LINCOLN RECYCLING COMMITTEE
February 19, 2004
Present were: Peg Elliott (Chairman), Sandy Bradlee, Julie Pugh, Inge Richardson and Christopher Coleman
Minutes
1. Minutes of the January 15th meeting were approved. The special collection of old sneakers will not take place. Sneakers will be deposited with other clothing in the Red Cross collection box at the Transfer Station. The Red Cross container is the only one remaining at the Transfer Station, as the other agencies did not clear out their boxes frequently enough.
2. Update on the Green Fair:: Prior to this meeting, Anna told us that she and Jane are handling all the arrangements for the Fair. They will involve volunteers such as this committee the week prior to the Fair.
3. Bottle collection and signage: Chris reported that he has talked with Vinnie about getting signs for the battery collection and the redeemable bottles and cans. He told us that Vinnie has been on sick leave, and is currently on vacation.
4. Girl Scouts: Sandy reported that she has twice called the Leader (Sheila Long) and has left messages which were not returned. There is only one fifth grade teacher involved. Sandy wants to reach all the other classes. Chris communicates with the Girl Scouts through Jamie Atkins for delivery of Town Reports and says she’s very organized. Peggy will call Jamie to see if the Girl Scouts have a “Public Service” chairman. There was a brief discussion of an appropriate recycling kind of gift for the students who help teach. (perhaps a canvas bag with logo ‘Lincoln Recycles’).
5. Co-mingling update. Chris reported that he and Vinnie have been talking with several businesses to find a single convenient location where the Highway Department could deposit all the Town’s recyclables and make some guaranteed revenue for the Town. It is hoped that residents will be able to separate our paper with cardboard, and then collect our glass and plastics and tin cans in one additional container. This arrangement of only two categories would make recycling easier for residents. Chris emphasized that paper is the largest tonnage fee we receive. He would like to see an annual paper revenue of $10,000. A company called FCR in Charlestown promises to send the Town a contract.
6. The Transfer Station is running pretty well without our winter volunteers. Dennis Botelho, transfer station attendant, always appreciates help with the many chores at the end of the afternoon. On January 20th, Peggy and Julie compiled and mailed the new schedule to all the volunteers
7. New Business:
a) There was a discussion about the newly revised 2-page Recycling Guidelines to be mailed out to Lincoln’s 3,000 households next month with the Town’s Financial Warrant. Since the co-mingling option is going to change during the next few months, the Committee voted against mailing these guidelines. After co-mingling is a fact, we’ll post the new guidelines in all of Lincoln’s public buildings. Should we mail them also? Could they be included with the next tax or water bills?
b) Town Meeting (March 27 and April 3rd) Could/should we staff a table outside the Brooks Auditorium door before the meeting and during lunch break? We might be able to recruit more volunteers, and we can hand out our revised Guidelines.
c) Lincoln Review: Betty Smith (editor) requests a 400 word description of each Town Committee’s activities to be included in her free issue which will be available at Town Meeting. Inge volunteered to write a piece and send it to Betty.
d) Cans for Cancer: Inge showed us the financial reports she requested from the organization. She’s still not clear about the allocation of funds derived from our contributions of redeemable cans and bottles. All the publications focus on prostate cancer. Does Lincoln receive a receipt? Peggy and Inge will pursue this inquiry.
Respectfully submitted,
Julia Pugh
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