Minutes of January Recycling/landfill committee meeting

Members present: Steve Berlucci, Richard Hart, Steven Rys, Jack Fernandes, Jay Lambert, Deborah Dupont
Members Absent: Cheri Olf, Rachel Melo, Don Wilbur, Richard Joslin
Public : Andrew Rys

S. Rys called the meeting to order at 6:30
1. Minutes of the 11/19 meeting approved

2. Update on Payt. Committee reviewed ordinance amendment approved by Town Council 1/25/10 Section 66-50 Adoption of regulations for Pay as you throw Section 66-51 Definitions 100% of said fee , less administration expenses, shall go into restricted account of landfill closure fund.

3. No bin No Barrel report Mr. Berlucci supplied information from RIRRC for Tiverton ‘s recycling receipts over the past 13 months. Since No bin No barrel implementation over the last three months a total of 441 tons of recyclables were collected. In comparison, the total over the same period in 2008 was 389 ton an increase of 13% since the program began.
4. Commercial Recycling Mr. Berlucci outlined a plan that would allow commercial businesses to piggyback on the towns recycling program. The plan would build a cooperative between businesses and the town in order to lower the cost of trash disposal for businesses and increase the towns recycling rate.
5. Landfill updates Mr. Berlucci presented a Pare Report on the life of the landfill from latest survey (Jan.2010) there is approximately 73,000 cy of air space remaining beneath the landfill cap. Over the last couple of years, the town has been filling at a rate of approximately 15,000 to 18,000 cy per year. At that rate, the remaining life of the landfill is approximately 4 to 5 years. The closing date is between Jan. (2014) and Jan. (2015). RIRRC has issued new municipal solid waste caps for FY2010. The town of Tiverton rate dropped from the current 5743 tons to 5210. While this number has no significants at this time, it will play a major role when our current landfill closes and the town begins to utilize RIRRC landfill. Any municipalities that exceed there caps will see an increase from $32 ton to $58 ton in tipping fees for every ton over the cap.
6. New Business Discussion on formulating a RFP for PATY services.( Bags, administer program) Mr. Berlucci will follow up
7. Comments Mr. Lambert received information from Town Treasurer that landfill closure account will accrue a $106,000 dividend this year. Mr. Lambert suggested committee develop brochure with recycling information and outline changes to trash program.
8. Comments Mr. Hart would like committee to investigate the Industrial park as site for future transfer station. Mr. Lambert will contact Economic development committee to explore feasibility. Mr. Fernandes added that a transfer station is an expensive proposition for the town to undertake.
9. Comments Mr. Rys asked Mr. Berlucci about latest information on RIRRC plans to expand recycling (no. 3 to 7 plastics) and single stream recycling. Mr. Berlucci stated that any plans to expand program have been pushed back to at least 2014.