NOTICE
NEXT WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2006
AT : Public Works Facility
371 Hill Street
TIME : 7:00 pm
AGENDA :
1. Accept minutes of 7/11/06 meeting.
2. Remove from table : Chapt. 58 Sec. 64 – Universal Waste ( cpu )
3. Policy Committee Survey
4. Review Recycling Reports.
5. Review Commission Roster.
6. Review Solid Waste Management Issues list.
7. Letter on Solid Waste Violations
8. Other business.
9. Set agenda for 9/12/06 mtg.
Staff Report :
1. Commercial Cardboard
2. Next Const./Demo debris free disposal
3. New loading dock for CRTs
4. HHW results, 7/22/06 Scarborough
WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING
MINUTES OF JULY 11, 2006
Attendance : Paul Therrien/Chair, Leo Letendre, Harvey Beaulieu, Pete Lamontagne/Councilor, Vincent Keely, Rick Laverriere/Councilor, Joe Vance,
Guy Casavant/Staff.
Guests : Councilor Hight, Brian Phinney/ECO, Eric Hamlin/DEP
The minutes of the June 13, 2006 meeting were accepted as printed.
Discussion on Chapt. 58 Sec. 64. A brief review of the history of this discussion was presented. Tonight’s focus is to be on what is in these items ( cpus, peripherals, other electronic wastes ) that makes them harmful and what is the difference between cpus and other electronics.
Eric Hamlin from the DEP began the discussion. He stated that it is legal to send the cpus and peripherals to Maine Energy. Maine Energy controls get most of the materials out but do not get all of the harmful materials out prior to incineration. But the question really is that it doesn’t make sense in relation to the hierarchy of waste management in the State. The waste management hierarchy is to reduce, reuse, recycle, etc. and incineration is at the bottom of the list. He stated that the DEP is very impressed with the Uniwastes operation. They do a great job. Also, he stated that if these items were placed into the compactor everyone pays for the disposal. If they are recycled, the person with the item pays and accepts responsibility for it. Reducing, reusing and recycling makes more sense. He then restated that it is perfectly legal to send these items to Maine Energy.
Brian Phinney was then given the floor to express his thoughts. He also stated that it is legal to send these items to Maine Energy. The same material from a business is regulated but from a home it is not. That doesn’t seem right. The materials are equally toxic and Uniwastes clearly does the right thing regarding these items. He pointed out the creation of new items from the recycled materials uses significantly less energy than producing these items from raw materials. He discussed the concept of how can we expect others to remove these items from the waste stream if Biddeford doesn’t. Uniwastes is a far better option than incineration. He stated that the plastics create dioxins when incinerated and the more you burn the more that will be discharged. We should be trying to reduce the toxicity of the emissions and ash and using Uniwastes for these items accomplishes that.
Paul Therrien stated that from his research and discussions with State personnel that when the law went into effect in January 2006 the plan was to include cpus and peripherals in the future. Eric Hamlin confirmed that the idea was to start somewhere, with crts, and to add the other components in the future..
Rick Laverriere asked Eric if solder was now lead free. Eric stated that solder used for plumbing is lead free but that solder for electronics was not lead free. Rick then asked what was in cpus that make them different from other electronic wastes. Brian responded that there was no difference and it is only related to the ability to regulate and manage it. Rick stated he felt we should either deal with all electronic wastes or none. Brian felt we should try to take a chunk at a time.
Brian and Eric talked about the difficulty and logistic problems in regulating households versus regulating businesses even though the items contain the same hazardous materials. Getting laws passed that regulate households is a very difficult thing at the State level. Eric also pointed out that requiring manufacturers to recycle forces them to try to use less hazardous materials in their productions. Starting with the business end is a good place to start but doesn’t mean that households shouldn’t be dealt with also.
Paul Therrien stated he feels the issue is to start and set an example regarding the management of the waste stream. Eric concurred and stated that changing habits is tough but you should control what you can.
Leo Letendre stated that he felt that when these items are sent to Maine Energy most must fall through the grates and doesn’t get incinerated. Eric stated that Uniwastes clearly captures much more than Maine Energy ever will.
Pete Lamontagne read a quote from the last meeting that he felt was still the main issue, “ How do we justify recycling cpus and not other electronic wastes ??” He recommends that we send those items to Maine Energy.
Paul felt that the answer to Pete’s question is that cpus etc. are universal wastes but that at this time they are not included in the law regarding crts at this time but that doesn’t change the fact that they are still universal wastes.
Guy reminded the Comm. that placing the items in the compactor and sending them to Maine Energy is not free. There is still a charge and that everybody pays versus just the person disposing of the items. Rick stated that this is no different than all other wastes. Charging is like a pay per bag system. Eric stated that he lives in Portland and when they instituted their pay per bag system there were a lot of complaints initially. Now, the complaints are gone and there has been a significant reduction of the waste stream. Paul pointed out that Waterboro had recently abandoned their pay per bag system.
Joe Vance asked if the 21 cents per pound covers all the costs to Uniwastes. The answer is yes. Joe felt it is environmentally better to recycle with Uniwastes versus going to Maine Energy with these items. He felt that if you counted the environmental costs going to Maine Energy actually costs more. He feels we need to continue sending these items to Uniwastes. He asked if there had been any complaints about the current fees. The answer is no.
Rick felt the fact that there have been no complaints is not a basis for continuing the existing system. He believes those that would complain are holding their items. The issue to him is telling people they have to pay when it can go to Maine Energy at a much reduced cost.
Pete asked why we couldn’t give people a choice, pay to have it recycled or throw it into the auger and send it to Maine Energy at no cost to the individual.
Vincent Keely stated that if we don’t send these items to Maine Energy others will continue and what have we gained.
Rick again asked what is in a cpu that makes it hazardous. Brian stated they contain metals, cadmium, lead, copper, solvents and plastics that create dioxins. Eric stated that sending these items to Uniwastes everything that can be taken out is prior to disposal and then what is disposed of is sent to a hazardous waste incinerator with much better controls than Maine Energy. Eric stated that these wastes are the nastiest things to incinerate. Is removing Biddeford’s significant globally ?? Probably not.
The Chair asked if the Comm. was ready to vote. Rick stated he would like to know what other communities are doing. His concern is that if it is free in Biddeford and others are charging, we will be getting items from other towns. He is not ready to vote until we get that information.
Joe pointed out that Biddeford recently voted to be a “Cool City” which is a program initiated by the Sierra Club and deals with preserving the environment. If we think it is right we should do it. We need to be bold.
Pete stated he wanted to do the very best for Biddeford and its people.
There was a motion to table the item. The motion failed.
Paul stated that taking small steps is a good thing and makes sense. He feels we probably should start planning on recycling all electronic wastes.
Rick asked what the urgency was in dealing with this item. Paul stated that we had been working on this for some time now and wanted to get it done, one way or the other. Rick felt that if we are to consider expanding the recycling of electronic wastes we should table the item at this time.
Joe mad a motion to reconsider tabling the item to the next meeting and get information on what other towns were doing and get a listing of other electronic wastes. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Brian will supply the requested information on electronic wastes and Guy and Paul will get the information on other towns.
The Comm. reviewed the SMART minutes of June 23, 2006.
The Comm. reviewed the recycling reports for June, 2006.
The Comm. roster was reviewed. Pete’s e-mail needs to be changed. Paul also stated that the roster on the City Web Site needs to be updated.
The next Household Hazardous Waste Day is July 22 is Scarborough. Paul and Harvey will attend.
The Comm. reviewed the list of licensed waste haulers.
The Comm. reviewed a document from the Chair that detailed how the State Recycling rate is determined.
The Comm. reviewed a report by the Chair on the tour to Recycle Bank in Massachusetts.
The Comm. reviewed the periodic report prepared by the Chair and approved it. The next report should include HHW quantities collected in the events. The report will be sent to the Council.
Guy gave a brief report on the Commercial Cardboard Pilot Program. It is going fairly well. There are two new additions. Collections are averaging about 1.25 bales a week equaling approximately 1.3 tons.
Vincent stated that he has been seeing a lot of trash on the curbside prior to the allowed time in the Ordinance. There is a need for better enforcement. Paul will contact the Code Enforcement Office.