Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board Agenda Item #1
Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board
Minutes
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
Metro Counties Government Center
Members Present:
Commissioner Jim Kordiak, Anoka County
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County
Commissioner Susan Haigh, Ramsey County
Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, Ramsey County
Commissioner Dennis Berg, Anoka County
Commissioner Dennis Hegberg, Washington County
Commissioner Don Maher, Dakota County
Commissioner Jim Ische, Carver County
Commissioner Randy Johnson, Hennepin County
Commissioner Dick Stafford, Washington County
Sherry Enzler, OEA
Others Present:
Barry Schade, Dakota County
Zack Hansen, Ramsey County
Don Chapdelaine, SKB
Judy Hunter, Washington County
Ryan O’Gara, SKB
Barry Tilley, Dakota County
Brad Fields, Anoka County
Kevin Johnson, Lindquist & Vennum
Paul Smith, OEA
Don Kyser, OEA
Phil Eckhert, Hennepin County
Don Donkers, Ramsey County
Mike Lein, Carver County
John Jaimez, Materials Productivity
Sandra Hussbaum, Hennepin County
Mary Richardson, RRA
Peggy Aho, RRA
Lori Lagus, RRA
Jan Lucke, RRA
Linda Gondringer, RRA
Agenda Item #1. Minutes of the January 23, 2002 Meeting.
Commissioner Kordiak made a motion to approve the January 23, 2002 minutes with the addition of Commissioner Stafford listed under members present. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Reinhardt and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Agenda Item #2. Checks and Claims.
Commissioner Kordiak made a motion to ratify the Checks and Claims. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Siegfried and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Agenda Item #3. Management and Policy.
Barry Tilley gave an update on the various House and Senate Files and their Committee and amendment statuses. Mr. Tilley handed out a draft of SF2575/HF2792 relating to the environment and providing for the indemnification of municipalities participating in household hazardous waste programs, and noted that he feels that it will pass. Mr. Tilley also noted that HF2888 and SF2770 came about based on recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Task Force.
Agenda Item #4. Needs Assessment Committee.
Mary Richardson noted that the OEA is currently reviewing the request of a CON for 6 million cubic yards of additional disposal capacity at the Pine Bend Landfill. Ms. Richardson noted that the OEA has requested input from the SWMCB on this CON and the SWMCB Needs Assessment Committee considered the CON at its February meeting. Ms. Richardson noted that it was the Needs Assessment Committee’s recommendation that the SWMCB support in concept the expansion of capacity at the Pine Bend Landfill and the OEA issueance of a CON. Ms. Richardson noted that the Committee further recommended that the comments submitted to the OEA by the SWMCB clarify that the SWMCB’s recommendation addresses only tbe need for capacity not local zoning and permitting issues which fall within the authority of the city and county; and that the SWMCB is concerned that the OEA's assessment of need for landfill capacity did not assume that the region would reduce the amount of waste generated over the next 10 years as set forth in the Policy and Master Plans.
Paul Smith handed out a preliminary OEA staff recommendation for the CON for the Pine Bend Landfill. Mr. Smith also gave a overhead presentation showing numbers used in the OEA analysis. Mr. Smith noted that in the OEA’s analysis, the following issues were looked at: waste generation, projected recycling and resource recovery; and capacity of landfills. The OEA assumed that landfills would continue to receive 2.6 percent of MSW per year, and that MSW would continue to leave Minnesota. The OEA did not use source reduction goals, since they could not verify the numbers. Commissioner Hegberg asked if the OEA took into consideration that the Ramsey/Washington facility may not be operating in the future. Mr. Smith noted that the OEA assumes that Ramsey/Washington resource recovery facility will continue to operate. Mr. Smith noted that the OEA Director would issue the final findings of fact sometime around March 15.
Commissioner Siegfried asked what the design of the liners and covers would be for the expansion part of the landfill. Don Kyser responded that the OEA is not proposing anything other than the standard landfill facilities. He also noted that the PCA is looking at leachate data to determine if leachate practices need to be changed. Commissioner Siegfried asked if the percent of total volume that is required for daily cover will be followed. Paul Smith noted that the OEA assumes that 15% of capacity would be cover material.
Commissioner Maher asked why the second part of the comments being recommended by the SWMCB needs to be included in the comments. Chair Haigh noted that one reason is that the real role of the Policy Plan is that it helps member make decisions with regards to its various goals and issues that face the members. Chair Haigh noted that she thought the waste reduction comment was being offered with the idea that the OEA and the SWMCB could tie Policy Plan goals to their actions.
Commissioner Maher made a motion that comment 2 be deleted from the Needs Assessment Committee memo on Pine Bend Certificate of Need. Commissioner Reinhardt noted that it is a matter of documentation. Sherry Enzler noted that the Attorney General’s office is concerned that the OEA does not have any trend data or hard numbers for waste reduction.
Commissioner Maher made a motion that the SWMCB support in concept the expansion of capacity at the Pine Bend Landfill and the OEA issuance of a CON. Commissioner Siegfried seconded the motion, the motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Mary Richardson noted that the OEA is also reviewing permit applications for additional transfer station capacity from Vasko Rubbish and Walters Recycling and Refuse Service and that the OEA is requesting the SWMCB input on the permit applications. Ms. Richardson noted that the Needs Assessment had considered the permit application at its February meeting and is recommending that the SWMCB take no action on the permit application. Paul Smith gave an overhead presentation of the proposed MSW transfer stations. Ms. Smith noted that the finding of fact should be out the 3rd or 4th week of March.
Commissioner Stafford asked if there is plenty of transfer station capacity in the region, and if for example, Vasko was maxed out, would haulers be told to take their MSW elsewhere. Paul Smith noted that the OEA looked at the system on a metro basis not at a company’s ability to compete. Sherry Enzler noted that haulers are currently asked to seek out existing capacity. Commissioner Kordiak noted that Anoka County wants to stay neutral on this issue and that they want to make sure that the competition in the industry is still available. Chair Haigh noted that one of the flaws in this process is capacity issues and it does not allow for the regions needs, therefore, the SWMCB will not be making a recommendation at this time. Mr. Smith noted that has always been a problem with the process.
Commissioner Siegfried made a motion that the SWMCB recommend to the OEA that the OEA grant and/or seriously consider the permit application. The motion failed to receive a second. Commissioner Stafford made a motion to accept the Needs Assessment Committee’s recommendation that the SWMCB take no action on the transfer station issue. Commissioner Kordiak seconded the motion. The motion passed on a voice vote. Commissioner Siegfried opposed.
Agenda Item #5. Reduction and Recycling.
Judy Hunter introduced John Jaimez, Materials Productivity, LLC, who gave a presentation on the final report on the demonstration projects to analyze office paper waste reduction. Mr. Jaimex noted that the full report is available upon request and it will also be posted on the SWMCB’s web site.
Mr. Jaimez noted that the SWMCB chose two businesses (Agribank and Cities Management, Inc.) with diverse office environmental to serve as the pilot sites to demonstrate: feasibility of paperless business practices; a potential for greater efficiency in paper use; and, the cost savings that might be achieved from these approaches. Mr. Jaimez noted that both demonstration sites confirmed what other studies have found and that is that the costs of using paper far outweigh the cost of the paper itself, that the cumulative cost of using paper steadily increase as the paper moves through multiple uses (printing, copying, mailing and storage). Mr. Jaimez noted that the report recommends that the SWMCB: offer on-site technical assistance; financial assistance which may increase the incentive for the purchase and installation of equipment and software which would facilitate paper efficiency in businesses; research off-site technical assistance; and institute policy initiatives because businesses look to counties to lead by example.
Commissioner McLaughlin asked if any of the member counties had done a paper usage count. Ms. Hunter replied none that she knew off hand, but that she would check. Sherry Enzler noted that the OEA is concerned that the SWMCB only looked at the public sector. Mr. Jiamez noted that there is greater bang for the buck with working with public sector on office paper than working with the private sector, and that work with public sector helps lay the groundwork for working with the private sector. Chair Haigh noted the importance of encouraging the private sector to reduce office paper.
Judy Hunter thanked Dan Donkers from Ramsey County for taking the lead on this project.
Judy Hunter gave the update on activities on behalf of Commissioner Reinhardt. Ms. Hunter noted that the SWMCB had received 18 proposals in response to its RFP for community POWER (partners on waste education and reduction) grant programs. Ms. Hunter noted that there is $55,000 available for this program.
Ms. Hunter also noted that there are 13 compost bin events scheduled from April 12 to May 29. Ms. Hunter further noted that Commissioner Reinhardt is currently working with OEA staff to discuss Qwest’s collection of old phone books. Commissioner Johnson asked where old phone books currently go when they are thrown out. Ms. Hunter noted that Qwest is supposed to recycle them.
Agenda Item #6. Toxicity Reduction.
Commissioner Kordiak noted that the latex paint citizen brochure is nearly completed, and should be ready for distribution within the next few weeks. The brochure will communicate the message that latex paint should be recycled, and the best way to get it recycled is for citizens to properly manage it, don’t let it freeze, keep the lid on tight, and bring to a citizen drop-off site for recycling. Commissioner Kordiak passed around a mock up of the brochure for review.
Commissioner Kordiak noted that a electronics bill had been introduced in a House Committee by Representative Ozment and that he had testified on behalf of the SWMCB in support of the bill, which included: a ban on the disposal of electronic products in the mixed waste stream (starting in July, 2004); procurement requirements related to State purchase of electronics; and product stewardship mandates for manufacturers if a national agreement cannot be reached by July 2003. Commissioner Kordiak noted that a letter and fact sheet on the growing problem of discarded electronics was sent to each member of the metropolitan legislative delegation and that the Committee’s focus this year will be on continuing participation in the national effort (NEPSI). Commissioner Kordiak noted that the next NEPSI meeting is scheduled to take place in Washington, DC in mid-March and that a June meeting of NEPSI is being planned for St. Paul, which he hopes several SWMCB members will be able to attend.
Commissioner Kordiak noted that Product Stewardship for Latex Paint marketing efforts are continuing, with the goal of finding at least three major new uses for recycled content paint (RCP) this year (in addition to counties following through on their commitments to use RCP).
Commissioner Kordiak noted that a VSQG Database prototype is presently being tested and that data entry work will be completed by Hennepin County. The database is on track for full implementation by March 25, 2002.
Commissioner Kordiak noted that counties have identified an important initiative that may be brought back to the SWMCB to add to their 2002 work plan, and that is looking at developing unified regulatory recommendations for hospitals. Hospitals are important from a hazardous waste perspective due to the many operations that occur within their walls. Commissioner Kordiak noted that hospitals are a significant source of mercury, dioxin, and other toxic and hazardous wastes and that they nationwide produce 6,600 tons of waste per day, and medical waste incinerators are the third largest source of mercury and fourth largest contributor of dioxin to the environment. Commissioner Kordiak further noted that work performed by Ramsey County has identified that there is a lack of knowledge and understanding on the part of hazardous waste regulators regarding the types and quantities of waste generated by healthcare institutions. Commissioner Kordiak noted that staff will be meeting soon to develop an approach, and an update will be brought to a future meeting.
Agenda Item #7. Other.
Chair Haigh asked staff to look into holding the next SWMCB meeting at the same location as the AMC conference at the Radisson Hotel.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.