Resource Recycling Advisory Council

Resource Recycling Advisory Commission Meeting of October28, 2019 Middletown Senior Center, 7 PM Members Present: Monica Belyea, Alison Johnson, Rebecca MacLachlan, Krishna Winston. Members not present: Bessie Bianco, Chantel DeArmitt, Izzy Guy, Robin Hanson, Harold Panciera, Debbie Stanley Member of the Public Present: None Public Works Staff Present: Kim O’Rourke The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm. The minutes of the September meeting were approved as presented. Recycling Coordinator Report Kim O’Rourke announced that between RiverCog and Middletown, we sold almost 100 compost bins and rain barrels. They are planning another sale in the Spring with a distribution day of March 28th. The Shred Event and HHW Collection Day has not been set yet. Kim attended the school recycling conference at CCSU on October 23. The conference included information on on-site composting, recycling milk cartons, conducting a waste audit and zero waste schools. Kim will be passing ideas on to all the schools from the conference. She will include RAC members in that email. Ms. O’Rourke attended the annual meeting of EHHI (Environment and Human Health, Inc.) in New Haven. It was very interesting to hear the projects they are working on which include plastics reduction. The Arts Coordinator is interested in collaborating with recycling. We are hoping to meet in the next couple months to brainstorm some ideas. Chairman’s Report Ms. Winston reported on the Urban Farming Symposium held at Wesleyan. She also announced that the City has achieved Silver Certification with Sustainable CT. Swap Shack Oct. 29 Krishna Nov 6 Izzy Nov. 9 Krishna Nov. 16 Rebecca Nov. 20 Izzy Nov. 23 Krishna Household Hazardous Waste Collection The numbers for the HHW Collection are attached to the agenda. Members discussed as to why the flow of the collection was so much different from last year. The numbers were not that different – 308 in 2019 and 347 in 2018. The vehicles brought in a lot less material and Clean Harbors had more staff there than last year. Reusable Bags Ms. O’Rourke asked for suggestions on how to distribute the remaining reusable bags. Members suggested at Community Health Center, or Goodwill or maybe Amazing Grace. Ms. O’Rourke said she still does have some reusable bags that were collected at the Repair Café. She asked for suggestions as to how to distribute them. Ms. Winston thanked Ms. O’Rourke for sending out the PAYT information. She said we may want to revisit this in the future. H.O.P.E. Awards Ms. Johnson explained the H.O.P.E. awards. Middletown Works is a community engagement project developed to assist single parents in poverty. The HOPE Awards are grants to help with creative projects to help single parents. Applications are due Nov. 11th. She said the next Community Café will be Wednesday, Nov. 6th at 5 – 6:30 pm. Junk Mail Ms. O’Rourke said she was contacted by one of the school building supervisors about all the junk mail the schools receive. He was wondering if there was a way to reduce the junk mail. It is difficult, but we are thinking of a plan. Also, from this conversation, we decided I should try to get in to talk to all the school staff about what to recycle. Although information is sent out, there seems to still be alot of questions. Other Rebecca asked if the Commission could take a stand on the Open Space initiative on the ballot. Krishna felt it was out the jurisdiction of the Recycling Commission, although it seemed like everyone was supportive of it. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm. The meeting adjourned at 8:15pm. Respectfully submitted, Kim O’Rourke Kim O’Rourke Recycling Coordinator