City of Lawrence Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board

Subcommittee: Recycling

February 15th, 2006 Meeting Minutes

 

Subcommittee Members Present:

Dickie Heckler, Marie Stockett, Laura Routh

Members Absent:

 

 

Staff Present:

Mollie Mangerich

 

PUBLIC PRESENT:

None

1.     In order to clear up any confusion about the recycling statistics that were a part of the city’s 2004 Recycling Report, Laura asked staff to meet in the future and go over the recycling numbers together so that the board may gain a better understanding of the document.

 

  1. City Regulation of Recycling Haulers and Recycling Centers

 

i)       Laura explained to Mollie the need she sees for recyclers to be licensed by the city:

(a)  To make sure that material is really being recycled and to know exactly where the material is going

(b)  To determine if the business is being managed to the benefit or detriment of the community

(c)   To require the companies agree not to burn, bury, or stockpile material

(d)  To require that companies be properly insured and permitted by state as required

(e)  To require that recycling centers give adequate notice to the city before closing their doors

1.     The Subcommittee believes Wal-Mart gave very little notice of its recycling center closure.

 

ii)     Laura asked Mollie about the current requirements in place for Recycling Haulers.  Mollie said that curbside recycling service providers are asked to submit a business plan.  In exchange, the city will promote their services on the Waste Reduction and Recycling website, outreach events, etc.  Mollie agreed to provide to the subcommittee a list of city requests that are given to Recycling Haulers (see attached).

 

iii)   Development code

(a)  Laura suggested that the Proposed Development Code should address Regulation of Recycling Centers as it already addresses Regulation of Scrap and Salvage Operations.

(b)  Mollie suggested that we speak with Sheila Stogsdill, Interim Planning Director at the Planning Office about this possibility.

 

  1. Laura agreed to draft a Letter of Intention on behalf of the RRCAB, which would explain to the Planning Commission that we plan to provide recommendations regarding the Proposed Development Code.  She also offered to draft a Recommendation Letter and to present it to the RRCAB for review, discussion, and additions. 

 

  1. Meeting with Recycling Haulers

i)                   The Recycling Subcommittee would like to hold a meeting with local Recycling Haulers so that we may discuss current recycling in Lawrence and how to improve recycling in the future.  If any Haulers are opposed to meeting as a group, then we would like to interview those persons individually.

 

ii)       Potential Questions for Recycling Haulers

(a) How did the closure of Wal-Mart’s Recycling Center affect you?

(b) What is your opinion of a city curbside recycling program, where the city would contact the work out to local Recycling Haulers?  Would you be able to handle any increased business?

(c)   How can we get more recycling activity within the community?

 

iii)      Mollie suggested that the Recycling Subcommittee present this idea to the RRCAB and ask the board to support this effort.

 

iv)        In an effort to learn more about the local Recycling Haulers, the Recycling Subcommittee requested that Mollie provide copies of their business plans to the subcommittee if available.

 

  1. Citizen Recycling Questionnaire

i)                   In an effort to learn more about the needs, opinions, and ideas that citizens hold regarding recycling in Lawrence, the Recycling Subcommittee would like to ask the RRCAB to support an effort to distribute questionnaires to neighborhood associations and other community organizations.  Laura has agreed to work on a list of questions and present them to the board for discussion.