Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-03-18 ENR MinutesMINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Monday, March 18, 2024 7:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Guell called a meeting of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission to order at 7:02 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Emma Broadnax, Commissioner Present Rebecca Bryan, Commissioner Present Nancy Edwards, Commissioner Absent Benjamin Guell, Chairperson Present David Lates, Commissioner Present Ted Redmond, Commissioner Present Staff Present Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Redmond moved to approve the February 28, 2024, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Broadnax Ayes – All Nays - None The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. February 28, 2024 Commissioner Bryan moved to approve the February 28, 2024, Environmental and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as written. Seconded by Commissioner Redmond Ayes – Commissioners Bryan, Guell, Lates, Redmond Abstention – Commissioner Broadnax The motion passed. 2 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Tennis Sanitation Recycling Collection Annual Review 1) 2023 Recycling Collection Year End Report 2) 2024 Recycling Collection Work Plan Environmental Planner Finwall presented the report. Willie Tennis and Alexia Hieserich Freund of Tennis Sanitation answered questions of the ENR Commission. The ENR Commission had the following questions and feedback on the Recycling Collection Annual Review: • What is the status of the recycling market? o Last year the market was slow. It took longer to sell the materials. This year the market is picking up and is now stable. Tennis Sanitation works with local recycling companies in Minnesota and the Midwest. • Are there any new products that could be recycled? o Tennis Sanitation takes in more recyclables than any other hauler in the Twin City area including metal pots and pans and large plastic items. There is no market for new products at this time. • The reports are very helpful in understanding what, where, and how much is being recycled in our community. • Do you see the recycling cart sizes increasing? o Yes, we are mostly seeing an increase from 35-gallon to 65-gallon recycling carts. • How will the proposed Minnesota Bottle Bill affect recycling in the community. o It might put us out of business. • Can you give us details on the recycling education tags? o When a driver sees contaminants in the recycling cart, cart placement issues, or other concerns, an education tag is left on the cart. • How does the City and Tennis Sanitation do outreach for business recycling? o The recycling contract allows small businesses and churches to opt into the residential recycling program. The City notifies all businesses of the program in the annual licensing letters and in newsletter articles. • We are looking forward to a tour of Tennis Sanitation’s facility. b. Republic Services Trash and Yard Waste Collection Annual Review 1) 2023 Trash and Yard Waste Collection Year End Report 2) 2024 Trash and Yard Waste Collection Work Plan Environmental Planner Finwall Presented the report. 3 Beverly Mathiasen answered questions of the ENR Commission. The ENR Commission had the following questions and feedback on the Trash and Yard Waste Collection Annual Review: • How is the food scrap program going? o It is going well. There are no additional steps for our drivers. They collect the trash and tip at the Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy Center. The food scraps bags are sorted at the center. • What is the trash and yard waste trends – do you see more or less trash? o The trends for trash and yard waste materials in Maplewood are fairly consistent. We are seeing a little less residential trash as less people are working from home full time. • Is Republic Services able to report on the food scraps data? o Ramsey County is monitoring that. We don’t have details on how they will report that data. But it is an important question as our trash weights will include the food scraps bags. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None 7. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None 8. COMMISSIONER PRESENTATIONS None 9. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Environmental Planner Finwall updated the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission on the following: a. Maplewood Spring Clean Up – April 13 The clean up is an opportunity for residents to recycle or dispose of bulky items or other hard to recycle items. It is held at Aldrich Arena. The Commission is encouraged at the event. b. Waterfest – June 1 The Commission will have a booth alongside the Friends of Maplewood Nature. The Commission should discuss a theme for the booth and coordinate that with the Friends. 4 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Lates made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Chairperson Guell. Ayes – All The motion passed. Chairperson Guell adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m.