Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/17/2000 - Waste Reduction and Recycling Advisory Commission AGENDA WASTE REDUCTION & RECYCLING ADVISORY COMMISSION EAGAN, MINNESOTA Eagan Municipal Center City Council Chambers THURSDAY, August 17, 2000 5:30 p.m. * ** I. ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA II. APPROVAL OF June 29, 2000 MEETING MINUTES III. VISITORS TO BE HEARD IV. INFORMATIVE A. June 7 -8 Superstorm Update B. Update Regarding Community Center Process V. NEW BUSINESS A. Update & Discussion regarding A.R.R.O.W. Program VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Sub Committee Updates 1. Evaluation Sub - Committee 2. Events Sub - Committee 3. Education Sub - Committee VII. ADJOURNMENT Next meeting— September 21, 2000* • September Meeting will be televised on Cable Channel 16 • Tentative Agenda: Neighborhood Organization Study -- Possibly Invite Public /Block Captains Review Annual Grant Ciiy Procurement Sub - Committee Report(s) The mission The mission of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Advisory Commission is to proactively assist the Eagan City Council by educating, encouraging and assisting the community in reducing and managing waste in an environmentally sound manner. MEMO TO: MEMBERS OF THE EAGAN WASTE REDUCTION & RECYCLING ADVISORY COMMISSION FROM: COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR FOOTE DATE: August 9, 2000 SUBJECT: EAGAN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 17, 2000 A regular meeting of the Eagan Waste Reduction & Recycling Commission will be held on Thursday August 17, 2000 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., at the Eagan Municipal Center in the City Council Chambers. Please contact Joanna Foote at (651) 681 -4604 by Tuesday, June 27, to indicate if you cannot attend. I. ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA (5:30 -5:32) The agenda, as presented or modified, requires adoption by the Commission. ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THIS ITEM: approve, deny or modify Agenda II. APPROVAL OF June 28, 2000, MEETING MINUTES (5:32 -5:35) A copy of the minutes of the Waste Reduction Commission meeting of June 28 ,2000 is included as an attachment. ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THIS ITEM: approve, deny or modify Minutes III. VISITORS TO BE HEARD IV. INFORMATIVE (5:35 -5:45) VII. A. June 7 -8 Superstorm Update Facts: A recap of the events which occurred at the City of Eagan related to the June 7 -8 Superstorm is included on pages to . ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THIS ITEM: For Discussion Only B. Update Regarding Community Center/ Process Facts: A press release regarding community involvement in the development process for the Central Park and Community Center is included on pages _ to . Interested Commission members are encouraged to submit a letter of interest by August 30 if they wish to be a part of this process. Also for Commission information, Recycling Coordinator Bast will be meeting with the architect at some point early in the design process to discuss "Green Building" opportunities for this project. ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THIS ITEM: For Discussion Only V. NEW BUSINESS (5:45 -6:15) A. Update & Discussion regarding A.R.R.O.W. Program Facts: Late in 1998 the Cities of Burnsville, Eagan and Apple Valley in conjunction with Dakota County, began the Awards for Reduction and Recycling of Waste (A.R.R.O.W.) Program. Since this Commission was instrumental in the programs inception, we felt it important to update the group as to its progress. The program has had some success and the Cities are now looking to identify ways to generate more enthusiasm and participation from the business community. The group may wish to discuss ideas and provide suggestions. ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THIS ITEM: For Discussion Only VI. OLD BUSINESS (6:15 -6:30) A. Update by Evaluation sub - committee ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THIS ITEM: Discussion B. Update by Events sub - committee ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THIS ITEM: Discussion C. Update by Education sub - committee ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THIS ITEM: Discussion VII. ADJOURNMENT- -NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Thursday, September 21, 2000 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Eagan City Hall. The September Meeting will be televised on Cable Channel 16 • Tentative Agenda: Neighborhood Organization Study -- Possibly Invite Public /Block Captains Review Annual Grant City Procurement Sub - Committee Report(s) Subiect to Approval MINUTES OF THE SOLID WASTE ABATEMENT COMMISSION Eagan, Minnesota June 29, 2000 A regular meeting of the Eagan Solid Waste Abatement Commission was held on Thursday, June 29, 2000 at 5:30 p.m. at the Dakota County Eco-site. Present were Gwen Hillesheim, Gary Hansen, Clint Hooppaw, Patricia Hurd, Rick Patraw, Tom Petri Ili, Mike Stone, John Tapper and Jim Weinzettel. Absent from the meeting was Linda Merkel. Also present were Mark Andren, lead person at the Eco-site, Recycling Coordinator Bast and Communications Coordinator Foote. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Patraw requested that the Education Sub - Committee be added to the Sub - Committee Updates under Old Business. Hillesheim moved to adopt the agenda as modified. Hurd seconded with all members voting in favor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Hurd noted two changes in the minutes. On page 2, second to the last paragraph, line five, and on page 3, first full paragraph, fifth line, Neighborhood Night Out should read neighborhood organization. Hansen noted the misspelling of his name in the minutes. Hooppaw made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 18, 2000 meeting as modified. Tapper seconded with all members voting in favor. INFORMATIVE A. Tour of Eco Site Mark Andren, lead staff person at the Eco -site, gave brief background information, noting that the site has been in operation since 1993. He further stated that household hazardous waste and recycling materials are accepted at the site. At 5:40 p.m., he began the tour with a walk through the hazardous waste area. Andren brought the Commissioners' attention to the shelves containing hazardous waste products that are redistributed to the public, refered to as the "Reuse Site." He explained that all products are inspected and any that can be reused are placed on the shelves for the public. He noted that large quantities of reusable paint are also available to the general public. Andren also directed the Commissioners' attention to the furniture made from plastic milk jugs that is on display and for sale by a private company called "By the Yard." He then took the group into a room, which is designed to be secure against explosions, where the hazardous waste is stored. He explained the various hazardous waste items accepted by the site, including florescent lights, batteries, tires, propane tanks, oil, paint, antifreeze and chemicals. The site also accepts scrap metal. Andren explained the process for crushing paint cans and bulking the paint to be sent out for various uses and where the various other materials are taken when they leave the site. The group then followed Andren to the recycling area where newspapers, catalogs, aluminum and tin cans, plastic bottles and glass are collected. Next, the Commission moved into the warehouse where the materials are bundled. Andren explained what happens to the material when it leaves the Eco -site. The final stop for the group was at Gopher Plastics, a plastics recycling operation, where Tapper explained the process for recycling plastic battery covers from washing the plastic to the final recycled plastic pellets. He stated that many consumer products are made from this plastic. Tapper noted that the market for recycled plastic has greatly improved. The tour concluded at 6:25 p.m. at which time the meeting was resumed. It was noted that the Eco -site is available for tours to the general public. Chair Patraw thanked both Andren and Tapper for the informative tour. Solid Waste Abatement Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 /June 29, 2000 Weinzettel officially announced to the group that his company, Mendota Heights Rubbish, had merged with Waste Management. OLD BUSINESS A. Sub - Committee Updates 1. Evaluation Sub - Committee Hillesheim presented an update of the Evaluation Sub - committee which had met three weeks ago. Foote was in attendance at the meeting. Commission goals were discussed with the primary focus on the hauler and the neighborhood surveys. The committee agreed that the neighborhood survey should be considered first with the expectation of distributing it in August. The hauler survey would be targeted for late fall. The group felt that following the surveys, focus groups could be formed with any recommendations made in early winter. Hillesheim stated that the group would meet again on July 11 at Eagan City Hall. She invited Bast to attend. Foote distributed e-mails that had been received from a resident regarding the process involved in initiating neighborhood organization. She stated that this issue could be discussed at a future meeting. At their next meeting, the Evaluation Sub - committee will review and make any appropriate changes to the recycling hand -out for National Night Out. 2. Events Sub - Committee Petrilli stated that the Events Sub - Committee had met with their focus on Cascade Bay 1 Birthday and the 4th of July Celebration. He noted that he had been in contact with staff from the Eagan Convention & Visitors Bureau. Foote stated that the new logo is being placed on all containers in City parks as well as in the City newsletter. At this time, it is printed on paper with clear strapping tape securing it to the containers, but bumper stickers are being made for future use on park containers. Foote further noted that scouts will be available at the parade for picking up pop cans and BFI is providing a cart at the end of the parade for refuse disposal. Foote has also contacted the EVBC regarding placing some "milk jug" furniture in rest stops. EVBC staff is interested, but with no staff available to monitor the rest stops, they are still considering the idea. Hurd asked about reusable bottles at Cascade Bay, which had been discussed at a previous meeting. Foote stated that an 80% recyclable bottle had been located. Staff is discussing the possibility of including both the Choose to Reduce and the Cascade Bay logos on the bottle. Because Cascade Bay has a contract with Coca -Cola, there is also the possibility of considering a partnership with Coke and including their logo on the bottle. These issues, as well as budgeting, are still being discussed. Patraw commented on an establishment he had recently visited where reusable mugs with the user's name printed on them were left on the premises for future use. Foote will further research this option. 3. Education Sub - Committee The Education Sub - committee, consisting of Patraw, Hansen and Hooppaw, met in June. They provided a brief update. Hansen noted that the committee discussed the Commission's prospective goals regarding education, i.e. what is presently being done, where should we go from here and what kind of information is being distributed. Patraw commented that there are two types of education. Traditional education gets the message to the reader. The other education centers around what the City is doing to encourage recycling. He questioned whether the City has an internal commitment to recycling, if a behavioral change is needed and whether the Commission can be of assistance. He asked if staff could provide data on the City's internal habits regarding recycling /reduction. There was brief discussion regarding City practices. Weinzettel asked whether the City would pursue reprocessing sand used on City streets in the winter. Foote stated that a coalition of cities is researching this option several options have been explored with varying degrees of success and further options are being developed and considered. Bast noted that cost and storage are a problem; however, it is being explored. Hillesheim left the meeting at 7:05 p.m. Solid Waste Abatement Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3 /June 29, 2000 A discussion regarding Clean -Up Day followed. Bast explained that this was a joint effort with Burnsville and Eagan. A meeting between Burnsville staff and Eagan Councilmembers and staff had taken place with the advantages and disadvantages of such a venture discussed. Foote noted that with the enactment of Eagan's property maintenance ordinance, a proactive approach to disposing of unwanted material was discussed. Weinzettel commented on clean -up days that he had been involved in and noted that this is a large undertaking. He recommended that City staff contact staff members from Farmington, who had hosted a clean -up event, for their comments. Bast noted that the Cities are considering charging per load. Patraw stated that this could be a good educational opportunity. Bast commented that there will be recycling hand -outs at the event. She also noted that the material could be brought to the Eco -Site in Eagan and to the Maintenance Facility in Burnsville. Foote stated that a committee has been formed to further discuss this issue. ADJOURNMENT Stone moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 p.m. Hansen seconded with all members present voting in favor. Date Secretary