EAST AMWELL TOWNSHIP

RECYCLING COMMITTEE MINUTES

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

__________________________________________________________________________

I. CALL TO ORDER

The November 2008 Business Meeting of the East Amwell Township Recycling Committee was called to order officially at 7:33 P. M. by W. Harrison, Chairperson.

II. MINUTES

Minutes of the September 9, 2008 Business meeting were approved with no corrections/additions. There was one abstention. (M. DiDonato/M. Petrus)

III. ADDITIONS – No additions were received or suggested.

IV. REPORTS

A. Youth Report – M. Ammann stated that he is still pursuing new youth members for next year. He also stated that he recently learned that the weekly recycling information report is not being broadcasted on the school network cable station. He promised to check into it.

B. Depot Report – M. DiDonato distributed the October Depot Day report to all. Approximately 84 vehicles were serviced. The dumpsters were in the correct positions. Paper/cardboard dumpster was half full and the glass/plastic one was approximately 1/3 full. Three quarters of a bag of plastic soda bottles was collected for Terracycle. Three buckets of household batteries were collected. Volunteers removed a lot of the cardboard from the construction dumpster that was located at the front of the Municipal Building. Members discussed the memorandum sent by the Environmental Commission suggesting that in the future anyone who bids on municipal work abide by the New Jersey rules on recycling. Expenses reported: $20.93 for refreshments.

C. Environmental Commission Report – M. Petrus stated that the conservation easement project is almost 85% finished. He also found out that Home Depot will recycle the compact fluorescent bulbs. They could also be taken to Hunterdon County Hazardous Waste Day.

D. Township Committee Report – T. Martin was absent this evening. Thus, no report was received.

E. Internet Recycling Prices – K. Martin was absent this evening. Thus, no report was received.

Prior to this meeting, W. Harrison e-mailed all members information he gathered from Raritan Valley Waste Disposal indicating that the recycling market has collapsed making a single stream option for East Amwell off the table for the foreseeable future. He promised to pursue options for recycling plastics up to # 7. He noted that the Transfer Station is accepting plastics up to # 7.

F. SWAC Report – Report was distributed via e-mail prior to this meeting. W. Harrison stated that SWAC met on October 21, 2008. Their discussion continued about how to increase recycling in Hunterdon County. No conclusions have been reached, but flow control and single stream recycling are on the priority list. Implementation is complicated by the varied methods of recycling used in each municipality. Only half of the municipalities participate in SWAC. Therefore, another priority is convincing the uninvolved municipalities to participate. M. Petrus suggested that some of the budget earmarked for recycling education might be used for recycling at the 4-H Fair. The next SWAC meeting will be on December 2, 2008.

- 2 –

G. Other – none received.

V. OLD BUSINESS

A. Search for New Members – no news to report. Township Committee is aware that we will need three new members for 2009.

B. Single Stream Recycling – W. Harrison reminded members that he recently sent an e-mail message from Raritan Valley Waste Disposal informing all that the recycling market has dropped significantly in the wake of uncertainty in the economy. Our current contract is fixed and he feels that with this volatile recycling market we should stay with our current contract and table any thoughts of single stream recycling for the foreseeable future.

VII. Correspondence

A. Note from the Environmental Commission, 11/9/08, re: Contractors and Recycling

B. Memorandum from C. L. Tatsch, 11/6/08, re: Budget Considerations for 2009

C. Appropriation Budget Summary – 1/1/08 – 10/31/08

D. Flyer for “History Lives in East Amwell”

E. Various Minutes and Agendas

F. Resource Recycling Magazine – October 2008

VIII. NEW BUSINESS:

A. 2009 Budgets – Members reviewed that budget worksheet provided by J. Luhrs.

Secretarial salary request will remain the same. Recycling Expenses request will be dropped to $2500 from $4000 in 2008 and the amount requested for the Newsletter will be $1200 – an increase of $100 – due to the increase in printing and postage charges. All members agreed and secretary was asked to return our final 2009 Budget Request to J. Luhrs.

IX. Open to the Public – Keith Ammann was present, but had no comments.

X. Open to the Committee – J. Corboy informed members of a very interesting expose on “60 Minutes” this past weekend on electronic waste. The show concentrated on an electronic waste company in Colorado whose program stated that all recycling was done stateside. Their investigation showed that indeed electronic waste from their company was being smuggled from the United States to foreign lands. It also provided insight into the contamination of the sites where it was sent. M. Petrus will search the CBS website for a transcript.

XI. Adjournment – 8:00 PM. (M. DiDonato/K. Oslander)

Respectfully submitted by

Joyce S. Corboy

Recycling Coordinator

- 3 –

PRESENT: W. Harrison, M. DiDonato, K. Ostrander,

M. Ammann, J. Corboy, Coordinator/Secretary

ABSENT: M. Dessel, K. Martin, T. Martin, S. Helfrich

NOTE: These minutes have been formally approved by the Recycling Committee at their December 9, 2008 meeting.

NEXT MEETING: DECEMBER 9, 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