Resource Recycling Advisory Council

Middletown Resource Recycling Advisory Council Sept. 27, 2021 Regular Meeting via Webex Members Present: Krishna Winston, Tisha Zawisky, Alison Johnson, Debbie Stanley, Izzy Guy Members Absent: Stephan Allison, Rebecca MacLachlan, Lydia Wolfe, Chantal DeArmitt, Raffie Bianco, , Eleanor Nettleton Others Present: Bob Westendorff, Jeff Myjak Staff Present: Kim O’Rourke, Recycling Coordinator Call to order The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm. Public Comments Jeff Myjak inquired about the cardboard at the Recycling Center. He urged the City to develop a drop-off program for segregated glass. Mr. Myjak said he would give Ms. O’Rourke contact information for Strategic Material, a vendor she might work with to set up such a glass collection for Middletown. Mr. Westendorff reported that the cardboard compactor often is overflowing because the compaction is not working. Acceptance of the Minutes Members accepted the minutes from the meeting of Sept. 27, 2021. Recycling Coordinator’s Report Members reviewed the Recycling Coordinator’s September written report. Ms. O’Rourke gave a verbal update on the Feed the Earth food-waste collection program. Over 30 restaurants are participating, and over 18,000 lbs were collected in July and August. The backyard composting workshop and compost bin and rain barrel sale is coming up. 130 residents have pledged to divert their food waste. DEEP has announced that grants will be available on a competitive basis to support municipal unit-based pricing and food-waste initiatives. Ms. O’Rourke said she would be meeting with the Mayor to discuss the City’s applying. Ms. Winston asked if there was a way to include the entire city, not just the Sanitation District. Ms. O’Rourke replied that it would be much more effective to include the whole city, or submit a proposal for a regional program, but that could be complicated. Ms. Zawisky asked whether having trash collected at the transfer station with unit-based pricing could be included in the application. Ms. O’Rourke thought that could be part of the proposal. Ms. O’Rourke reported that she had been a guest on CT Public Radio’s “Where We Live” morning show to talk about food-waste diversion. The Commissioner had also been a guest, describing the grant program, and a couple of representatives from other municipalities and a representative from Blue Earth Compost had spoken about their programs. Reboot Eco, a local refill store that has been present at various farmers’ markets and events, may be coming to a permanent location in Middletown! The City has offered a location on River Road. This location also has a nice area for a compost garden that the Commission could use for workshops and demonstrations. Ms. O’Rourke is planning to apply for a Rockfall Grant to encourage the use of reusable coffee cups at local shops. Ms. Johnson felt there might be a connection to Reboot Eco, with a slogan such as “Refill your spirit, refill your coffee,” to suggest a broader theme. A volunteer has offered to make a prototype tote bag out of animal chow bags. She will assess how difficult the project is. Recreation Recycles: a student has been identified who will help film and edit the monthly video. The October topic will be pumpkins, and in November it will be making one’s own beeswax food wraps. Work is underway to organize a showing of the film Kiss the Ground in early November. Bob Westendorff encouraged the Commission to get city leaders to promote recycling. Chair’s Report Ms. Winston reported that she and Ms. O’Rourke were working on the design for the interior of the Swap Shack, which the City Carpenter would build. The design would include shelving on all four sides, cubbies, and a closet in the middle for clothing. She explained that the idea was to limit floor space to prevent people from bringing in large items. A lean-to on one side would accommodate flower pots, garden tools, and maybe a few of the special recyclables currently collected at City Hall. Recycling Center Signs Ms. O’Rourke reported that she had received feedback from Ms. MacLachlan, Ms. Winston, and Mr. Allison on the sign company’s proposal that had been passed on to the vendor for a response. The new signage would be an improvement, if not all the Commission had hoped for. She noted that the Director of Public Works was interested in updating the shed where cooking oil, batteries, antifreeze, and food waste are collected and urged the members to think about a new configuration. The group briefly discussed where a drop-off for separated glass might be located. Upcoming Events Members reviewed the events scheduled for the fall and the need for volunteers. Those events included: the distribution of compost bins and rain barrels, an educational table at the Middle Passage Ceremony and Amistad visit, the Household Hazardous Waste collection, the Repair Café and Swap Event, and the paper-shredding. Kat Owens Collaboration Ms. O’Rourke reported that Kat Owens, a Middletown resident, a University of Hartford professor, and an artist working on making 46 animal pictures out of plastic waste for a new exhibition. Ms. Owens organizes programs in which community members are involved. People are invited to help her sew the 2 pictures and sign their names on the back. Ms. O’Rourke said she was working with Ms. Owens to set up a program like this for the coming winter. Charter Revision Update Ms. Winston reported that the Commission’s proposal called for term limits for commissioners, the objective being to promote membership turn-over. The proposed limit would be three consecutive terms, with a maximum of five years per term. Apparently the limits would not apply to past terms, but only to terms under way when the new Charter went into effect or to subsequent appointments. She noted that there might be a statute that did not allow municipalities to impose such limits, but the Revision Commission had chosen to overlook that possibility. The revised charter would go to referendum in November. Adjournment At 8:10 Alison Johnson moved that the meeting be adjourned, and Ms. Stanley seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Kim O’Rourke Kim O’Rourke Recycling Coordinator Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 8:14 pm. Respectfully submitted, 3 Kim O’Rourke Kim O’Rourke Middletown Recycling Coordinator 4