Committee for a Better Environment

Approved: 022618 Committee for a Better Environment Davis Hall, College Park January 22, 2018 7:00 PM Members Present Absent Suchitra Balachandran X Sarah D’Alexander X Alan Hew X Todd Larsen X Tim Miller X Janis Oppelt X Jordan Schanker X Daniel Walfield X Donna Weene X Guests Present: Steve Beavers, City Liaison; Janet McCaslin; Elizabeth Chiedi, EnviroSolutions; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting was called to order at 7:05pm by chair, Ms. Oppelt. 1. The agenda was reviewed and for consideration of our guest, Business Recycling will be first on the agenda of “Ongoing Business.” Ms. Oppelt made a motion to change the order of the agenda. Ms. D’Alexander seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 2. The minutes from the November 27, 2017, meeting were reviewed. Ms. Oppelt made the motion to accept the minutes with the changes discussed. Ms. D’Alexander seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 3. Mr. Beavers gave the following City updates: a. There are no changes to the budget, however, the costs of the permaculture signs will be ordered and will be reported at the February meeting. b. Council will discuss “How to Effectively use Advisory Committees” at their February 20 worksession. c. There will be an upcoming discussion about Duvall Field. d. Council is looking at revising the ordinance on vegetation control. e. A license agreement has been signed with the WMATA in Calvert Hills to create a community garden and at the College Park Woods pool. f. March 6 will be a work session on Business Recycling. 4. Business Recycling. We welcome Elizabeth Chiedi from EnviroSolutions, who also resides in College Park. She passed out a flyer showing what can be recycled and what cannot be recycled. The biggest issue is plastic bags; they are containments and can no  longer be recycled. Recycled materials are no longer a buying commodity as they once were. China used to buy a lot of recycling from the US, but they are now inundated with recycled products. Asphalt and concrete companies have found a way to use glass in with the macadam for road surfaces. The tonnage fee for recycled products has increased from $25 to $40 per ton. Discussion continued about business recycling in College Park. Ms. Chiedi mentioned that space is definitely a concern for businesses. Alley ways behind places, such as Marathon Deli, is difficult especially with narrow and cracked alley streets. The shops along with the strip with Marathon Deli would do well to share a 2 yard dumpster and recycle cardboard. Another suggestion is for Cornerstone Deli to share a 2 yard dumpster with Ledo’s Pizza for cardboard recycling. It can be difficult for businesses to do recycling, but it is not impossible. Businesses need to be shown how recycling can work for them. In order for businesses to be forced into recycling, the following suggestions were offered: a. Must have an ordinance in place that businesses must recycle along with an enforced start date b. The City should give incentives for business recycling. c. Review the City’s grant program. Advertise it more successfully. d. Tax trash that could be recycled. e. Code enforcement needs to stay on top of the businesses once an ordinance is passed. f. Show how the success of recycling can be materialized for businesses g. Invite all business owners to a meet and greet at the Downtown Merchants Association. There was also a discussion about apartment buildings and recycling. Ms. Chiedi explained that residential buildings must recycle and any issues can be forwarded to Prince George’s County Recycling coordinator. The County has jurisdiction over residential properties. 5. The fence ordinance pass through City Council. It now goes to the County for approval. If the County approves the ordinance, it will go into effect 120 days after the approval date. 6. With Dr. Balachandran out of the country, there is no update on SMART/PAYT. 7. Final proofs have been received for the Permaculture Garden signs. The decision was to ensure that they are black backgrounds with silver lettering. Mr. Beavers will confirm with the manufacturer and place the order. 8. The Green Awards will be handed out on Tuesday night, January 23, at the Council meeting, at approximately 7:40pm.  9. Ms. Oppelt discussed the Tree & Landscape Board meeting. The pruning workshop will be done in the fall. 10. Good Neighbor Day has 18 projects and 4 or 5 community gardens. The event is scheduled for April 7, 2018. It will be a Zero Waste project. CBE will have a table at the event. 11. Ben Flamm has officially resigned from CBE. Ms. Oppelt has tried on numerous occasions to reach Tim Miller; he has not responded. Mr. Walfield made a motion to remove Tim Miller from the CBE Committee. Ms. Oppelt seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 12. There is a request for a Doggie Depot at Albion Road at the Trolley Trail by Whole Foods. The cost is $310. Ms. Oppelt made a motion to spend $310 for the Doggie Depot. Ms. Larsen seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 13. The Mews Tot Lot is requesting a replacement of trash/recycling cans. The cost is $1000. Ms. D’Alexander made a motion to spend $1000 on the trash/recycling can for the Mews Tot Lot. Mr. Walfield seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 14. The committee decided to schedule monthly focus on outreach efforts: a. May – Rain barrels, soaker hoses, rain gardens. Mr. Larsen and Mr. Walfield will handle. b. June – Energy efficiency. Mr. Walfield will handle. c. July – Compost/Food waste. Ms. D’Alexander and Ms. McCaslin will handle. d. September – water conservation month. Show the “Straws” movie at Paint Branch Elementary School and possibly Hollywood Elementary School. Ms. Oppelt and Ms. McCaslin will handle. Mr. Larsen made a motion to allocate a total of $350 for $150 for the Straws movie rental and $50 per event for refreshments. Ms. D’Alexander seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 15. The next meeting will be held on February 26, 2018, at Davis Hall at 7:00pm. Ms. D’Alexander made a motion to end the meeting. Mr. Hew seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. The meeting ended at 8:45pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.