Waste Reduction & Recycling Board

CITY OF ANOKA WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING BOARD Meeting Minutes November 13, 2024 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Knapek at 5:10 p.m. in the Committee Conference Room of Anoka City Hall. Roll Call Board Members Present: Cheryl Knapek, Brenda Belland, Jan Call, Sue Dergantz, Marijo Hain, Veronica Jones, and Eileen Rathbun Staff Present: Pam Bowman, Recycling Manager Others Present: Jens Narveson, General Manager at Ridwell. Narveson left the meeting at approximately 5:50 p.m. Approval of October 9, 2024 Meeting Minutes A motion to approve the October meeting minutes was made by Dergantz, seconded by Member Hain. 7 ayes – 0 nays. Motion passed. Old Business Subcommittees Reports ● Multi-Unit Program – Bowman reported the following: o 500 Greenhaven Road – due to overflowing issues, Bowman worked with ACE and the property owner to switch them from 6 carts to a 4-yard dumpster. 1   Organics Program – Bowman reported as follows: o She reached out to the 12 participants that still have not picked up their kits. Some are using their own buckets. Some have picked up their kits since notification. o 241 participants to date. o Thank you to all for monitoring it on Sundays. For the remainder of 2025, VC Jones will monitor it on the 1st & 3rd Sundays, and Member Belland will on the 2nd & 4th Sundays. o Was full for Monday’s service date. o Added more bags. We seem to be going through bags faster, but less volume. o Continue to log maintenance on a weekly basis.  Little Free Library - Member Dergantz brought in more books. Bowman reported the library has been fairly clean lately. ● Soles4Souls Program – Member Rathbun reported 275 pounds collected in October. She provided Bowman with a printed yearly report from Peterson Shoes. Fall Recycling Event Update – Bowman said she is still waiting on tire tonnage information. Pumpkin Smash Update – Thanks was given to Members Rathbun, Call and VC Jones for their help in monitoring and taking photos of the collected pumpkins during the 10-day event. Bowman reported that the dumpster was about 2/3 full at the end and while not confirmed, estimates it was close to 2 tons, which is comparable to last year’s 4-hour event. ACE Solid Waste’s Annual Report Update – Bowman reported that she has still not received a response from ACE reps in regards to them meeting as required by the contract. Chair Knapek suggested that with the holidays approaching maybe early 2025 would be a better time. Bowman said she would contact them and ask if February or March would work better for them. On a side note, a meeting is being scheduled by Anoka County to meet with Bowman and ACE reps regarding the tonnage discrepancy for the curbside report from January – June 2024. Boosting Organics Program Participation – Members discussed ways to enhance the program through the Farmers Market. VC Jones suggested boosting participation should be a goal for 2025 and more discussion could be held early in 2025. Organized Solid Waste Collection Update - Bowman reported there was about a 300 vote difference at the General Election and the ballot question related to organized hauling did not pass. She said while not certain, this could potentially mean that organized recycling could come to an end in Anoka after the contract expires on March 31, 2026. She said Council will need to discuss it prior to the expiration date. Several members voiced their disappointment noting they 2 were very upset by this and it would mean a huge step back for recycling. Bowman said the members will need to determine their next steps and find out if there are options to be considered and if they want to discuss it with Council. New Business Ridwell Presentation – this item was moved to the beginning of the meeting with respect to the guest’s time. Attached to the meeting minutes is the Ridwell presentation. Jens Narveson, general manager, presented the slideshow to the WRRB members. The following are some highlights.  Ridwell started as Owen’s List by a father and son team in Minneapolis. Ridwell currently services major metro areas; Maple Grove to Bloomington, Orono to Woodbury.  It was questioned if Anoka would be a potential location for the program. Jens Narveson said there is potential, but it has to be a large number of people willing to sign up for it to be sustainable. They need 100-150 interested leads per zip code.  Jens would staff a booth at the Farmers Market if we provide the space.  Members receive bins, bags, customer service, rotating categories, online dashboard, and a scholarship program is available. Service is every two weeks, resident need to opt in for pick up each time.  They are beginning commercial and non-profit memberships; non-profits will receive a 5% discount.  They do collect items that are not part of municipal recycling. They adjust as needed.  They focus on reuse materials and hard to recycle items (batteries, black plastics).  They work with local partners when possible, including the Coon Rapids Recycling Center to process Ridwell’s Styrofoam. They also send local plastics to TREX in California (maker of recycled plastic furniture).  Currently have 7,800 members in the Twin Cities.  Their warehouse is located off Hwy 280 near the rail yards. Warehouse tours are available and typically take about one hour.  Bowman suggested Narveson reach out to Anoka County to make more connections with cities in Anoka County. 3 Recyclable Plastics Information - VC Jones reported back about Member Calls question of #4 lids at the October meeting. VC Jones said she contacted the Daisy Brand (sour cream) and confirmed the lid is a #4 plastic. She also reached out to Eureka Recycling whom contacted their end processing partner. The lids, though #4, are compatible to be recycled with their #5 containers. People should be encouraged to always keep the lid on recyclable containers for proper recycling. It is best not to say much about the lids being #4 to avoid confusion and mishandling of other #4 plastics, such as plastic bags. Member Call thanked VC Jones for her research. Anoka County 2025 Agreement for Residential Recycling Program. Members reviewed the agreement. Bowman noted that while the total funding of $93,550 was not specifically listed within the contents of the agreement, it was indicated in the grant application. She apologized for not including that in the packet, noting it was included in last month’s packet. She said she will send out the full document via email if members want a copy. A motion to approve the 2025 Agreement for Residential Recycling Program with Anoka County was made by Member Call, seconded by VC Jones. 7 ayes – 0 nays. Motion passed. Bowman said this will go to Council for their approval on Monday, November 18, 2024. With approval it will be signed by the appropriate staff and submitted to Anoka County. Bowman added that this was a tight timeline, but Anoka County was delayed in sending the agreements out this year. Anoka County Booth at 2025 Farmers Market on the Rum. Bowman said she received an inquiry from Heidi Blum from Anoka County Recycling & Resource Solutions asking how to go about hosting a booth at the market in 2025. Bowman had explained the process to Ms. Blum and told her the WRRB typically hosts a booth once per month. She had inquired if Ms. Blum was going to promote organics or what, yet she had not heard back by the time of this meeting. Members said either way – sharing a booth or having her host her own would work. Bowman suggested even alternating market dates. Bowman will confirm more details with Blum and report back in December. 2024 Accomplishments and 2025 Goals. Members discussed both categories and determined the following: 2024 Accomplishments  Expressed interest to City Council of a potential recycling center in Anoka; toured local facility to conduct research.  Proactive community engagement at the Farmers Market on the Rum to promote recycling and organics programs. 4   Provided educational information to residents about proper battery and e-waste recycling.  Grew the organics drop-off program to more than 240 participants. 2025 Goals  Boost participation in the organics recycling drop-off program to 300+ participants.  Host and monitor an organics/compost recycling station at the Farmers Market on the Rum.  Continue to share information about safe battery recycling.  Partner with R-Marketplace to host clothing swap events for children and adults.  Focus on community engagement and education as it relates to recycling during the Anoka Social District.  Develop new, unique topics for the RAW newsletters. Communications Anoka Lions Recycling Efforts. This was an FYI from the Anoka Lions regarding their efforts to collect recycling at their events under the tent during Halloween season. Photos were provided. 2025 Anoka County Fix-It Clinics. Anoka County sent the 2025 schedule. Anoka is scheduled for April 5th at the Rum River Library from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Bowman reminded members that there is no WRRB involvement with this event, as it is fully planned by Anoka County. She suggested if any members would like to volunteer to help, she would ask if they need help. Member Hain reminded all members that Anoka County did not request any volunteers the last time they hosted at Anoka City Hall. 2024 Meetings & Activities Schedule – Chair Knapek pointed out the incorrect date for the Chairpersons Communication Board meeting. It should be December 4th. General Recycling Questions – N/A. December Meeting Agenda – VC Jones suggested adding the topic of black plastic recycling, electronic black plastics, and flame retardant items for discussion. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. 5