that there would be no charge for taking computer peripherals.  While these had previously been placed in the metal recycling container, this raises the question of whether they should instead be sent to CRTR for recycling.  Andrea mentioned that she knows of an organization that will pay $5 each for computer peripherals; she will check with them to get further details.   The discussion reminded the Committee that information on CRT recycling items needs to be added to the sign at the Recycling Center.
11. Carol noted that it’s time to send recycling letters to event organizers, to plan Earth Day activities, to open the Swap Shop and to set a date for the annual Recycling Center Cleanup.  It was decided to plan the opening of the Swap Shop this year on April 1.  Carol will submit the information to the regional press.
12. Tonnage report:

      In January –

                  Refuse: 12 trips to Millbury – 2 fewer than last month and tonnage is down.

                  Paper: 7 trips – 1 more than last month and tonnage is up.

                  Commingled: 2 trips – 2 less than last month and tonnage is down.

                  Overall recycling rate is 31.5% this month, equal to 31.5% last month.

• Please call Carol  (508-653-8794)  if you are going to be  absent from a meeting

• Recruit new members 

Next Meeting – April 9 at 4:30 pm at Town Hall.  Future meetings: May 14, June 11, Aug. 13.

Recent Recycling Center statistics:

Respectfully Submitted,

Karl Ludwig – Secretary for March 2008