2022-01-26
Solid Waste Advisory Commission Meeting – Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Page 1 of 1
All Materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
City Council Chambers, 33 East Broadway Avenue Meridian, Idaho
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 4:00 PM
All materials presented at public meetings become property of the City of Meridian. Anyone desiring accommodation for
disabilities should contact the City Clerk's Office at 208-888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Agenda
VIRTUAL MEETING INSTRUCTIONS
To join the meeting online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8364283646
Or join by phone: 1-669-900-6833
Webinar ID: 836 428 3646
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
____ Mark Nelson ____ Megan Larsen
____ Steve Cory ____ Taryn Richmond
____ Scott Walters ____ Rand Spiwak
____ Shawn Keating ____ Isabel Kau
____ Tom Otte
____ Kayleigh Philippi
____ Rachele Klein, Republic Services Ex-Officio
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Approval of October 27, 2021 Minutes
STAFF PROGRAM REPORT
1. CY 2021 Tonnage Report (Staff- Sayard)
2. Events and Holiday Light Recycling Project Updates (Staff- Sayard)
NEW BUSINESS [ACTION ITEMS]
3. CY2021 Annual Report Discussion (Commissioners)
4. Upcoming Commission Business (Commissioners)
STAKEHOLDER UPDATES [ACTION ITEMS]
5. County SWAC Updates (Commissioner- Steve)
NEXT MEETING - February, 23, 2022
ADJOURNMENT
Solid Waste Advisory Commission Meeting – Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Page 1 of 3
All Materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
City Council Chambers, 33 East Broadway Avenue Meridian, Idaho
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 4:00 PM
All materials presented at public meetings become property of the City of Meridian. Anyone desiring accommodation for
disabilities should contact the City Clerk's Office at 208-888-4433 at least 48 hours prior to the public meeting.
Meeting Minutes
VIRTUAL MEETING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iUNxf5mywI
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
X- Mark Nelson X- Megan Larsen- Remote
X- Steve Cory X- Taryn Richmond- Remote
X- Scott Walters X- Rand Spiwak
X- Shawn Keating - Remote X- Kayleigh Philippi
X- Tom Otte- Remote X- Rachele Klein, Republic Services Ex-Officio
MEETING BROUGHT TO ORDER: 4:04pm
ADOPTION OF AGENDA- Approved
Approval of October 27, 2021 Minutes – Approved
STAFF PROGRAM REPORT
1. CY 2021 Tonnage Report (Staff- Sayard)
City Staff outlined 2021 residential curbside recycling tons collected. Curbside
recycling tons collected hasn’t changed significantly throughout the year. The
average per month was 474 tons collected. The recycling curbside diversion rate
was 12%. At the end of December 2021, there was an increase in 1,579 households
that recycle.
For curbside and drop-off grass and leaf recycling collection, the tonnage is
relatively constant from April to August (under 40 tons per month) to a real
increase during fall leaf season to a high of 647 tons in November.
Leaf Recycling Program: Drop-off leaf collection was from October 18th to
December 3rd. Residents could drop-off leaves at 9 park locations, Ada County
Landfill, and the Meridian Transfer Station (MTS). A total of 200 tons was collect
from the parks and MTS. There was less contamination this year compared to last
year. The curbside collection portion ran November 1st to the 19th. There was 609
tons collected.
Solid Waste Advisory Commission Meeting – Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Page 2 of 3
All Materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian
Comparing the leaf recycling program from years 2019, 2020, and 2021: In 2019,
only the curbside program was running. During this time 466 tons of leaves were
collected. In 2020, the drop-off portion was added and total leaves collected
increased to 939 tons; however, 13 tons was landfilled due to high contamination
content. During 2021, a total of 809 tons of leaves were collected with a very low
contamination rate.
2. Events and Holiday Light Recycling Project Updates (Staff- Sayard)
This was a piolet project that ran from December 8th to January 15th. It was only
located at the MTS. Advertisement was minimal and located in the City Parks’
Winter/Spring Activity Guide, on the City’s social media, and City website. Amount
of lights collected filled about a 55-gallon cart. The lights were sent to Pacific Steel
and Recycling. The goal for 2021 year’s project was to develop a process and see
what issues there might have been. Commissioner Otte is interested in replicating
this program at the Ada County Landfill for 2022.
3. Leaf Recycling Program: Commissioner Spiwak conducted research to see if there
was an alternative type of bag to the current paper leaf bags used to collect leaves.
He was looking for a larger bag that could be tied shut. From his research, he found
BPI certified compostable PLA bags. These bags are 60-gallons and are cheaper to
purchase than the paper bags. Spiwak brought in a roll of these bags to show the
Commission. Rachele from Republic Services only concern about these
compostable bags is that they may be too heavy for the driver to collect and may
fall apart from starting to breakdown before being picked up by driver. Rachele is
open to bringing one of these bags to Timbercreek to see if the bags would work in
their composing process.
NEW BUSINESS [ACTION ITEMS]
4. CY2021 Annual Report Discussion (Commissioners)
Commissioner Cory will be adding information about the bike reuse program to
the SWAC annual report. Furthermore, Commissioners did not have any additional
comments about the SWAC’s Annual report.
5. Upcoming Commission Business (Commissioners)
Commissioner Otte suggest that SWAC work on reaching out to stakeholders in the
community to develop more standardize outreach messaging.
Commissioner Philippi commented that SWAC should emphasis outreach towards
young people, such as younger adults and high school age individuals. Work with
schools to introduce more recycling opportunities.
Commissioner Richmond suggest reaching out to real estate firms to coordinate
handing out recycling outreach material to new residents.
Commissioner Rand asked Rachele from Republic if all curbside residential
recycling carts have stickers on lids explaining what’s accepted. Rachele stated that
Republic has been slowly trying to make sure all carts have updated decals but due
to the cold and wet weather, Republic will have to wait until better weather to
resume replacing the decals. Republic will bring their decal prototype to the
February meeting.
Solid Waste Advisory Commission Meeting – Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Page 3 of 3
All Materials presented at public meetings shall become property of the City of Meridian
Staff Schultz asked the Commission how they would like to go about developing
their outreach ideas. Commissioner Philippi commented that social media might
be a way to conduct outreach to younger adults. Commissioner Richmond
suggested that contacting HOA’s and conducting outreach via HOA newsletters
might be an outlet. Rachele suggested reaching out to the Mayor’s office for a HOA
listing. Commissioner Rand suggested doing presentations and training to HOAs.
HOA’s management companies could be a good way to conduct outreach. Already
developed solid waste videos from the City could be used to help explain recycling.
SWAC Commission would like to focus on community outreach for their new
business. Bob from Republic commented that there is this marketing concept of
high, wide, and deep with communication. Due to the diverse population, different
residents prefer different types of communication. Bob stated that Republic is
more than willing to participate in community outreach and communication.
6. Commissioner Spiwak discussed his research on understanding the City’s contract
and associated documents. Spiwak developed a binder with all his research that
the Commissioners could look at. Spiwak will also have available a listing of all the
documents that he reviewed. Spiwak would like staff to look at document, Council
Meeting in March 13, 2012, for clarification as to why SWAC’s role in contract
negotiations was not included in resolution 12-285. Staff Schultz asked Spiwak to
send her those meeting minutes so she could look at it. Staff Schultz commented
that all documents pertaining to the contract are publicly available on the City’s
website and that she could also email specific documents to Commissioners.
Commissioner Cory stated that a good conversation to have in the future would be
how best to communicate the City’s contract and documents to the SWAC
Commissioners.
STAKEHOLDER UPDATES [ACTION ITEMS]
7. County SWAC Updates (Commissioner- Steve)
At the County SWAC meeting, the County made it clear that their goal is to extend
the landfill. Construction and demolition disposal rate are proposed to increase
significantly. Biosolid rates will not change. County Landfill has a new education
and outreach specialist, Rebecca Weeks.
8. Republic Services Feral Cat Program at MTS
Commissioner Cory talked about how Republic has a feral cat program where
Republic will collect feral cats and have them vaccinated and neutered. These cats
are then brought back to the MTS to help reduce vermin or some of the cats are
adopted out to households.
ADJOURNMENT: 5:14pm