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Solid Waste Management Division

MINUTES

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION

Monday, October 27, 2003

Solid Waste Management Center, 1201 Second Street

 

Chairperson Carrie Sprague called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

 

  1. Roll Call:

Commissioners Present:    Jay Miyazaki, Carrie Sprague

Commissioners Arriving After Roll Call:      Howard Chong (7:28 p.m.)

Commissioners Absent:     Jon Bauer, Susan Blachman

Staff:                                Becky Dowdakin (Secretary), Tom Farrell

Members of the Public:     Jeff Belchamber, Dan Sicular

  1. Comments from the Public:  None

     

  2. Announcements:  None

     

  3. New Business:

  4. Staff Report on Program Development for Annual Cleanup Alternative

Tom Farrell, Manager of Recycling and Solid Waste, distributed handouts that included three photos of annual cleanup set outs, and a table illustrating components of the existing system and the proposal staff is developing.  Farrell reviewed the history of the annual cleanup service, the problems with the current program, and the goals of the replacement program.  The new program might include special fees for some items that are not included in the existing program and cannot be landfilled, such as tires and televisions.  Miyazaki argued that it was important to not lose the reuse portion of the existing program and suggested that a City-wide garage sale be offered again.  Commissioners also suggested that neighborhood debris boxes be offered free or at a discount.  Farrell said that staff would return with a program proposal for an Annual Cleanup Pilot Project and seek a recommendation from the Commission for Council support.

  1. Approval of the Minutes from the September 22, 2003 Meeting:  M/S Chong/Miyazaki to approve minutes of September 22, 2003 with one spelling correction; approved 3/0/0.

     

  2. New Business:

  3. Staff Report on Discrepancy Sources

At the request of Commission at their September 22, 2003 meeting, staff investigated discrepancies between incoming and outgoing transfer station tonnage figures for plant debris and refuse.  Dowdakin reported that the discrepancy for refuse is typically less than five percent, and staff believes that this difference is an acceptable margin of error.  However, data indicate incoming plant debris tonnage exceeds outgoing plant debris tonnage by more than 10 percent.  A variety of operational issues might be contributing to this difference, including, data entry errors, redirection of contaminated loads, loading of plant debris into refuse trailers under unusual circumstances.  Miyazaki pointed out that drainage of liquid from food waste might also contribute to the difference, as would evaporation.  Staff will continue to investigate and correct operational problems if found.

  1. Response to Commission Request for Information on Education Spending

No one from Ecology Center was available to present the education spending information that was requested by the Commission at their September 22, 2003 meeting, but has agreed to provide the information as part of their quarterly report presentation at the November 24, 2003 meeting.

  1. Discussion of Work Plan Implementation

Sprague opened the discussion by suggesting that the Commission focus on in-house recycling programs and procedures, diversion of waste from debris box services, and improving waste diversion in the Berkeley Unified School District.  Miyazaki objected to staff issuing the RFP for the Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) without input from the Commission on the scope of services.  Chong would like the Commission, and the SWMP, to focus on education/information programs that address obstacles to participation in the waste diversion programs, and invite the public to care about the programs.  M/S Chong/Miyazaki to address the Annual Cleanup, special clean ups, recycling in City facilities, and staff recommendation for Commission work plan discussion schedule.  Approved 3/0/0.

  1. Old Business:

  2. Discussion of Litter Issues Related to Recycling Services

This item was postponed without discussion until the next meeting by unanimous consent.

  1. Staff Updates:  On October 14, 2003, City Council passed a resolution directing staff to develop a  Precautionary Principle Ordinance that included, in part, an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Policy.  City staff has already developed a draft EPP policy, with assistance from the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, which has been circulating in-house for comment.  The EPP policy may be able to proceed without waiting for the development of the Precautionary Principal Ordinance.  The SWMC will likely have a role in reviewing all parts of the ordinance and policy being developed at Council’s behest.  The California Integrated Waste Management Board has not yet released all the data required for filing of the Annual Disposal and Diversion Report.  Berkeley’s disposal tonnage in 2002 dropped 14,000 tons compared to 2001, or about 10 percent.  The City’s engineering staff is continuing to develop management plans for soil, ground water and storm water for the Plant Debris Project, which remains on hold.   Staff attended a workshop in Sacramento regarding the implementation of SB20 Electronics Legislation, which established a deposit and rebate system for computer monitors.  The state Department of Toxics Substance Control is developing the regulations, and so far it appears that any entity accepting computers will be still allowed to charge a fee to do so, but the flow of funds from deposit to rebate is not yet clear.

     

  2. Future Agenda Items and Meeting Days:  Suggested agenda items for the November meeting includes staff report on recent changes to bottle bill legislation, discussion schedule for work plan items, litter in neighborhoods, in-house recycling services, and neighborhood cleanup pilot.  The next regular meeting will be November 24, 2003.

     

  3. Adjourn:  M/S Miyazaki/Chong to adjourn, 3/0/0, at 9:00 p.m.