Recycling and Renewable Energy Committee

Minutes from 22 August 2007, Town Hall, 6-7:20pm

Attending:  Mike Leger, Jim Denietolis, Lee Bartell, Amy Germain, and a quick visit from Pam Parmakian

Preceding Minutes:  Approved as amended.

Paperless Town Hall:  The meeting to discuss this was postponed.  No date yet set.

Trash Hauler Meeting:  Mike got word that Brian Carlson said that nothing has been set up yet.

Mass Recycler:  A statewide membership org. which Mike joined on our behalf.  It publishes a newsletter.

Municipal Sustainability Grant:  Jim would love to see a grant that brings a consultant to our Transfer Station to make suggestions on improvements that we could make.  Our goal is to make it easier for users and workers, to beautify the area, spruce up the Swap Shop.  Michelle Jarusiewicz, the town Grant writer, wants to know our choices of programs or tools, to take to the Selectboard by Sept. 10th.  WE DECIDED TO DEVOTE OUR ENTIRE NEXT MEETING, SEPT. 5TH, TO THIS ISSUE.   If you need more info, see the website: www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/recawgr/htm.  On the first page for grant applications 2007, the categories that we discussed a little are:  a/Public Area Recycling Containers;  l/technical assistance for Municipal Planning & Contracting Assistance;  h/Idling Reduction Campaign Toolkit ; d/Home Composting Bins/Kitchen Scrap Buckets (possibly for next spring, though it's a confusing system of distribution).  Letter b/Consumer Education and Outreach Materials is the 3-ring binder that we're getting already.

Transfer Station Signage:  Towards the goal of making the Transfer Station more user-friendly, Lee brought some colored arrow signs that, if given the OK, will be Burma Shave style all along the road up to the Transfer Station, 36 in all.

Commercial Establishment Recycling:  Not all are on board yet, so education is paramount.  We need to meet with the Board of Health to discuss this.

Education/Enforcement:  We still need to educate.  Jim made a good point, that while the more we send people, the more likely they'll understand what we're doing, it must be consistent information.  One example is that the state minimum for recycling is not our minimum - we're doing more!

Hard Figures:  Amy asked Jim when we would get a report on what's happening at the Transfer Station this year, compared to last.  A third quarter report, of July-August-September 2007, compared to the same period 2006, will be an interesting comparison, and one that we hope will be happy to see when it's available.

Amnesty Day:  Mike will write a letter to the Board of Health, suggesting that we hold one in the spring, "Spring Cleaning Time", for folks to get rid of stuff.

Certificates:  Lee will find out if the Banner will print it, once we've decided on recipients.

Catherine Russo:  Once summer's over and we've got more time, we'll get in touch with her to do a program on our accomplishments and then head over to the Race Point Lighthouse windmill, and talk about our goals for the future.  While Pam was here, she acknowledged how we've gotten the ball rolling, how successful the recycling bins for bottle and cans is, and what a great job we're doing.  Thanks Pam.

NEXT MEETING:  Wednesday, Sept. 5th, 6pm, Town Hall

minutes by Lee

Lee Bartell
9 Seashore Park Drive
Provincetown, MA 02657
508-487-8838
cell 508-237-6111
capewoman@cape.com