EAST AMWELL TOWNSHIP
RECYCLING COMMITTEE MINUTES
DECEMBER 9, 2008 - TUESDAY, 7:30 P.M.
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I. CALL TO ORDER
The November 2008 Business Meeting of the East Amwell Township Recycling Committee was called to order officially at 7:34 P. M. by W. Harrison, Chairperson.
II. MINUTES
Minutes of the November 11, 2008 Business meeting were approved with no corrections/additions. There were two abstentions. (M. Petrus/M. DiDonato)
III. ADDITIONS – No additions were received or suggested.
IV. REPORTS
A. Youth Report – M. Ammann was absent this evening. Thus, no report was received.
B. Depot Report – M. DiDonato distributed the November Depot Day report to all. Approximately 80 vehicles were serviced. The dumpsters were in the correct positions. Paper/cardboard dumpster was 2/3’s full as was the glass/plastic one. A full bag of plastic soda bottles was collected for Terracycle. One and half buckets of household batteries were collected. Expenses reported: $20.53 for refreshments. M. Petrus volunteered for the February 2009 Depot Day and K. Martin volunteered for March.
C. Environmental Commission Report – M. Petrus stated that the Environmental Commission members were very happy to hear that a large amount of cardboard was retrieved from the construction dumpster and placed in the recycling one. He also reported that the intern has finished her work on the conservation easements. Quarterly report was sent to ANJEC as per the grant agreement. There was a lengthy discussion on updating the Environmental Resource Inventory lead by Blaine Hummel. Recently, West Amwell Township completed one for their township. T. Robbi questioned whether there was a need for updating it with the various sources of information available now on the internet. M. Petrus announced that the he was asked to accept the position of chair of the Environmental Commission in 2009 and wondered as such, could he continue as liaison, or should someone else be named.
D. Township Committee Report – T. Martin stated that he missed the last two Township Committee meetings, but he understood that there were lengthy discussions concerning the 2009 budgets. He questioned how did members feel about being asked to cut their budgets before submitting them.
E. Internet Recycling Prices – K. Martin distributed her Internet Recycling Prices Report via e-mail prior to this meeting. Prices fell in all categories except for glass. When comparing 2007 prices with 2008, there was also a considerable loss, especially with newspaper, corrugated, aluminum UBC, municipal shredded and used steel cans. The only prices that went up were computer laser and white ledger paper.
F. SWAC Report – Report was distributed via e-mail prior to this meeting. W. Harrison stated that SWAC met on December 2, 2008. The Solid Waste Management Plan will come back from the State during December with a few revisions. There will be a special meeting on January 20, 2009 to discuss and review these changes. There was much discussion on what can be done at the County level to increase recycling, such as newspaper coverage of recycling programs and
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opportunities, publish a County recycling booklet, sharing ideas from the different municipalities and reaching out to businesses either with literature or in person. The current recession has reduced recycled commodity prices. Members were asked to check out a website entitled http://recyclebank.com/. W. Harrison briefly explained their concept. Ross Hull from the Department of Environmental Protection was present and he agreed that every municipality does not need a Certified Recycling Coordinator and sharing that duty with another municipality is feasible.
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. There was a discussion of obtaining new members from the list of Depot Day volunteers or from ambitious recyclers. W. Harrison also reminded members that this list needs to be updated. Members discussed ways of updating the Volunteer list to make it more efficient and easier to use. It was decided that early in the year 2009 members will try to contact all names on the list and inquire if they are still interested in volunteering or not.
VI. INVOICES – none received.
VII. Correspondence
A. Appropriation Budget Summary - 1/1/08 to 11/30/08
B. Memorandum from T. Stahl, 11/26/08, re: Reorganization Dates
C. Various Minutes and Agendas
D. Resource Recycling Magazine – November 2008
VIII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Preliminary Plans for Electronic/Depot Day & Clean-Up Day – W. Harrison informed members that he has contacted Supreme Electronic Waste Disposal, gave them our date of April 4 and requested information about pricing. M. Petrus suggested that we might ask participants for a small donation to offset the cost of the Electronic Waste Day. T. Martin will check with the Township Committee for their opinion and permission for requesting donations. It was decided that Clean-Up Day will be held on April 25, the fourth Saturday in April. Good Will Industries has already been notified and will provide a truck for donated clothing and used furniture. W. Harrison called for a motion to approve both of these dates: April 4 – Electronic Waste/Depot Day and April 25 as Clean-Up Day. T. Martin made the motion and it was seconded by M. DiDonato. The vote was unanimously in favor. Secretary was asked to contact Raritan Valley Waste Disposal to inform them of our plans.
IX. Open to the Public – none present.
X. Open to the Committee – J. Corboy distributed to all present a copy of the New Jersey State Tonnage Audit for 2007. Marked in the margins were the figures that were submitted as compared to what was allowed by the State. Eight categories were not allowed and/or reduced
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from what was submitted. Most significant reductions were brush/tree parts, automobile scrap, and stumps. Members discussed briefly.
M. Petrus suggested the idea of having a public shredder for use by the Township residents. T. Martin stated that we might think about providing a service of hiring a company that provides the service of shredding. The disposal of Christmas trees was also discussed
XI. Adjournment – 8:50 PM. (M. DiDonato/M. Petrus)
Respectfully submitted by
Joyce S. Corboy
Recycling Coordinator
PRESENT: W. Harrison, M. DiDonato, M. Petrus,
K. Martin, T. Martin, J. Corboy, Coordinator/Secretary
ABSENT: M. Dessel, K. Ostrander, M. Ammann, S. Helfrich
NOTE: These minutes have been formally approved by the Recycling Committee at their January 13, 2009 Reorganization Meeting.
NEXT MEETING: January 13, 2009 - 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