EAST AMWELL TOWNSHIP

 

RECYCLING COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

MARCH 11,  2008  -  TUESDAY,  7:30 P.M.

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PLEASE NOTE:  The February 2008 meeting was canceled due to inclement weather.  All agenda items from that meeting will be discussed this evening.

I.  CALL TO ORDER

The March  2008 Business Meeting of the East Amwell Township Recycling Committee was called to order officially at 7:37 P. M. by Will Harrison, Chairperson.  New member, Kevin Ostrander and Environmental Commission liaison, Mike Petrus were introduced and welcomed by all. 

II.  MINUTES

Minutes of the January 8, 2008 Reorganization meeting were approved with no corrections/additions.  There were three abstentions.                                    (M. Dessel/G. Miller)

III.  ADDITIONS – Preliminary Plans for Clean-Up Day was added by W. Harrison – Old Business # B.  Curbside Recycling was added by M. Petrus – New Business # C

 

IV.  REPORTS

A.  Youth Report – M. Ammann distributed an update on the EATV Recycling Tip of the Week.  Every Monday a recycling tip of the week airs on EATV’s morning announcements.  These announcements reach all students of East Amwell School K-8.  The segment lasts between 30 and 60 seconds.  This Recycling Tip of the Week can also be for East Amwell Township’s Recycling Committee announcements.  M. Ammann also distributed a flyer for electronic recycling done briefly at the school for ink cartridges in order for the school to earn money. 

 

B.  Depot Report – K. Martin reviewed her February 2008 Depot Day Report, 75 vehicles were serviced.  Dumpsters were placed not at the optimum positions.  Paper dumpster was approximately 35% full and the glass/plastic one was 30% full.  Battery bucket was 75% full.  No Terracycle bags were available, so regular 39 gallon garbage bags had to be used instead.  Five and one half of these garbage bags were filled with Terracycle bottles.  Cardboard collection was particularly high this month due to a large drop-off of cardboard plant boxes from Flemington Orchid.  K. Martin reported that the Township Building did not produce any paper for recycling and their cardboard boxes were not broken down.  She also reported that a number of residents inquired on the date of the next electronics collection indicating the value of this event.   

 

March Depot Day Report was distributed by M. Dessel.  50 vehicles were serviced.  Paper dumpster was approximately 65% full and the plastic/glass one was 25% full.  Once again the dumpsters were placed in the wrong position in the parking lot.  Debris was also found inside of the dumpsters – frozen tires and garbage.  Battery drum was full.  W. Harrison has already made arrangements to have it delivered to the March Hazardous Waste Day at Hunterdon County.  M. Dessel suggested that a map of the parking lot and the position of the dumpsters should be given to the drivers at Raritan Valley Waste Disposal.  Recyclables from the Township Building were placed on the steps. 

                                                

 

 

 

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C.  Environmental Commission Report – M. Petrus reported that the Environmental Commission is busy working on monitoring of streams/roadside salt used during snowstorms.  He also reported on work they are doing together with Stormwater Regulations Committee in obtaining funds for the re-grading of the grounds and eventually re-planting of a wetlands area at Clawson Park.  Environmental Commission is also working in support of Roadside Clean-Up.  The Environmental Commission will be obtaining an ANJEC grant for their work on conservation easements.  Site reviews are done on a regular basis of any applications received by the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.  W. Harrison reminded M. Petrus that there is a Friends of Clawson Park Committee and that they should be kept abreast of work being planned for the park.  M. Petrus also extended an invitation to our youth members to take back to the Environmental Group at East Amwell School – inviting their members to attend one of the Environmental Commission meetings – fourth Monday of the month.

        

D. Township Committee Report –  T. Martin was absent.  However, K. Martin reported that the Township Committee is very busy with budget discussions, especially since receiving notice from the State about upcoming municipality budget cuts. 

 

E.  Internet Recycling Prices – K. Martin reported success in gaining access to the website previously used by K. Schroeder for this report.     Ferrous scrap prices climbed by as much as $30 a ton this month, driven by stronger domestic steel production and rising offshore demand for scrap.  Plastic prices have remained relatively stable.  There were significant increases in California and some markets for old corrugated containers and newspapers due to high consumption.  Paper prices remain stable overall.  No changes were found in the glass market.

Comparing March 2007 prices to March 2008, significant increases were seen in computer laser and white ledger paper, as well as municipal shredded and used steel cans.  Smaller increases were found in newspaper, corrugated, aluminum UBC. 

 

F.  SWAC Report – W. Harrison stated that SWAC did not meet in January and February 2008.

He reported that they are meeting tonight probably to review the Solid Waste Management Plan.  He will check with them and send an e-mail report to our members.        

 

V.  OLD BUSINESS

A.  2008 Goals – Members reviewed the revised 2008 Goals.  Motion was made by D. Tangtrakul to accept the revised 2008 Goals, and M. Dessel seconded the motion.  All were in favor. 

B.  Preliminary Plans for Spring Clean-Up Day – W. Harrison called for volunteers to work on April 26.  Raritan Valley Waste Disposal and Good Will Industries have been notified.  Good Will Industries has also been notified that the Recycling Committee is considering inviting them to a Depot Day, perhaps in the Fall of 2008.  M. Petrus and possibly M. Dessel, K. Ostrander volunteered as well as W. Harrison.  Final list will be confirmed at next month’s meeting.   

 

 

 

                                                

 

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VI.  Invoices -  Supreme Electronics – charges for electronic recycling – January 2008 - $1,650.

        Bill has been signed by Clean Communities Grant Fund Coordinator prior to meeting, but             official approval is needed from the Recycling Committee.               D. Tangtrakul/M. Dessel

 

VII.  Correspondence

A.  Memorandum from D. B. Doolan/Freeholders, 2/27/08, re:  Hunterdon County Solid Waste Amendment  

B.  Letter from w. S. Kibler/SBWA, 2/15/08, re:  18th. Annual South Branch Raritan River Clean-Up

C.  Goals and Priorities – 2008 for the Environmental Commission

D.  Memorandum from J. Corboy, 2/17/08, re:  2008 Spring Newsletter

E.  Flyer for “Greening – Natural Connections Grown Community”  (dates for different events)

F.  Various Minutes and Agendas

G.  Resource Recycling Magazine – January 2008

H.  Flyer/catalog from Alert Graphics

 

VIII.  NEW BUSINESS

A.  Recycling Depot Guidelines – Review – Because of the number of new members, W. Harrison indicated that he made some slight changes/updates to the Recycling Depot Guidelines.  Other changes were made after it was issued and during the meeting, and W. Harrison will issue another revised copy.

 

W. Harrison called for volunteers for the upcoming months of Depot Days.  K. Ostrander volunteered for June 7. 

 

B.  Call for Spring Newsletter Articles – Secretary announced that the deadline for the 2008 Spring Newsletter articles is 3/21/08.  Disk and hard copy would be appreciated.

 

C.  Curbside Recycling – M. Petrus informed members that he called Raritan Valley Waste Disposal to ask about the peripheral roads in the Township and how does each township receive the proper credit for recycling colleted during these runs.  W. Harrison stated that it is usually pro-rated between the two townships.  An explanation was also requested concerning the $9.00 recycling fee that is listed on Raritan Valley invoices.

                                                                        

IX.   Open to the Public -  No public present.

 

X.    Open to the Committee - G. Miller distributed copies of two articles to the members.  One was on Cherry Hill – residents being paid for recycling, and the other was information on a website – www.epa.gov./recycle.

 

M. Petrus wondered if a good project/contest for the school students might be how to make birdhouses out of soda cans, bottles, etc.  Members discussed briefly.

                                                

 

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All members left with a copy of the East Amwell Township Solid Waste Ordinance – to be read and kept for future discussion and revisions.

 

 

XI.   Adjournment – 9:07 PM.                                                         (D. Tangtrakul/M. Dessel)                                                                                           

                                                                                     

 

                                                                                      Respectfully submitted by

 

 

 

Joyce S. Corboy

Recycling Coordinator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESENT:  W. Harrison, M. Dessel, D. Tangtrakul, K. Martin, G. Miller, K. Ostrander,

                     M. DiDonato, M. Petrus (Liaison from the Environmental Commission),

                     M. Ammann, S. Helfrich, J. Corboy, Coordinator/Secretary

 

ABSENT:     T. Martin

     

 

 

NOTE:  These minutes have been formally approved by the Recycling Committee at their April 8, 2008 meeting.

 

 

 

NEXT MEETING:   APRIL 8, 2008 - 7:30 PM  

 

 

cc:  Rec. Com. Members           Board. of Health                   Twp. Committee & Clerk  

       Recreation Com.                Planning Board          Zoning Board of Adjustment         

       Environ. Com.                    Twp. Bulletin     Board           Farmland & Open Space Preservation