November 2006

Recycling Committee Minutes 

1.      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 Tergin, Motorsports

     Members absent:

Dave Nowack, Natural Connections

Rob Didriksen, Volunteer

     Other Persons Attending 

Kris Hilgedick, News Tribune

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

 2.      Date and Location of Meeting: 

November 13, 2006, 9 AM at Turnbull Law Office, P.C., 200 E. High St., Jefferson City, MO 65101 

3.      Minutes from meeting of October 9, 2006: 

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

4.      Old Business:    

a.       Recycling Rechargeable Batteries: 

Carrie noted that Central Bank has placed containers for rechargeable batteries and cell phones at their Main Bank, Motor Bank and West Bank.    

Kris noted that major chain stores will also accept rechargeable batteries.  She thought that consumers have 22 sites city wide to place such batteries.  Kris said that she may write an article about the recycling of rechargeable batteries.

b.      Posters: 

Carrie said that the posters were given to the block captains.  Reg asked if all of the Downtown Jefferson City businesses got a copy.   Carrie said that she will ask members at the November 14, 2006, Downtown Jefferson City meetings if they need a copy.  Reg said that he would provide any copies if needed.  Reg also said that he will send copies to law firms that are located in the Downtown area but are not members of Downtown Jefferson City.   

c.       Florescent Lights:  

Carrie shared a price sheet from HTR-Group with the members.  Carrie said that HTR charges the state .04 cents per foot for recycling florescent light bulbs.  The cost would be .12 cents per foot for Downtown Jefferson City members, and there would be a $50.00 charge every for each pickup.  Carrie though that the $50.00 charge is impractical when a business may only have a few bulbs.   

It was mentioned about partnering with businesses such as Central Bank.  Dean said that the City of Jefferson does not have a program.  He suggested that someone contact Scott Marion at Wal-mart.  Carrie said that she will contact Central Bank and Wal-mart. 

Reg asked if we could offer the service to Downtown Jefferson City.  He said that it would require a storage site.  He suggested pickup every six months.   

Members weighed the recycling costs and benefits, and discussed what charges would be acceptable to encourage participation.    

Jennifer said that Motorsports has a vacant building which has a garage door.  She will check on whether the building could be used for storing florescent bulbs.  She will report back to the committee. 

Reg said that the committee would need to determine how to charge.  Carrie suggested a two tier rate as a possibility (one for Downtown Jefferson City members and a higher rate for non-members).  

Reg noted that volunteers would be needed.  Jennifer offered the idea of having a bin and letting participant deposit funds into a container to cover the expense such as an honor system.  

Kris said that the City of Jefferson piggybacks on state contracts.  She asked Dean if the City of Jefferson could look into this.  

Jennifer said that she would work with Carrie and Dean. 

d.      Habitat for Humanity Can Cottage: 

Reg asked about the status of the repair work to the can cottage.  Dean said that he had spoken Habitat for Humanity and that they will do the repairs when they can.  

e.       Adding Person to get Monthly Minutes: 

Carrie mailed Steve Picker’s email address to Lee.  Steve’s email address was added to the list of persons who receive the monthly committee minutes via email. 

Carrie said that Jim Dyke added the recycle icon to the Downtown Jefferson City’s web page. 

5.      New Business: 

a.       Newspaper Article on Recycling Computer Equipment. 

Members remarked about Kris’ article in the November 12, 2006, News Tribune.  Kris noted that there is currently no charge to drop off computer equipment at the Columbia, Missouri site.  Kris said that she will add the facility’s time schedule to a “Recycling Tips” article. 

b.      Maps. 

Carrie asked Kris if the New Tribune can find a spot in the paper to put a map of recycling locations.  Kris said she would look for a spot if possible.  Carrie mentioned that she left a message for Deanne Fisher to call her.  

c.       M.R.S. Recycling Services, Inc.

Mike Kauflin, Sales Representative, from M.R.S. discussed the services that M.R.S. provides.  Mike said that M.R.S. can place a recycling container in business to accept any sort of paper including phone books and text books (includes bound books).  No food, plastics or aluminum are to be placed in the container.  He noted that there is no charge for this service, and M.R.S. will pickup the container within 24 hours of the request.  M.R.S. does not accept glass—Mike did not know of any company that is currently accepting glass in the local area.  

Jennifer asked Mike if a business must have a contract with them.  Mike said that they generally have contracts to provide the bin and pickup service.  On occasion, M.R.S. picks up paper without a contract if a business has a lot of boxed up paper or books and calls them.  

Mike said that they work with the schools.   They have a contract with the public schools.  He stated that they are trying to redo the contract with the public school system.  Currently they are charging the school system to pickup the bins and would like to make the service free.  Dean said that some times Allied Waste has picked up cardboard. 

M.R.S. also picks up clothing.  It is then sorted and bailed.  Some is sent overseas, and some is sent to be used for rags and stuffing materials such as in car seats.  M.R.S. also gets clothing from the Salvation Army.  

Mike noted that M.R.S. has given New World Recycling plastic and aluminum in the past and that they cooperate on some things.   

Carrie asked Mike about grants to place containers in the downtown area for recycling plastic bottles and aluminum cans.  Mike said that M.R.S. does not have small containers with small opening for handling bottles and cans.  Mike also noted that recycling containers for beverages takes a lot of maintenance.   

Carrie and Kris asked Mike to provide a company flyer or list regarding services that M.R.S. provides. 

d.      Phone Books 

Members discussed the problem with having a site to deposit phone books (this had been a topic in a past meeting.)  Carrie said that she had spoken with Lance Stegeman of Exchange Bank.  Exchange Bank will accept a container at their West facility if it is attractive. 

Mike said that M.R.S. will accept phone books.  Mike said that the bin may not be the most eye pleasing item for placement at a bank. Carrie said that she will contact Lance about this.

Dean noted state employees usually have drop off places within state building for phone books.   

Reg asked Mike if M.R.S. could place a bin in the parking garage.  Mike noted that the bins would have to be accessible for the company truck drivers to get to.  Mike noted that their containers are not big containers such as the ones that Allied Waste has for picking up large amounts of waste.   

Jennifer is going to contact the News Tribune.  Jennifer will ask them if it possible for M.R.S. to place a bin for recycling phone books near the current cardboard and newspaper recycle container.   The M.R.S. bin would need to be clearly marked for phone books. 

e.       Full Containers 

Carrie said that she went to three different recycling sites in Jefferson City.  The designated sections for cardboard were full.  Jennifer noted that it is very inconvenient to go to more than one site to drop off items.   

Dean noted that New World is fulfilling the contract.  Dean noted that the pick up dates are: Monday and Friday at Memorial Park, Monday at the Fire Station on Fairgrounds Road, Tuesday at McKay Park and the Fire Station on High Street, and Wednesday at the Fire Station on McCarty Street.  Dean also stated that City is getting additional bins and are deciding on the locations. 

Dean stated that New World Recycling has also experienced problems at their facility.  Sometimes customers place trash and cardboard on the ground when during the times that the business is closed.  Dumping is a violation of city ordinance.  

f.        Miscellaneous. 

Some members discussed the amount of plastic and aluminum containers used at sporting events and the importance of recycling.  Carrie suggested that the News Tribune might consider doing a recycling tips article before a game. 

Jennifer provided a sheet from New World Recycling that lists the items they accept.

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for December 11, 2006, 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.