Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board

The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m.

Agenda Item #1. Consent Items.

a. Minutes of the May 25, 2005 Meeting and

b. Checks & Claims.

Commissioner Harris made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 25, 2005 meeting and the checks and claims as submitted. Commissioner Reinhardt seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Agenda Item #2. Collaborative Activities.

a. Washington County HHW Front Step Program.

Jeff Travis, Washington County, presented a summary of the Washington County Front Step HHW Collection pilot program. The program was conducted in the fall of 2004 and was promoted to 17,903 households in Woodbury through direct mail registration. Overall, 34,800 pounds of HHW were collected from 382 households over 23 days. While results showed that the program was technically feasible, a convenience fee of $42 would have to be charged to participants for the program to break even ($32 per household for the ongoing program, $10 per household for ongoing registration costs).

Commissioner Reinhardt asked if more waste was being collected per participant through the permanent facility or this program. Jeff Travis commented that in 2004, waste collected at permanent HHW sites averaged 61 pounds per household, while the pilot project's rate of collection was 98 pounds per household.

Commissioner Turner asked if there was computerized logging of household hazardous waste collected. Mr. Travis commented that computerized logging would be recommended for a permanent program, but was not feasible for the pilot program.

Commissioner Stafford asked how the program would be affected by economies of scale if a greater number of people registered. Mr. Travis noted that an optimal day would consist of collecting from 25 to 30 households. The program would not gain any significant economic advantage by increasing beyond that number of households each day.

Commissioner Turner asked how many households have HHW in the SWMCB region. Mr. Travis deferred to Zack Hansen of Ramsey County. Mr. Hansen stated that Ramsey County's bi-annual HHW survey results show that every household may have some type of HHW, though not every household has multiple types of HHW.

Art Dunn asked about next steps. Mr. Travis stated there are no planned next steps at this time. SWMCB commissioners expressed a desire to find an economical method of providing this program. Commissioner Stafford commented that the information presented indicates that HHW collected by SWMCB counties is just the tip of the iceberg, and that counties and the SWMCB still need to search for solutions.

b. Shingles Project Update

Michael Reed, Ramsey County, presented a summary of current efforts in the area of shingle scrap recycling. He commented that shingle scrap recycling rates increased from below 40% in 2004 to over 50% in 2005. Mr. Reed noted that the U.S. EPA named the SWMCB as a partner on the Construction Materials Recycling Association's $74,600 grant award. This grant will fund projects both in Minnesota and Ohio.

Mr. Reed stated that the project asks counties to use tear-off shingle scrap in engineering projects. The ultimate goal is to get Mn/DOT to adopt specifications that allow the use of recycled tear-off shingle scrap in mixed asphalt.

Commissioner Stafford asked if there was any issue with a surplus of manufactured shingle scrap. Mr. Reed noted that there is still a surplus due to contractual agreements; Bituminous Roadways has invested in equipment to use as much as possible but they still have a surplus of scrap.

Commissioner Reinhardt asked where tear-off shingle scrap comes from. Mr. Reed replied that, because of quality control issues and the need to certify the origin of scrap material, staff is currently negotiating with vendors to provide scrap. Tear-off scrap is sorted at a transfer station before being ground for use. Mr. Reed noted that the project status and information would continue to be updated on GreenGuardian.com.

Agenda Item #3. Management and Policy.

a. Proposed Amendment to SWMCB Bylaws

A proposed amendment to the bylaws of the SWMCB was presented. The amendment would establish an Executive Committee. Ms. Richardson noted that the Bylaws can only be amended by Special Resolution, providing that the proposed amendment was submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting. The proposed amendment was submitted in writing at the May 25, 2005 meeting. Commissioner Reinhardt made a motion to accept the amendment to the bylaws as submitted. Commissioner Turner seconded the motion, and the motion passed by Special Resolution unanimously on a voice vote, with Commissioner Reinhardt casting two votes for Ramsey County.

b. Post-Session Policy Issues

Barry Tilley stated that the Legislature: 1) extended the ban on disposing of CRTs with MSW by one year; 2) removed processing credit language previously added that allowed Endres Processing and others to qualify for the credit; and 3) created a Legislative task force that would review solid waste issues (especially e-waste and organic waste). Art Dunn noted that Representative Hackbarth believes the pending shortfall in landfill capacity should also be studied.

i. CRTs

Commissioner Kordiak commented that he, Commissioner Stafford and Barry Tilley met with Representative Swiggum to brief him on the topic of e-waste. Additionally, letters have been sent to the Governor and his Chief Assistant, Dan McElroy. One- to two-hundred calls have been placed to the Governor's office regarding e-waste. Commissioner Kordiak also met with Representative Ozment to discuss the issue. Commissioner Stafford thanked staff for the hard work on e-waste legislation.

ii. Industrial Waste

Commissioner Stafford noted that an Industrial Waste Committee will meet on August 11, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. The location is yet to be determined.

iii. Regional Processing

Kevin Johnson, Lindquist & Vennum, presented an update on regional processing. Mr. Johnson and staff have been meeting with the NRG and Elk River facilities. In April, NRG announced they would be selling the facilities. They issued a memorandum to potential purchasers with a deadline for offers of June 30, 2005.

Commissioner Stafford requested that Mr. Johnson brief the commissioners on a current GreenGuardian.com trademark infringement issue. Mr. Johnson commented that the SWMCB had registered Green Guardian with the State of Minnesota as a service mark two years ago. Within the last two months, a company began using the name Green Guardian to promote its lawn care products. The company has used Green Guardian online and in radio ads, and has formed a corporation using the Green Guardian name. SWMCB attorneys sent cease and desist letters, and are currently in correspondence with the company's attorney. Mr. Johnson said he is hopeful that the SWMCB's documentation will be sufficient to prove the SWMCB's ownership of Green Guardian and GreenGuardian.com.

c. National Recycling Coalition Congress and Exposition

Linda Gondringer, RRA, stated that August 28 through August 31 is the National Recycling Coalition's Congress and Exposition (NRC) in Minnesota. The Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) is the state host. Staff has been working closely with RAM's Paul Gardner and the NRC office to organize various aspects of the conference. Additionally, SWMCB staff has submitted several abstracts to speak on SWMCB projects, and has been invited to speak about the Community POWER project.

Agenda Item #4. Communications and Outreach.

a. Amendment to the Cairn & Associates Agreement for Community POWER.

Phil Eckhert, Hennepin County, presented a contract amendment for Cairn and Associates. The amendment proposes an extension of three months to the 2005 contract to wrap up Round 4 grant activities. Commissioner Harris moved to approve the amendment as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Turner and passed unanimously on a voice vote.

b. Other.

Commissioner Kordiak distributed an article about the Twin Cities Free Market website (www.twincitiesfreemarket.com) that was published in the Star Tribune on June 13, 2005.

Agenda Item #5. Other.

Commissioner Hegberg made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Harris and passed unanimously on a voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

Members Present:

Commissioner Dick Stafford, Washington Co.