Waste Reduction & Recycling Board

CITY OF ANOKA WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING BOARD Meeting Minutes March 13, 2024 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Knapek at 5:00 p.m. in the Worksession Conference Room of Anoka City Hall. Roll Call  Board Members present: Cheryl Knapek, Brenda Belland, Jan Call, and Marijo Hain.  Absent: Eileen Rathbun and Sue Dergantz  Staff present: Pam Bowman, Recycling Manager.  Others Present: Veronica Jones via Zoom due to illness Approval of February 14, 2024 Meeting Minutes A motion to approve the minutes was made by Member Hain, seconded by Member Belland. Chair Knapek had a correction on Page 3 under Accomplishments should read A motion was made (not mad) by Member Call, seconded by Member Dergantz. Member Dergantz had a correction on Page 2 under Citywide Garage Sale should read reuse event (not even) on Sunday, May 19, hosted by Anoka County. Vice Chair Jones had two corrections. One on Page 1 under Approval of Minutes. The correction of the Anoka Cooperative of Anoka should read The American Cooperative of Anoka. The second correction is on Page 5 under RAW Newsletter Spring Edition should read Bowman would prefer the newsletter to go out (not our) early April. 5 ayes – 0 nays. Motion passed. Old Business 1 Subcommittees Reports  Multi-Unit Program – Nothing new to report.  Organics – Bowman reported 187 participants and that the program is going well. She received a telephone call that someone put plastics in the organic dumpster. She removed the plastics and sent a reminder to the participants. Chair Knapek brought up about damage to the front double doors, saying the doors no longer clasp and the right side hinge is damaged. Bowman stated the front doors sway inward instead of lining up straight. She said she is not sure when this damaged occurred and if it was vandalism, a contractor using the site, or the hauler, but she will see if Public Services could look at it. She said the contractor that had used that site for a city project last year will be fixing the left side hinge this spring.  Little Library – We Read & Reuse Books (WRRB) – Nothing new to report.  Citywide Garage Sale – Bowman stated the subcommittee met and discussed the sale after the last meeting. She would like to have the registration available on Friday, March 22, instead of April 1st. The sale is set up on Civic Rec. Registration will be due by May 1. A map/flyer will be finished and printed by Friday, May 10. Hosts may pick up some copies to hand out at their sale at city hall or download it off the website. Anoka County has confirmed the reuse event. The garage sale hosts will be informed of the reuse event. The public will be informed the week prior to the event or when Anoka County wishes to announce it. Bowman said the reuse event information will be on the city website.  Soles4Souls – Collections are still being made. Dawn from Peterson Shoes reached out to Bowman to let her know that they will be offering a $10 coupon on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, for those who donate shoes. The coupon is redeemable that day only. Recycling Center Discussion – Bowman contacted the Coon Rapids Recycling Center to schedule a tour on Thursday, June 6, at 1 p.m. There has not been a confirmation as of today. Battery and E-Waste Educational Efforts – There will be an article in the spring RAW Newsletter about proper battery and e-waste disposal. The article has been approved by Anoka County. The hazards associated with batteries and e-waste will be discussed and ideas for the next educational piece will be determined. Bowman likes to refer the public to Anoka County for resources. However, if the Board members would like the resources Vice Chair Jones and Member Belland presented at the last meeting to be used she would like to discuss the best tools in which to use them. Bowman asked members to continue to show your support for the E-Waste Bill. Member Dergantz contacted State Representative Zack Stephenson who is all for the bill and is promoting it. Bowman sent an email today on the latest information about the bill. There were recordings 2 of people testifying in support of this bill. Bowman has shared the information with the City Council. Vice Chair Jones reported at the last meeting that Anoka County had inaccurate information on its website about items we collect. Bowman requested they update their website noting that we do not collect cell phones at Anoka City Hall. There were other changes that needed updating. They have made the revisions. Recycling Events ● Spring Recycling Event – Saturday, April 27 Bowman has ordered new signs for mattresses and box springs, shoes, one-way traffic, and slow down. She did not yet have the final flyer prepared, but the information was in the RAW newsletter draft that was handed out at the meeting. Bowman will start to advertise the event next week. ● City-Wide Garage Sale – Friday, May 17 – Saturday, May 18 Registration will be from March 22nd thru May 1. Bowman will plan to have the map/flyer online around Friday, May 10, and will be ordering 500 flyers to have at city hall. She will begin promoting the registration and the event next week. ● Farmers Market on the Rum – Wednesdays, June 19 thru September 25 Staff is working on theme weeks. The committee will finalize specific dates to host a booth based on the themes that correlate with our initiatives. The committee is able to set up a booth at any of the Farmer’s Markets on Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m. ● Curbside Recycling Event – Monday, June 24 Bowman has scheduled the curbside event on Monday, June 24, with J.R.s Advanced Recyclers. This information will be included in the summer edition of the RAW newsletter and through various city communications tools. ● Pumpkin Smash – Date to be determined Bowman proposed the idea of canceling this event at a previous Board meeting, but she is reconsidering it. . She asked for the members’ feedback. Members Hain and Call like the event. Bowman feels the date is difficult with it being too close to Halloween and questioned if residents would not want to part with the pumpkins that early after Halloween. The committee could look at a different date or have a dumpster in place of the event. Discussion was made about having the event during a weeknight for 2024. Vice Chair Jones asked about having the dumpster from a Wednesday to a Wednesday and have the Pumpkin Smash on the Saturday following Halloween. Bowman stated that ACE Solid Waste will only deliver a dumpster on Friday and pick it up on a Monday. Member Hain suggested having the dumpster only. Vice Chair Jones asked how many 3  attended the event last year. Bowman stated there were about 180 people and approximately 300 pumpkins. Chair Knapek suggested having a smaller roll-off and wondered how much the cost difference is for a larger roll-off verses a smaller one. Member Belland asked about the profile height of the roll-off. Bowman said it would need to be shorter than what they have had because we have used a ladder in the past. Chair Knapek mentioned that people also use their compost yard waste for pumpkin disposal. Bowman doesn’t want the pumpkins thrown in the organics drop-off collection. She will check out the price of a smaller roll-off. Member Hain suggested if there is a smaller roll-off it might be easier in case people throw their candles in so that they may be taken out. Bowman will reach out to the City of Fridley which usually has a roll-off out for a week or more around Halloween. She will bring information back to discuss at the April meeting and members will need to decide whether or not to host an event or just have a roll-off available. RAW Newsletter Spring Edition - Bowman provided a final draft at the meeting. Anoka County approved the newsletter and it will be printed soon. Bowman also went through the newsletter so that Vice Chair Jones could hear the articles included in the newsletter via Zoom. Bowman mentioned that she added the Search the Recycling and Disposal Directory article to lesson inquiry calls she receives. It also promotes the Anoka County website. Bowman asked members to think of what articles should be included in the summer issue. Chair Knapek suggested shop local and the visible mending movement and in the fall issue to include information about wrapping paper. Member Hain asked about the fix-it-clinic. Bowman said there is not one scheduled for 2024. Vice Chair Jones said that they are usually listed on the Recycling Ambassadors’ website. She did not see anything and will let us know if she finds out. Bowman checked the County website during the meeting and noted one is not list for 2024. She will contact Anoka County to question why. New Business Anoka Live & Local - QCTV – QCTV will be filming live in Anoka on Wednesday, May 29, at 2 p.m. The location is to be determined. There are several guest speakers and city topics planned for this production. Bowman would like to have a guest speaker from the WRRB to participate to share information on upcoming events and initiatives. Chair Knapek stated she would be interested in representing the WRRB for this production. Bowman thanked her for volunteering. Annual Report to City Council – Vice Chair Jones volunteered to present the report to the City Council. Bowman added it to the calendar for Monday, April 15. Vice Chair Jones and Bowman will work together to discuss specifics for the slideshow. It will include similar slides to last year’s report and include any new programs, etc. 4 Bowman suggested she will include the June tour of the Coon Rapids Recycling Center and how it will help expand our research for a potential recycling center in Anoka. Member Call mentioned batteries. Chair Knapek suggested discussing our garage sale. Member Hain mentioned that our two trailers for WFW should be included. Vice Chair Jones suggested adding batteries and recycle center under component of goals. Bowman will send a draft to Vice Chair Jones once completed. ACE Solid Waste Annual Report – Each year ACE Solid Waste representatives are required to attend one of our meetings to report on their service, new information, etc. They were scheduled to attend in June; however, some members will be out of town. It’s important to have as many members in attendance as possible. Therefore, it was discussed to reschedule for either August or October. Member Call suggested August. Bowman will give ACE Solid Waste the option of August or October and see what works for them. Communications 2024 Meetings & Activities Schedule – The schedule was reviewed. Chair Knapek suggested to cancel the June meeting due to lack of attendance. Vice Chair Jones reminded members the recycling tour would be in place of the June 12 meeting. A motion was made to cancel the June 12 meeting by Member Call, seconded by Vice Chair Jones. 5 ayes – 0 nays. Motion passed. Roll call vote. Bowman plans to add back Monday, April 15, to report to City Council to the 2024 WRRB Meetings & Activities Schedule. She will also add the recycling event at Recycle Technologies Inc. on Saturday, July 27. General Recycling Questions – none. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 5:48 p.m. 5