SOLID WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE
MCCARTY, KENNEDY, POWERS, KOUTNIK, MARIETTA
February 17, 2016
Also present: Board Chair Clark
Representative Powers was unable to attend.
Representative Koutnik attended via telephone.
MICROBEADS PRESENTATION-KIYOKO YOKATA
Kiyoko Yokata, Ph.D., CLM, from SUNY Oneonta gave a PowerPoint presentation on “Microplastics as an Emerging Pollutant” and discussed the following to include but not limited to:
- Microplastics(MP) are new pollutants
- Several states throughout the country have pending or enacted legislation to ban MP’s
- Found in several different sources-ex: personal care products
- banned for manufacturing July 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018 they will be banned for use here in the United States
- Canada- federal ban being drafted this year
- Europe-wide ban proposed
- Recommendation: discontinue use of “microbeads” and switch to natural exfoliants by 2020
- Plastic packaging material- 78 million metric tons and out of that 32% goes into open land/bodies of water, 40% into landfills, 14% recycled
- Fleece garments are a source of microplastics when washed and dried
- Dental problems: microplastics can be found in some toothpaste, they can potentially get lodged in the gums and cause gingivitis
- Studies done by SUNY Oneonta in 2014/2015 showing harmful algal bloom due to MP’s
SOLID WASTE-KAREN SULLIVAN
Karen Sullivan requested approval to extend the Temporary PT Transfer Station Attendant’s position through November 9, 2016 as the prior employee is still on a leave of absence. Representative Kennedy moved for approval. Seconded, Marietta. Total: 2,243; Ayes: 1,392; Absent: 851-Powers and Koutnik. Motion carried.
Karen Sullivan distributed and discussed the following reports:
Recycling and Solid Waste Report for January, noting that 336.81 tons were collected at a cost of $63.83 per ton for 2016 compared to 335.20 tons that were collected in 2015.
The compilation report of deliveries for the current year and prior years. In January 2016 there were 2,387.06 tons compared to January 2015 which had 2,110.08 tons.
The Billing/Rebate report for January 2016 including net inbound fees and outbound costs summary, operating and management fee and metal rebate fee resulting in a charge to the County of $8,841.86.
Report on the Electronic Recycling totals for 2015 noting that a total of 179,077 lbs was collected.
SOIL AND WATER-JORDAN CLEMENTS
Jordan Clements gave updates on the following to include but not limited to:
- Prep time is beginning for field season
- 8 applications for the Ag Non-Point Source grant including manure storages, covered barnyards, buffer grant projects
- submitting applications for 3 grants for a watershed study as there were “Well Benders”(aquatic salamanders) found in the Otego creek watershed which is an indicator of the water quality
- MOU with OCCA for them to be the lead on the Ag & Farmland Protection Plan
- 4th annual Soil and Health Cover Crop class at the Meadows- will be on March 23rd, 2016 (all day)
- May 11, 2016 from 9-12 p.m. there will be a class on stream jobs, the increase in flooding issues, and the appropriate permits to include participation from the DEC, Army Corp, and local Highway department staff, will be free of charge
- Spring Tree Sale: pre-order now, payment due 4/1, pick up dates will be 4/29 and 4/30, order form can be found online, at the office or in the Soil and Water Newsletter
- March 15th- yearly training will be held
- February 18th- Monthly Board Meeting at 9:00 a.m.
- Staffing: 1 technician is leaving on 2/19, will not be filling the position
- Parts A, B, and C Funding: $6,000 to be used for certain projects, ex: stream projects, $12,000 to be used for personnel and other projects, $15,000 to be used toward an existing program or the creation of a new program
- Intern will be starting on 2/18 and working 2x a week; Jordan Clements stated that he is working with DSS on getting additional work study program participants to have extra hands for buffer projects
Jordan Clements gave an update on the food composting pilot program noting that material is ready for screening, and waste is continuing to be picked up from Focus. Representative McCarty asked about maintenance for the tractor. Jordan Clements stated that they are doing regular daily maintenance but will take the County Highway Department in the Spring.
SOLID WASTE- KAREN SULLIVAN
Karen Sullivan stated that the large scale composting consortium meeting was held on January 21, 2016 at SUNY Oneonta noting that $10,000 of funding has been secured and they are working on getting a permit for the collection of green and food waste.
Karen Sullivan gave an update on the Solar project noting that the utility approval was submitted, survey is complete, environmental team reviews are complete, SEQR review is in the process, and the final design/review should be done with the Town of Laurens in April.
Karen Sullivan gave an update on the Hydro Project noting that MEGA is looking at organizing a pilot program for a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) which allows municipalities to arrange energy supplies for all residential customers through open, competitive bidding. Karen Sullivan stated that MEGA is looking for letters of support from municipalities for the CCA and asked if MEGA should present to the committee or the Board to provide further information. Representative Clark stated that MEGA can come to the March Board meeting to present.
Karen Sullivan gave an update on the status of the meeting with Montgomery County noting that she continues to reach out to them but no meeting has been scheduled to date.
Karen Sullivan noted that the department will be getting an intern from SUNY Oneonta who will be working on Ag District reviews.
Representative McCarty discussed concerns with the recycling containers in Springfield noting that they are in bad condition with glass all around them. Karen Sullivan stated they can reach out to WRE with the concerns.
Karen Sullivan and Lonnie O’Bryan gave an update on the book recycling containers noting that there are 4 full bins in Cooperstown and 2 full bins in Oneonta.
Karen Sullivan stated that Ten Fold Plus is starting a program called “Oneonta’s Bookcase for Every Child” in which they build bookcases for children in the local Oneonta Head Start program and will fill them with books.
Lonnie O’Bryan and Jeff O’Handley discussed the Ag plastic collection, noting that there is almost another full load to be delivered and that on May 7th and May 12th there will be another Ag Plastic collection event.
Lonnie O’Bryan and Karen Sullivan stated that the new scale at the Southern Transfer Station needed to be repaired, noting that it was covered under the warranty.
Karen Sullivan stated that there is a “How to get rid of” on the Planning Department’s website.
Karen Sullivan stated that the WRE recycling contract is up in July.
There being no further business to discuss, the committee adjourned until Monday, March 14th, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at the Meadows Office Complex.