MINUTES

SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

6800 Burleson Road, Building 310, Suite 165

Austin, TX 78744

January 15, 2009

9:30 AM

Attendees:
SWAC Committee Members
Comm. Maurice Pitts, Lee County – Chair
Jack Ranney, LCRA – Vice Chair
Gerry Acuna, City of Austin
Don Birkner, City of Austin
Dr. Orlynn Evans, Williamson County
Comm. Paul Granberg, Blanco County
Kyle Hahn, Private Industry Rep.
Jeff Hauff, Hays County
Melani Howard, Citizen/Environmental Rep.
Steve Jacobs, Private Industry Rep.
Melinda Mallia, Travis County
Comm. Tom Muras, Fayette County
Comm. Henry Parker, Llano County
Kathy Roecker, TCEQ
Comm. Joe Roland, Caldwell County
Richard Salmon, Hays County
Lynn Sheffield, Burnet County
Ralph Wueller, Private Industry Rep.
CAPCOG Staff
Kelly Freeman, Solid Waste Program Coordinator
Michelle Cassanova, Assistant Director,
Community and Economic Development
Melanie Flores, Administrative Assistant

1.  Welcome and Introductory Remarks 9:30 am

Commissioner Pitts welcomed attendees, and recognized new member, Llano County Commissioner Henry Parker. Commissioner Pitts called the meeting to order.

2.  Approval of September 18, 2008 Minutes 9:40 am

R. Wueller moved to approve, J. Ranney seconded and the motion carried by acclamation.

3.  Election of SWAC Officers 9:50 am

K. Freeman noted that current officers are Chairman Commissioner Pitts and Vice Chair Jack Ranney, and indicated that the current Chair and Vice Chair are both eligible for additional one year terms. R. Wueller moved that current officers be retained, seconded by R. Salmon, motion approved by acclamation.

Commissioner Pitts indicated that item number 6, Update on FY08 Grant Projects, would be moved up and become item number 4a.

4a. Update on FY08 Grant Projects 10:45 am

K. Freeman provided an overview of FY08 grant projects, whose grant period ended December 2008, with the exception of the Hays County grant which has been extended to April 2009. Completed projects included household hazardous waste events, local enforcement and illegal dumping surveillance projects, recycling equipment, cleanup and community collection events, community education, and outreach for the CAPCOG/RETF illegal dumping hotline. The SWAC viewed a PSA produced by City of Hutto as part of their education and outreach grant.

There was a brief discussion of electronics recycling options. J. Ranney provided information on the Goodwill Industries program to accept and recycling computers and televisions for recycling. K. Freeman provided information on the MRM partnership, by Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sharp, to recycle televisions, as well as the Sony/Waste Management partnership to collect televisions for recycling through Earth Protection Services in Central Texas.

4b. Disbursement of Remaining FY08 and FY09 Funding 10:00 am

K. Freeman provided an overview of grantee spending to date, estimates of funding to be left unspent by current grantees, and additional needs for funding as identified by current FY08 grantees whose projects have been completed. K. Freeman indicated that a fair and equitable process would need to be established to efficiently distribute funding, which has either been returned by existing grantees or remains from prior funding allocations, as needs arise and are identified by existing grantees through the end of the FY08-09 biennium. It was proposed that funding be allocated where additional or unanticipated expenses have been incurred by grantees during execution of their approved grant projects, beyond grantees’ expected cash match contributions, as identified by CAPCOG staff during review of reimbursement requests and documentation submitted by grantees.

K. Freeman also indicated that a request for additional funding had been submitted by Caldwell County for their FY09 grant project. Commissioner Roland provided an update on the progress of the Caldwell County local enforcement and cleanup project, and indicated that Caldwell County needed additional equipment for performance of the project. K. Freeman indicated that CAPCOG will work with Caldwell County to track project expenses through the end of the grant period, and apply any potential savings in other project areas to the purchase of necessary equipment. Caldwell County’s needs will be re-assessed as the end of the FY09 grant period approaches.

K. Freeman indicated that there was an estimated $16,000 available (subject to change) for distribution or redistribution to existing grantees.

R. Wueller moved that disbursements of additional funds to FY08 and FY09 may be approved via email voting by the SWAC. D. Birkner seconded the motion, and the motion was approved by acclamation.

R. Wueller moved that staff submit proposed plans for funding disbursements of remaining or returned FY08 and FY09 funds to SWAC for review on a periodic basis, as needs are identified through the end of the FY09 grant period (July 31, 2009). R. Salmon seconded the motion. Motion was approved by acclamation.

Clarification was provided that there would not be an additional request for applications for funding, but that there may be contingency plans in place to allocate funding to regional COG-managed projects if it is found to be necessary.

6. Update on RETF Sample Analysis Funding 10:30 am

K. Freeman provided an update on progress of the regional sample analysis project, for which SWAC previously designated funding. Funding is to be used by environmental enforcement officers in the CAPCOG region to submit samples, collected during the course of environmental investigations, to the LCRA laboratory for analysis. Authorized samplers meeting minimum qualifications, such as EPA sampling training, will be designated by the RETF to coordinate sampling events under the program and advise other enforcement officers in usage of the program. The first sampling event has occurred, and M. Roberts, RETF coordinator, is monitoring and tracking usage of the funding.

K. Freeman indicated that there are some restrictions on the funding, which can only be used for municipal solid waste purposes. CAPCOG is researching strategies to expand the scope of the project through additional funding sources, such as restitution or donations from environmental enforcement stakeholders.

7. Update on Waste Management Recycling Projects 11:15 am

Steve Jacobs provided an update on Waste Management’s construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling efforts, in particular asphalt shingles. WM has been working with Williamson County, at the Williamson County Landfill, and with TCEQ to coordinate and permit startup of an asphalt shingle recycling pilot project. WM is also working toward Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) approval for the processed materials to be used in TxDOT projects. S. Jacobs provided an overview of the nature of the asphalt shingle material stream, adjustments that have been made during implementation of the pilot project, the process for material processing, the characteristics of the final product, and potential end uses. The main power source for the project is energy generated from recaptured landfill gas.

8. Other Business 11:45 am

J. Hauff introduced Jerry Pinnix from Hays County recycling for a discussion of current recycling markets and challenges posed by reduced revenues for materials. J. Pinnix indicated that prices for plastic, cardboard and aluminum were down, and so Hays County is stockpiling materials until prices increase or until space is no longer available for stockpiling. J. Pinnix asked for suggestions from the SWAC for where to market materials, or assistance in operating until material prices rebound. J. Pinnix indicated that they did not expect major impact to their budget and that they expect to continue operations, in hopes of a rebound in materials pricing. There was a brief discussion of causes of the recent downturn in prices, such as decreased demand from China. Various SWAC members indicated that a number of programs are stockpiling materials in hopes that prices will increase, and that programs are generally continuing normal operations with the view that the market downturn will be temporary. J. Ranney also indicated that it is important to develop markets and end uses for recycled materials. There was a discussion of the importance of market development, purchasing requirements for recycled content, and public education on choosing products with recycled content. It was indicated that there may be a need for a workshop or forum to promote these principles.

K. Freeman indicated that the next meeting could include presentations from the Texas Product Stewardship Council and City of Austin Solid Waste Services, and a discussion of revisions to the grant application process prior to release of the FY 2010 request for applications.

The next SWAC meeting was scheduled for April 16, 2009.

9. Adjourn 12:00 pm

Chair Commissioner Pitts adjourned the meeting.