Description
Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting Agenda
November 18, 2020, 8:00am – 9:30am
Virtual Meeting
Minute Taker: Sakiko Isomichi
Join by web: https://cambridgema.zoom.us/j/97548560966
Join by phone: (312) 626 6799
Meeting ID: 975 4856 0966
1. Housekeeping, 8:00am (10 min)
• Vote on October Minutes
2. City Updates (25 min)
• Save That Stuff as new contractor
• Small Business Recycle Program expanded; nearly 200 businesses now on City program.
• Single-Use Plastics update
• Proposed regulation changes from MassDEP
o Mattresses and textiles banned from disposal
o Commercial food waste ban more stringent: Commercial entities that generate ½ ton of food waste per week will be required to divert organic waste. (Currently, the limit is 1 ton per week)
3. Chat about Sub-Committees (45 min)
• Food Waste check-in—Shirley
• All sub-committees get together and decide on goals.
4. Closing, 9:20 (10 min)
• Public Comment
• Action Plan/Decisions
• Announcements
Committee members are appointed by the City Manager. All meetings are open to the public. Members of the public may speak during the public comment section for up to two minutes. If you wish to speak, please contact Mike Orr at 617 349-4815 or morr@cambridgema.gov by 1pm the day before the meeting. You may also email or mail written comments for inclusion in public comments in lieu of speaking during the meeting. The Committee Chair must grant permission to non-members who request to speak at the meeting.
Meeting Minutes are located online here: CambridgeMA.Gov/Services/Recycling
Upcoming Meetings in 2020/2021
All meetings will be held virtually until further notice.
• December 9, 2020
• January 13, 2021
• February 10, 2021
• March 10, 2021
• April 14, 2021
• May 12, 2021
• June 9, 2021
Announcement from MassDEP on proposed regulation changes:
Pursuant to MGL c. 111, s. 150A, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is proposing regulatory amendments to 310 CMR 19.000. These amendments would modify the waste ban regulations in 310 CMR 19.000 to add mattresses and textiles as materials banned from disposal, and to lower the threshold of the existing commercial organics material (food materials) waste ban so that it applies to entities that generate one-half (½) ton or more of organic waste for disposal per week (current threshold is 1 ton per week). MassDEP is also proposing changes to its Waste Ban Guidance Document for solid waste facilities, which will be made public for comment along with the proposed regulation changes.
Per Governor Charles D. Baker’s Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, s. 20, dated March 12, 2020, two public hearings will be conducted online and via telephone. The public hearings will be held at the following dates and times:
Monday, November 9, 6:00 PM
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAvf-uspzgqG9aY3yfbjTaiYfJHrHtDGhCN
Thursday, November 12, 10:00 AM
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwkd-6gpjoqEtR52Ef-wm77xTiVbXRlCYme
Please join the public hearing from your computer, tablet or smartphone. You can also dial in using your phone.
Testimony may be presented orally at the public hearing, or written comments may be submitted until 5:00 PM on December 4, 2020. Written comments must be submitted by email to
dep.swmp@mass.gov or via mail to John Fischer, MassDEP, One Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108.
Proposed high level goals for Sub-Committees
1. Subcommittee 1: Food Waste Reduction
a. Task: Increase food waste reduction outreach
i. i.e. 1-pagers on food waste reduction tips to be included in City newsletter, etc.
2. Subcommittee 2: Analytics
a. Task: Draft a community survey to submit to DPW Commissioner for consideration
3. Subcommittee 3: Reuse & Repair
a. Task: Understand reuse & repair resources and opportunities, i.e.
i. Developing a proposal for a community yard sale
ii. Working with Mike to understand the impact of “sharing” resources, i.e. Buy Nothing Cambridge page
iii. Other Circular economy opportunities to promote
4. Subcommittee 4: Consumption Based GHG Research (CPAC/RAC) (subcommittee already established and ongoing discussions continue with CPAC)