Agenda Item #1a
Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board
Minutes
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Metro Counties Government Center
Members Present:
Commissioner Susan Haigh, Chair, Ramsey County
Commissioner Dick Stafford, Vice Chair,
Washington County
Commissioner Dennis Berg, Anoka County
Commissioner Jim Kordiak, Anoka County
Commissioner Jim Ische, Carver County
Commissioner Tom Workman, Carver County
Commissioner Joseph Harris, Dakota County
Commissioner Michael Turner, Dakota County
Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Hennepin County
Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, Ramsey County
Commissioner Dennis Hegberg, Washington County
Director Sherry Enzler, OEA
Others Present:
Mike Lein, Carver County
Judy Hunter, Washington County
Zack Hansen, Ramsey County
Brad Fields, Anoka County
Ryan O’Gara, SKB
Angie Timmons, Hennepin County
Amy Briesacher, Anoka County
Jodi Taitt, JL Taitt
Katy Boone, Katy Boone & Associates, Inc.
Dawn Erlandson, North Woods Advertising
Laura Adelmann, Thisweek News
Renee Burman, Dakota County
Barry Tilley, SWMCB
Carl Michaud, Hennepin County
Bruce Forness, Hennepin County
Amy Roering, Hennepin County
Kevin Tritz, Specialized Environmental Tech.
Kevin Johnson, Lindquist & Vennum
Don Chapdelaine, SKB Environmental
Dave Weirens, Association of MN Counties
Mary Richardson, RRA
Kathie Doty, RRA
Jan Lucke, RRA
Peg Aho, RRA
Agenda Item #1. Consent Calendar.
Commissioner Stafford made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 25, 2003 meeting and the Checks and Claims as submitted for approval. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Reinhardt and passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Agenda Item #2. Communication and Outreach.
Dawn Erlandson gave an update on GreenGuardian.com promotional activities. Ms. Erlandson noted that the GreenGuardian.com web site was launched on June 26, 2003. Chair Haigh asked if are any plans for GreenGuardian activities at this years State Fair. Ms. Erlandson noted that the GreenGuardian is scheduled to make at least one appearance at the Fair.
Commissioner Stafford told of his surprise at the reaction of children to the Green Guardian mascot at the launch He noted that money spent on this project will have been well spent if child admiration continues. Angie Timmons gave an update on coordination of Green Guardian activities with the member counties. She noted that the Green Guardian is scheduled for at least 9 appearances this summer and possibly 9 more in the fall and winter months.
Ms. Timmons noted that there have been over 10,000 visits to the GreenGuardian.com web site since the launch. This is an average of 2,400 visits per week. Forty percent of the visits were not referred, meaning the individuals went directly to the web site and did not arrive at the site via a link. Sixty percent of visitors arrived at the site via links, such as Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Washington County, OEA, Hennepin County, Dakota County, Ramsey County, etc. Ms. Timmons noted that the top two visited pages were: Know What To Throw and Know What To Throw: Household Hazardous Waste Items
Judy Hunter and Jodi Taitt gave an update on the Transport Packaging Project. Commissioner Reinhardt noted that the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) Annual Meeting will be held soon. Commissioner Reinhardt noted that SWMCB representatives are meeting with the AF&PA soon to hear its comments on the Reusable Transport Packaging campaign.
Agenda Item #3. Management and Regional Policy.
Zack Hansen noted that the Regional Policy Development Committee had been meeting regularly and has brought before the SWMCB the proposed toxicity, processing, landfilling and organics management policies as developed by the Committee. Mr. Hansen noted that the Committee will bring the remainder of the policies before the Board at the August SWMCB meeting. Director Enzler noted that the OEA is required to report to the Legislature with an updated Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan in 2004
Judy Hunter, Jodi Taitt, Renee Burman, Kevin Tritz and Carl Michaud gave an overview of the five pilot projects for source separated organics composting. Staff briefly highlighted key elements of the projects.
Commissioner Kordiak gave an overview of the 2003/2004 electronic product stewardship action plan. Commissioner Kordiak noted that the goal of this plan is to gain support for state and federal legislation to require manufacturers to participate in the cost of managing end-of-life electronics and to signal to the marketplace that government is not planning to assume responsibility for building a recycling infrastructure. Commissioner Kordiak noted that the SWMCB’s action plan includes strategies for legislative issues, communications, national efforts and collaboration with manufacturers and retailers on collections as opportunities arise. The Electronic Product Stewardship Work Group membership includes: Commissioner Kordiak, Zack Hansen, Amy Roering, Barry Tilley, Phil Eckhert, Kathie Doty and Mary Richardson.
Agenda Item #4. Collaborative Activities: VSQG Program Update.
Bruce Forness, Hennepin County and Mike Lein, Carver County, gave an update on the use of the VSQG database. Commissioner Stafford asked how a new generator would know that they need to register as a VSQG and take part in this program. Mike Lein responded that one way would be trade associations or web site. Bruce Forness noted that household hazardous waste regulations have been in place in Minnesota for 25 years.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.