Resource Recycling Advisory Council

Resource Recycling Advisory Commission Meeting of November 26, 2018 Middletown Senior Center, 7 PM Members Present: Alison Johnson, Darrell Gagnon, Monica Belyea, Rebecca MacLachlan, Robin Hansen, Krishna Winston. Members not present: Harold Panciera, Chantal DeArmitt, Christine Sherwood, , Debbie Stanley, Bessie Bianco, Member of the Public Present: Maria Madsen Holzberg, Middletown Garden Club Public Works Staff Present: Kim O’Rourke The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm and started with approval of the minutes of the October meeting. The minutes were approved with the addition of Robin Hansen being absent. Krishna Winston introduced Maria Madsen Holzberg, former Mayor and member of the Middletown Garden Club. Ms. Holzberg gave her background and the Garden Club’s interest in implementing a bag ban in Middletown. She discussed the ordinance she drafted for the ban. Ms. Belyea said it was important to address the needs of small business with this proposal. Mr. Gagnon expressed his concern with telling people what they can and cannot do. He expressed several concerns about the proposal. A lively discussion ensured. Ms. Winston felt it is very important to make the tone of the ordinance an educational one. Ms. Belyea made and Ms. MacLachlan seconded a motion to proceed with supporting a ban on single use plastic bags. Ms. Johnson, Ms. Winston, Ms. Belyea and Ms. Hansen voted in favor. Mr. Gagnon voted against. Members discussed the importance of having a public hearing on this and/or a workshop for the Common Council. Ms. MacLachlan raised the issue of produce bags and a discussion ensued on whether to include those in the ban. Members discussed having stores charge for paper and any plastic bags and whether the donation should go to the stores or to a fund to promote waste reduction. They also asked if it was possible to get other towns fact sheets – what public information did other towns make available to residents and businesses. Ms. O’Rourke talked about the food waste initiative in the Sanitation District. She said although the Director is supportive of the effort, the District currently does not have a truck to transport the food waste in. The director asked her to contact the Board of Education and ask them if they have funding to hire a private hauler for food waste. She will also be contacting different haulers for pricing. Swap Shack Nov. 28 Krishna Dec. 1 Robin Dec. 12 Monica Dec. 15 Krishna Dec. 19 Alison Jan. 5 Robin Jan. 9 Krishna Other dates will be circulated to the members not present. Members discussed the status of the SMART initiative and decided they would like to see a task force to review all the information and bring it to the public for discussion. Darrel Gagnon made and Rebecca MacLachlan seconded a motion to support the creation of a task force to move towards SMART principles. The motion was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kim O’Rourke Kim O’Rourke Recycling Coordinator