2018 01-12 Special MeetingCity of Meridian
Solid Waste
IV/
Advisory Commission
A CITY OF MERIDIAN
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
Friday, January 12, 2018
1:30 P.M. — 3:15 P.M.
Meridian City Hall, Council Chambers
33 East Broadway Avenue
Meridian, Idaho
208-888-4433
Call to Order 1:30p.m.
2. Roll -call Attendance:
A. Voting Members
O Cheryl Caldwell
X Mark Nelson
X Steve Cory
X Karie Glenn
X Dave Neal
B. Ex Officio Members
X Genesis Milam
X Megan Larsen
X Andrea Pogue
X J. Scott Walters
X Victoriah Madrigal, youth member
X Rachele Klein (Republic Services)
3. Approval of the Agenda: `
Commissioner Larsen made motion to approve the agenda as published.
Motion was seconded by Commissioner Walters. All ayes, motion carried.
4. Presentation: Boise's Orange Bag Program, by Catherine Chertudi, Boise Public Works
Environmental Division Solid Waste Programs Manager
Catherine Chertudi was unable to attend today's meeting. Haley Falconer from City of Boise
presented and took questions.
Keep America Beautiful Grant resulted from Happy Family brands approaching City of Boise
about partnering with them to "redirect" some forms of recyclables for conversion to agriculture
grade diesel fuel. ; Grant is for 2 years with 50K total; residential only the I" year; 1 st round of
required bags will be provided by City of Boise. Overall expected cost to Boise will be 600-700k
for rollout of this program; slated to start in April 2018.
Why did Boise decide to wait to implement any recycling changes until April?
Boise just received confirmation of the grant on or about 12/18/17; they didn't want to make
multiple changes to the program and confuse their customers.
Dave Dean from Western Recycling came to podium to answer questions as well.
Shipping materials to Seattle for Optic sorting. They are removing 1-2, but 3-7 are stacking up.
He is not sure what is happening with those materials at this point.
Steve Cory requested solid numbers. Konrad with Republic reports that Western provided them
with 2256.52 tons per year plastics from residents throughout the Treasure Valley. There is an
additional 937.53 tons per year of plastics from Commercial customers. Based on Konrad's
information there is no breakdown of 3-7 plastics
With Boise waiting to make changes, what negative affect will that have to Meridian's recycling
efforts since we are trying to clean up now? (No direct answer given)
3-7 plastics equates to approximately 10% of all plastics collection with plastic film being 1 % of
that 10%.
5. Presentation on technology to convert #347 plastics to diesel fuel and/or discussion with:
Renewlogy representative
Postponed; as the Rep was not contacted and scheduled for this meeting.
6. Presentation and/or discussion with: Republic Services representative regarding logistics
and potential positive and/or negative impacts of launching an Orange Bag program in
Meridian from RS's perspective; and current status of public outreach and marketing
efforts re: implemented changes to Meridian's residential plastics recycling program and
related issues.
7. Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 24, 2018
8. Adjournment 3:35pm
(AUDIO RECORDING OF THESE PROCEEDINGS ON FILE)
APPROVED:
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STEVE CORY, CHAT DATE
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C.Jay Coles, CITY CLERK
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Karie Glenn
From:
Andrea Pogue
Sent:
Tuesday, January 09, 2018 10:41 AM
To:
Mark Nelson
Cc: Cheryl Caldwell; Genesis Milam; Karie Glenn; Meg Larsen; Scott Walters; stcory@q.com;
Victoriah Madrigal; Dave Neal; RKLEIN RKLEIN; C.Jay Coles; Barbara Shiffer
Subject: RE: Chair Calls for SWAC Special Meeting on Friday, 1:30-2:30 pm
Steve, Rachele, other Commissioners, and the Clerk's Office:
We have a quorum for a SWAC Special Meeting to be held in Council Chambers this Friday, January 12, 2018 from 1:30-
2:30. 1 will get the Agenda prepared for posting and circulation later today. SWAC Commissioners who have committed
to attending are:
Steve Cory
Scott Walters
Andrea Pogue
Meg Larsen
Dave Neal
Anyone else who can make it would be appreciated. Genesis can come which is awesome.
Action Plan:
1, Clerk's Office: Please schedule the Chambers for SWAC's use at the day/time mentioned above.
2. Rachele: Please confirm that the folks we need to hear from are available by phone by 1:45. The first 15 minutes we
can discuss what questions we want to ask.
3. Topic to be Discussed: In response to China's Green Sword Initiative, instead of calling for immediate diversion of
plastics 3-7 to the landfill like Ada County and other local municipalities have done, including Meridian, Boise adopted a
different approach based on a $25,000 grant they were awarded to launch a pilot "Orange Bag" program later this
spring. The different approaches have caused lots of confusion which the Mayor's Office has asked SWAC to help sort
out as well as to analyze independently Meridian's options as to this pilot program. We will be relying on our solid
waste partner, Republic Services, to assist with the heavy lifting of this assignment.
As I understand it, the "Orange Bag" program is intended to capture plastics 3-7 from the landfill and divert them to the
Utah company, Renewology, that has a way to covert those plastics to diesel fuel. I have heard that the grant money
covers the purchase of orange bags for all Boise residents for one year, all marketing outreach materials, and maybe
even the cost of shipping to Utah. That will have to be confirmed.
I also have heard everything from "Meridian can jump on this grant bandwagon for no extra cost to our residents" to
"our residents could opt in, but they would have to buy their own orange plastic bags"(which aren't even being sold
locally (yet)). I don't know yet whether or not it is too late for Meridian to apply for a similar grant this year, or whether
we could next year, etc. This is what SWAC has to sort out.
separate issue for Meridian is to do its own due diligence re: the Utah company's technology and the program they are
"offering. I have heard everything from "they can take the orange bags without a tipping fee and provide the
municipalities lists of buyers for the diesel produced" to "they have a limited 10 ton capacity to process the material, but
would gladly sell one of their $4 million dollar units to any locality wishing to process more tonnage." 1 have not heard
any details related to the quantity of fuel that they can create per ton of plastic material or what would be the cost of
that fuel, etc. Whether good or bad remains to be seen, but what I think I am discerning from all that I've heard is that
this company is in the business not to charge tipping fees, process plastics into diesel fuel for resale, but rather to sell
their technology ("processing units."). All this too needs to be sorted out.
I am sure SWAC will need several meetings to handle this assignment so all commissioners will have a chance to learn
about all the relevant issues and help drive the research and discussion needed to ultimately make a recommendation
to CC about whether or not Meridian should adopt/participate in this program.
Commissioners who cannot attend this Friday are welcome to forward questions to me before Friday that you would like
to be asked.
Thanks.
Andrea
From: Mark Nelson
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2018 8:03 PM
To: Andrea Pogue
Ce: Cheryl Caldwell; Genesis Milam; Karie Glenn; Meg Larsen; Scott Walters; stcory@q.com; Victoriah Madrigal; Dave
Neal; RKLEIN RKLEIN
Subject: Re: Chair Calls for SWAC Special Meeting on Friday, 1:30-2:30 pm
I will verify if I can make it. I have a HHW meeting Friday from 9:30-1:30.
On Jan 8, 2018 5:02 PM, "Andrea Pogue" <apogue@meridiancity.org> wrote:
Commissioners,
There have been a significant number of questions sent to City Hall about plastics recycling and the differences
between Boise and Meridian. Due to the volume of calls, emails, etc., SWAC has been asked by the Mayor's
Office to meet in the next week to consider Boise's planned project to recycle number 3 through 7 plastics
leading to decisions by Meridian SWAC on whether to participate and, if yes, how deeply.
We have determined this Friday from 1:30-2:30 is a time where the subject experts could present to us.
Please reply to Andrea or I if you would attend a meeting Friday 1:30-2:30 in the Meridian Town Hall Council
Chambers. We hope to nail clown the details by tomorrow so your prompt reply would be appreciated.
Thanks for your consideration, and I'm sorry for the short notice,
Steve Cory
City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: 208-888-4433
www. meridiancit".or
Karie Glenn
From: Andrea Pogue
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2018 10:47 AM
To: Andrea Pogue; Cheryl Caldwell; Genesis Milam; Karie Glenn; Mark Nelson; Meg Larsen;
Scott Walters; stcory@q.com; Victoriah Madrigal; Dave Neal
Subject: FW: Energy Bag Facility
Commissioners:
Rachele has provided the link to Renewlogy, the Utah company that will be taking Boise's "orange bags" of #-7 plastics
to covert into diesel fuel. Please take the time to access their information in advance of Friday so you can bring
questions on Friday to ask their representative (who will be available by phone).
Thank you.
Andrea
From: RKLEIN RKLEIN
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2018 9:48 AM
To: Andrea Pogue
Subject: Energy Bag Facility
http://www.renewlogy.com/
1
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New Recycling Policy Frequently Asked Questions§, <}
Why are these changes happening?
Recycling is an international issue — and new policies being deployed by China to ban plastics
(called the National Sword program) and the problem of contamination of recyclables are
affecting people across the globe, especially here in the U.S. The results of these issues means
there's simply no place that will take and process some of the plastic recyclables—namely the
lower -grade plastics.
Who is impacted by these changes?
Changes in municipal programs are happening across the state, country, and world. In Idaho, all
of Ada County will be impacted in one form or another as Republic Services is the City of
Meridian service provider for recyclables and waste, as well as several others in southwest
Idaho.
Why do you have to start this new program so quickly?
Republic Services has recommended the program begin as soon as possible in order to ensure
we are able to recycle as much quality plastic as possible. The changes in the program need to
be implemented or else it is likely good recyclable materials will end up at the landfill. Republic
Services understands it will take customers some time to get accustomed to new guidelines so
the next three months the focus will be on education to improve the overall quality of
recyclables and limit those plastic products that have been problematic.
What will happen if I recycle all plastics?
If all plastics are recycled —there is a greater likelihood that all recyclables (not just plastics) will
end up in the landfill.
What can I recycle?
Plastics numbered 1 and 2 (numbers can be found on the bottom of the items) are recyclable
and generally are empty, clean and dry bottles and jugs of the following variety: milk jugs,
pop/soda bottles, fruit juice bottles and jugs, and detergent jugs. All recyclables should be left
loose in our cart (no bags of any type are allowed in the cart).
Aside from plastics you can recycle paper (newspaper, envelopes, junk mail, phone books,
brochures, magazines), cardboard (ream wrappers, file folders, poster board, clean frozen food
boxes, clean cardboard boxes, clean milk cartons) and aluminum/metal (clean beverage cans,
food cans, scrap metal, pots, pans, tins and utensils.
Again when recycling, please ensure that your recyclables are EMPTY, CLEAN and DRY.
What should I do if I don't know if something is recyclable or not?
In order to reduce the risk of contamination, when in doubt, throw it out. By recycling one
wrong item, it could lead to several items being disposed of in the landfill.
New Recycling Policy Frequently Asked Questions
What
F---
What should I put in the trash?
Residents can no longer recycle plastics numbered 3 through 7 (numbers can be found on the
bottom of the items), which includes items like dairy tubs (yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream),
clamshell containers (often used for berries and restaurant take-out food) condiments, hair
care bottles, and more. Non -numbered items such as lightweight water bottles, filmy plastics
and plastic bags should also be disposed of, as these are the primary culprit in the
contamination of recyclables. Such materials include dry cleaning bags, grocery bags, bubble
wrap, newspaper sleeves, and shrink-wrap packaging.
Why can't the City just raise rates in order to allow more recyclable materials?
Until a solution can be put in place to address where recycled plastics numbered 3-7 in the
United States and abroad can be taken, the continuation of unlimited plastics collection is not
feasible.
Boise is waiting until April — why can't Meridian and the rest of the county?
The City of Meridian is following the recommendation of Republic Services, asking residents to
change recycling habits now, in order to maximize our recycling efforts and avoid co -mingled
items with the wrong plastics ending up in the landfill. Western Recycling (the recycling facility
for the valley) has no buyers for plastics 3-7 and there is no market for those materials as a
result of the National Sword program.
Boise is introducing an Orange Energy Bag Program — is this something Meridian
residents can be part of?
The City of Meridian Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) will review the program to see
how/when or if Meridian residents will be able to opt in to it.
Do Meridian residents pay extra for recycling?
The cost of residential recycling is included in the trash rate. Meridian's rates and programs are
competitive with other local cities within the area.
What benefit does the City receive from recycling?
Meridian is the only local city which receives a percentage of residential recycling net revenues
from Republic Services to fund the Community Recycling Fund. This fund, when profitable from
the sale of recyclable materials, pays for projects that promote recycling and the environment
in the City for the public's benefit.
Does Meridian offer glass recycling?
Meridian is unable to offer a glass recycling program at this time because of the inability of the
local crushing company to process and market more glass material. Meridian's Solid Waste
Advisory Commission regularly monitors local conditions for glass recycling and will build a
program when the opportunity is available.