February 2007

Recycling Committee Minutes

1. Members attending:Members attending:

Reginald H. “Reg” Turnbull, Turnbull Law Office, P.C.
Carrie Carroll, Hallmark/Cottonstone
Lee Waer, Turnbull Law Office, P.C.
Dean Lamb, Environment Services Division Director, Jefferson City Government
Jennifer “Jenny” Tergin, Motorsports

     Members absent:

Dave Nowack, Natural Connections
Rob Didriksen, Volunteer

     Other Persons Attending

Mike Kauflin, M.R.S. Recycling Service, Inc.
Kristen Hilty 

2. Date and Location of Meeting:

February 14, 2007, 9 AM at Turnbull Law Office, P.C., 200 E. High St., Jefferson City, MO 65101

3. Minutes from meeting of January 10, 2007:

Reg reviewed the minutes and asked for motion to approve.  Dean moved to approve the minutes and Jenny seconded.  Minutes were approved.

4. Old Business:  

a. Recycling Rechargeable Batteries:

Jenny said that the receptacles are located behind the bank tellers’ stations.  Kristen thought that Radio Shack also accepts rechargeable batteries.

b.Posters:

Carrie suggested that we print some more posters.  Reg said he would make more copies.

c.Fluorescent Lights:

Jenny said that no one has recently dropped off fluorescent bulbs for recycling.  Jenny plans to place a sign by the door to help identify the location.  She plans to take the bulbs to Wal-Mart.

Dean mentioned that HRT has the contract to accept the bulbs.  Carrie suggested the City might want to contract with HRT.

Jenny noted that Wal-Mart is using more recyclable items.  She also mentioned that Wal-Mart accepts waste motor oil.  Dean said that the planned Wal-Mart store will be more environmentally friendly and will save the company energy costs.

d. Phone Books.

Carrie said that we have permission to place a container at the Exchange Bank’s West location, but the container will need to be eye appealing.  It will be the only public drop off for phone books in Jefferson City.

Members discussed ideas on how to decorate and/or cover the bin.  Dean mentioned the receptacles that one of the shredding companies uses.  Jenny said that maybe her father could build a cover for the plastic bin.  Jenny will provide an estimate of the costs for the materials and give that information to Carrie. 

Carrie said that she would contact Deanne Fisher after the construction issues are resolved.  Carrie will ask Deanne Fisher for assistance in decorating the cover for bin.  

e. Full Containers

Several members noted that the container was full.  Dean mentioned that this reinforces the need for curbside services.  Jenny and Dean said that they will call Corey Toebben at New World Recycling.

Carrie asked Mike if M.R.S. picks up cardboard.  Mike said that they do not pickup loose cardboard.  Mike also explained the problems of picking up cardboard.

f. Newspaper Articles

Carrie mentioned the importance of having articles in the News Tribune about recycling.  Jenny said that she had given Kris Hilgedick an email reference to get ideas about recycling topics.  Jenny said that she will call Kris.

g. Changing the Committee Meeting Day

Carried asked the committee if meeting on the morning of the second Wednesday of each month was still okay.  Members thought the day and time were okay. 

h. Additional Recycling Containers

Dean said that the City Council approved the purchase of additional containers through Gregory Container.  He said that the city is evaluating placement locations.  He also estimated that it may take 6 months before the containers are in place and in operation.  

i. Upcoming Events

 Jenny said that maybe the committee should start planning now for the July 4th holiday event.  She also offered a suggestion that the committee have a booth at the event.

j. Use of Recycling Containers and Alternatives

 
Jenny said that she wrote to her councilmen about the need for curbside pickup services.  She said that Councilman Oetting acknowledged receipt of her letter.  Reg mentioned about corresponding to other councilmen.

k. Committee Chair

Carrie assumed duties of the chair.

l. Draft Minutes to Chair

Lee emailed draft minutes to Carrie for her review.

5. New Business:

a. New Person Attending

Kristen Hilty introduced herself to the committee and shared her great interest in furthering recycling efforts. 

The committee welcomed Kristen.

b. Curbside Pickup

Members began discussing recycling efforts and the need for curbside pickup.  Mike mentioned Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as an example.  He said that city used coupons as a way to encourage persons to recycle.  The coupons could then be redeemed for the purchase of services and goods.  Carrie said that might be an idea to adapt.

Dean said that he called authorities in Cape Girardeau and Joplin because those cities have a population size which is similar to Jefferson City.  He discussed what trash and recycling programs those cities have.

Kristen said that recyclecurbside.org is a good internet site regarding recycling efforts, news and other information. 

Kristen described the recycling program that Kansas City uses and noted the “single stream” recycling program that St. Louis uses through Allied Waste.

Dean said that the City of Jefferson only owns the sewer system whereas in many communities the municipal government operates the public services.  He said that some cities must use a third party to perform various public services.

Kristen explained the need to put incentives into contracts for services because it would encourage recycling.  She also noted that education is a key factor in the success of any recycling program.

Mike said that his organization had discussed curbside recycling.  He thought that it is difficult.  He discussed the experiences that Dallas, Texas had. 

Kristen and Jenny said that Jefferson City should take the lead by being an example to other communities on how a recycling program should work.

Carrie said that the committee would need to come up with a proposal to give to the council. 

Kristen said that she had written and submitted a proposal to the Environmental Quality Commission.  Carrie also asked Kristen to let the committee know what she finds out from Rob and Carol Davit. Carrie asked if the committee could get on the Environmental Quality Commission’s agenda to discuss the proposal at the March 2007 meeting. 

c. M.R.S. Expansion

Jenny asked Mike if M.R.S. would be interested in accepting metals and other materials that they do not currently take.  Mike said that M.R.S. is considering a different site and the possibility of expanding what items they accept.  He noted that they do not accept glass.

d. Glass

Several committee members discussed the dilemma that no site exists locally for the collection and recycling of glass.  It was mentioned that some companies are using aluminum bottles.  Mike said that there is no market for glass at this time.  He also noted that the recycling of aluminum has decreased.

e. Invitation to New Person

Dean mentioned Celeste Koon as a person who is knowledgeable and has an interest in recycling. 

f. Plastic Bags

Members discussed the email that Carrie sent regarding Schnucks’ accepting bags for recycling.  It was mentioned that Gerbes gives a five cent discount for each bag a person brings in and uses.  Jenny said that she thinks that Hy-Vee also gives a discount. 

Carrie suggested that the information be added to Downtown Jefferson City website.  Jenny suggested the addition of a notice to the website.  Mike said that sounds like an article for Kris.

g. Miscellaneous

Carrie asked Lee to email the committee members’ email addresses to Kristen.

Carrie thanked Mike for the bin that M.R.S. provided to her store.   

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Wednesday March 14, 2007, at 9 AM at Turnbull Law Office, P.C., 200 East High St. Jefferson City, MO 65101.

FYI: CC  City Administrator’s Office for delivery to Mayor John Landwehr, Councilman Edith Vogel, and Councilman Peter Oetting; Charles Lansford, Kris Hilgedick, Colleen Taylor, Rick Graham, Corey Toebben, Steve Picker, and Mike Kauflin.