Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting

Regular Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTE OF THE BOROUGH OF WALDWICK HELD ON THURSDAY MARCH 20, 2025 OPENING PORTION • Call to Order: Executive Director Tom McCormick called the meeting to order and read the Statement of Compliance. • Roll Call: Tom McCormick also took the roll call. Present were: o Thomas McCormick, o Dr. Mohammad Ahsan, o David Isaacs, o Dan Montella o Dr. Raina Parnov-Dawson, o David Zilkowski • A motion made to skip the reading of the minutes/notes from February 2025. The meeting minutes from February 2025 were then accepted by the committee members. PUBLIC PORTION • Celestine Taieb from Source Compost Presented: o She suggested that if the town is going to fund this effort, it can be properly done with a drop off at the DPW. If you want to start a drop off.....easy way to get things going. o She discussed initiating a pilot program in the long term where people put out compost at the DPW or incorporating food waste composting into the existing DPW facility. She mentioned that the NJDEP issues food waste permits to certain facilities. These facilities have certain requirements (e.g., Impermeable Flooring, Stormwater Control, etc.) o She spoke about statewide initiatives like the NJ Food Waste reduction act. It was enacted in 2017 and is attempting to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030 (it’s now been pushed back to 2035). Each solid waste management district has to develop a waste management plan for reducing food waste. Composting is one strategy that helps to achieve this. o She also mentioned that NJDEP wants to cut down on green house gas emissions (as part of its climate change strategies) and that composting helps with this. o She mentioned that composting service is useful for people who don't have back yards. o She estimated that Waldwick is probably spending $81,900 per year in throwing away food waste... not including (tip money). This is, in part, based on ~10,000 residents, with each person generating 3.5 pounds of food waste per week. o SourceCompost offers backyard coaching for composting. o She asked if SourceCompost could be promoted on the town website if/when the town is ready to do business and she can provide discount promo. o She’s applying for a grant opportunity from the NJ Compost Council to increase public awareness and education about composting. She’s asking us to write a letter in support. 1|Page Regular Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 o NJ legislative bill that will exempt community gardens from certain NJDEP permits when operating on-site composting systems under certain conditions. It will allow composting of food waste at community gardens up to 200 gallons per week (per 5,000 sf). o She'll send her presentation by email. OLD BUSINESS • Presentations to the Town Council o Tom is looking for a date to present to the town council on the composting initiatives, slow mow summer, solar lights, and flower boxes pitch. • Beautification Replanting of Cloverleaf Area by Route 17. o Need an update from the town council regarding the next steps. • Monthly Clean up o Abby Diaz is looking at possible days for organizing with the school. • Upcoming EPS drive and Allendale Green Team Styrofoam o Tom reached out to the Allendale Green Team who has their EPS collection. o Upper Saddle river will not accept waste from other municipalities. o Ramsey and Allendale will accept waste from others. o Dates for these EPS drives for these towns are to br added to Newsletter. o Use their existing template for Waldwick o • Slow Mow Summer Proposal: o No updates • Open Spaces. o Site visit for open spaces areas still to be scheduled. o ANJAC has a grant for stewardship projects for open-space. • Deer Crossing signs o No update • T-shirts o T Shirt sizes - Tom received requests for most sizes NEW BUSINESS • Earth Day 2025 • Tom has the permission slips for High School volunteers who will help with clean ups. • Proposed for April 12 at 11am. (This has been rescheduled to April 26). • Tom will proposed the date for this event to the town and get it publicized (e.g., Constant contact and other social media means) if agreed to. 2|Page Regular Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 • Tom will request use of projector in town hall location for future Environmental Advisory Committee meetings. CORRESPONDENCE • None. ADJOURNMENT • A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Tom McCormick and seconded by another committee member. The meeting concluded at 8:16 pm. Next meeting will be April 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the council chambers. 3|Page