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01/15/2020 TSC Minutes

Bethlehem Transfer Station Committee

Bethlehem, NH

 

Minutes of the Meeting

January 15, 2020

Committee members attending: Chris Jensen, Chris McGrath, Barry Zitser, Julie Seeley, Andrea Bryant, Nancy Strand, and Katherine Darges.  Guest attending:  Margaret Gale.

The committee briefly discussed the petitioned warrant and the intent of using the transfer station capital reserve fund.  Discussion was tabled, to be continued when Chris McGrath arrived, since he signed the petition.

Nancy Strand suggested that the Committee should do a better job of informing the community at large about the work we have done, information we have gathered, and resources we have developed.

We could write a letter to the editor to promote the 20,000 new money and explain how the “study” money isn’t done.   (No vote was taken)

The decision for allowing a permit for expansion of the North Country Environmental Services (NCES) landfill should be announced on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.   The NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) and NCES seem to have a difference of opinion of when the date for closing the landfill should occur. NCES says the permit expires based on when it was granted.  DES says the permit expires based on when NCES actually starts accepting waste.

Barry Zitzer suggested that the Committee should develop an emergency plan if the landfill must close sooner than expected because the permit is not granted.

He also said that it would be good to have Jeanne Robillard help with any contingency planning, because she has experience with Bethlehem managing its own trash removal services the town did it before contracting with NCES.

Julie Seeley said that NCES shouldn’t run out of capacity until 2021.  Based on that, the Committee decided to wait until there is a decision about the new permit before thinking about a possible emergency plan.

Barry talked about Quantum Biopower in Southington, CT, that receives food waste, such as table scraps from restaurants and cafeterias, along with spoiled packaged food from grocery stores and other large businesses and turns it into methane, which is burned to produce electricityand heat.  Bethlehem does not have the volume of food waste to have a plant in town and Quantum currently is the only plant on the East Coast.  Barry is trying to arrange a visit with from someone at Quantum  so he can get more  information and also discuss composting and waste systems in general.

Ed King, from the Littleton Food COOP, went to the [Bethlehem?] Planning Board and Select Board to discuss developing regional composting.  He would be a good resource for our Committee.

Andrea said Tim Wennrich from Meadowstone Farm in Bethlehem has said that he would work with the Committee to develop a way he could pick up non meat food waste composting that people bring to the new transfer station.

We would need to have an educational initiative to get people to save their food waste.  Andrea suggested that, for the first few months, giving a free bag to those who bring their food waste for composting as an incentive to get them in the habit.  Then. most people would realize how much less is in their bag and do it just to save on bags.

Barry reported that Vernon, VT, has someone a demonstration program at the town garage for composting.  Barry would like to take some of the Committee to see it.  Also, Unity, ME has a composting facility.

Nancy shared research on the Zero Waste International Alliance program for communities. She suggested that we should ask the Select Board to consider joining. The first three requirementsfor membership are:

  1. Adopt the Zero Waste definition of the Zero Waste International Alliance: “
  2. Establish benchmarks and a timeline to meet goals for measuring success andmonitoring accomplishments.
  3. Engage the whole community.

The Committee agreed that becoming a Zero Waste Community is a definite goal.

Nancy has a handbook for becoming a zero waste community that shows the process.  Education is a huge component

  • Years 1-5. Set goal, begin building infrastructure, bins
  • Years 6-9. Max the separation methods
  • Years 10+. Continue to reduce the amount wasted

Put methods to reduce waste on the Town website.

If we can take 20% out of waste from the food waste it will cost the town less.

We may be able to get grant money help us reach Zero Waste.

Nancy has written a letter to send to the Select Board asking them to commit to becoming a zero waste town.

Nancy suggested that the Committee should have focus groups as we move towards zero waste:

  • Transfer station facility to work on the plan
  • Education/ schools
  • Food waste
  • Composting
  • Electronic waste,
  • Grant applications
  • Reuse methods.

 

Andrea said that we have discussed the idea of subcommittees many time before but it is a very small group and getting others to volunteer is difficult, if not impossible.  So, we have been working together.

General comments on becoming “zero waste”:

  • Someone mentioned that a lot of what needs to be done needs to be done closer to the date. Prices change. Grants need specific dates.
  • On grant application we can state that the town is committed to zero waste.
  • Angela at Profile could work on the education piece even at BES.
  • Northern borders regional commission gives out money for projects
  • Grant for composting bins could be done way in advance.
  • Also the one on signage.
  • New Hampshire the beautiful.
  • Are there other NH communities in zero waste program?
  • Sweden is almost zero waste so it is possible
  • We need to work towards recycling and find a place to send it. Littleton would probably take it.
  • Zero sort has made the use of recycling waste worse.
  • Nantucket is a national leader in zero waste.
  • Eco cycle Northeast recycling counsel.
  • Report from solid waste committee at the State level.
  • NH the beautiful is not recycle friendly and has opposed the bottling bill.

Chris McGrath discussed the petitioned warrant article. Glavic, Ubaldo, and Culver were the authors.  They want a breakdown of what various options regarding trash service costs.  The Committee already can publish the numbers from Casella . Chris Jensen got numbers for curbside pickup.  Barry has some already.   Some feel that it would be spending money on something we have been collecting.

The next meeting will be held on February 5 at 6:30 PM at Town Hall.