Waste Reduction & Recycling Board

CITY OF ANOKA WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING BOARD Meeting Minutes April 10, 2024 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Jones at 5:00 p.m. in the Committee Conference Room of Anoka City Hall. Roll Call  Board Members present: Sue Dergantz and Veronica Jones  Absent: Cheryl Knapek, Brenda Belland, Jan Call, and Marijo Hain  Staff present: Pam Bowman, Recycling Manager  Others Present: Eileen Rathbun via Zoom Approval of March 13, 2024 Meeting Minutes The March minutes were unable to be approved due lack of quorum. Old Business Subcommittees Reports  Multi-Unit Program – Nothing new to report.  Organics – Bowman reported 195 participants. The site is being monitored twice a week with garbage being emptied about every other week due to more frequent filling. Bags are being replaced every week and a half. The enclosure clasp has been fixed by Public Services for ACE Solid Waste’s use. The hold back still needs to be fixed by a contractor this spring and is not affecting participants’ use.  Little Library – We Read & Reuse Books (WRRB) – Bowman reported that she is monitoring it once a week. Unfortunately, trash has been found each time including magazines, flyers, socks, CDs, religious recruitment letters, etc. Member Dergantz asked if there is a good supply of books. Bowman replied that the stock is dwindling. She will put the plaque on soon. 1   City-Wide Garage Sale – Bowman stated there has been 18 registrations to date. Registration is open through 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1. She continues to utilize tools for promoting the event and plans to have the map/flyer online and available around Monday, May 13. There will be 500 copies available at Anoka City Hall for residents and hosts and if hosts wish to hand any out at their sales. If inquiries arise regarding the Reuse Event, Bowman has put information on the website and has answered questions on social media. She will work with Anoka County to see how they would like the event publicized. She is not sure if they are promoting it themselves. Anoka County very much appreciates those who volunteered to help at the Reuse Event. Volunteers that have signed up for the Reuse Event include the following: o Saturday:  Eileen Rathbun 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Sue Dergantz 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. o Sunday:  Brenda Belland 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Diane Grinde 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Pam Bowman 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Veronica Jones 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Sue Dergantz (fill in if needed)  Soles4Souls – On Earth Day, Monday, April 22, 2024, Peterson Shoes will be offering a $10 coupon to use in store that day, one per customer, for those donating shoes. Recycling Center Tour Update – The board will tour the Coon Rapids Recycling Center on Thursday, June 6, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Colleen, the manager, said that they will allow sufficient time with Q&A’s. Bowman has asked her to prepare information about what it takes to run the facility; labor, volunteers, financials, etc. Council is invited to attend as well. Bowman will send out invites. Member Dergantz asked how many will be attending. Bowman replied all of the board members will be attending. Battery and E-Waste Educational Efforts – Bowman included in the packet the E-waste information Vice Chair Jones had provided earlier. She asked the board how they wish to utilize these resources. Vice Chair Jones mentioned that even basic information is important to people. For instance, battery use. The smallest, obvious information can be useful to someone. She feels we should include the basic all the way to the sophisticated material in the newsletter. Bowman will check with Anoka County to see if they have any type of graphics material that can be used in the newsletter. Bowman reached out to the company suggested by Member Rathbun. Since we are set with our vendors this year, they will provide us a quote for our 2025 recycling events. She did not have an update on the E-Waste Bill but will check and report back at the next meeting. 2 Recycling Events ● Spring Recycling Event – Saturday, April 27 Signs have been received for mattresses, box springs, shoes, one-way traffic, and slow down. Marketing has begun; utilizing all tools as applicable. Member Dergantz, Vice Chair Jones, and Diane Grinde have volunteered for the event. Approximately five Public Services’ workers will be hired to help with the event. ● City-Wide Garage Sale – Friday, May 17 – Saturday, May 18 Registration opened Friday, March 22, and closes Wednesday, May 1, at 4:00 p.m. There are 18 registered to date. A map/flyer will be available online around Monday, May 13. There will be 500 copies available at Anoka City Hall for residents and hosts if they want to distribute them at their sales. Bowman will work with Anoka County on marketing the Reuse Event. Inquiries were received and the information is on the website. She has answered questions on social media. ● Farmers Market on the Rum – Wednesdays, June 19 thru September 25, 3:00-7:00 p.m. Suggested dates: ○ Wednesday, June 19 (Kick Off Day – handing out 150 free bags) or Wednesday, June 26 (Seeds, Bees and Trees – master gardener) ○ Wednesday, July 17 (Family Fun Day – games, etc.) ○ Wednesday, August 7 (Nat’l Farmers Market week – free coupon and150 bags) Bowman stated that one person is needed for each date. More dates are available if the above dates don’t work. Vice Chair Jones volunteered for June 19 or June 26 and any dates after August 7. Member Dergantz will email Bowman dates she is available and suggested two volunteers at each Farmers Market date. ● Curbside Recycling Event – Monday, June 24 The fees and process will be the same as last year. Residents register through J.R.’S Advanced Recyclers. Marketing will begin after spring event ends. This information will be included in the summer edition of the RAW Newsletter and through various city communications tools. ● Pumpkin Smash – Saturday, November 9 The City of Fridley uses a roll off at their Nature Center for two weeks. Signs say “pumpkins only” and they have security cameras on light poles for monitoring. They have had only one issue in the last five years in which someone dropped in bags of leaves. They are unsure about “painted” pumpkins as LePage & Sons didn’t give them any restrictions. Their cost is $400. We will determine at the next meeting whether to host the event or to just provide a roll-off and for how long. In the past we have had a 20-yard roll-off. Bowman checked into ACE Solid Waste’s pricing of roll-offs: 3  o 10-yard – $260 ○ 20-yard – $340 ● Fix-It Clinic Update – Anoka County will not be hosting a Fix-It Clinic in Anoka this year. They rotate between the cities each year. There will be one in Anoka in 2025. Annual Report to City Council – Vice Chair Jones will be presenting the annual report on Monday, April 15, to the City Council. She did a practice run of the PPT and did an excellent job. Bowman will make a few changes on the slides for the report on Monday. Anoka Live & Local - QCTV – Chair Knapek will do the interview on Wednesday, May 29. The show airs live at 2:00 p.m. Bowman and Chair Knapek will decide what items she should present. ACE Solid Waste Annual Report – As a reminder, each year ACE representatives are required to attend one of our meetings to report on their service, new information, etc. They were scheduled to attend in June; but due to the cancelation of our June meeting, they will be attending on Wednesday, September 11. New Business RAW Newsletter Summer Edition – Last summer’s newsletter included: Waterfowl for Warriors aluminum can collection, the curbside event, ACE Solid Waste’s general information, dryer balls, organics, and help reduce the use of plastics. This summer’s newsletter could include: We Read & Reuse Books, the spring event, organics, Soles4Souls, the Recycling Directory, planter pots, the City-Wide Garage Sale, Waterfowl for Warriors, and batteries and E- Waste. Bowman suggested using examples of batteries and what they are in. Member Jones suggested adding a “tip of the day” or “quick tips”, some simple ideas. Bowman said she use to put things in the newsletter like that but ran out of ideas. If she had a good list there could be a few put in each article. If members would email her tips that they think of it would helpful. Member Dergantz suggested advertising items that we don’t recycle. She also suggested “Odds-N-Ends Trailer” and as a tip about plastic containers used for take-out. Anoka Social District – Public Services is ordering on Tuesday 20 recycling containers; black to match the aesthetics of the downtown with blue lids to indicate recycling. Clear recycling labels marked “Recycle Only” and “Recycle Here” will be attached to the lids and recycling signs will be attached to the containers. The information about recycling of the cups is on the city website in the Social District information. The plastic cups are recyclable. It is anticipated that there will be enough in stock from the first order. Public Services will pick up the containers. Volunteers for the larger events can be considered. Bowman is applying for a separate reimbursement grant through Anoka County for all costs; approximately $12,000 total. 4 Communications 2024 Meetings & Activities Schedule – The schedule was reviewed. The June meeting is cancelled due to attending the Coon Rapids Recycling Center on Thursday, June 6. Bowman plans to add ACE Solid Waste’s Annual Report on Wednesday, September 11, on the calendar. General Recycling Questions – Member Dergantz stated that she is doing a food challenge where she is monitoring food discarding. In doing so, she found a list of 50 Storage Ideas that she will email Bowman the ideas. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m. 5