Northeast Recycling Council, Inc.
Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors
March 21, 2006
Philadelphia, PA
Approved May 22, 2006
Present:
Board Members: John Trevor, Rhode Island, President of the Board; Jeff Bednar, Pennsylvania, Vice-President; George MacDonald, Maine, Treasurer; Judy Belaval, Connecticut; Brenda Grober, New York; Carolyn Grodinsky, Vermont; Don Maurer, New Hampshire (by phone); Brooke Nash, Massachusetts; Jeff Schmitt, New York; Jim Short, Delaware; Guy Watson, New Jersey
Member Represented but no voting member present: Delaware Solid Waste Authority (Denise Denny)
Advisory Members: Chip Foley, Steel Recycling Institute; John Hayworth, Metals Management; Marie Kruzan, Association of New Jersey Recyclers
Others: Tom Miragliuolo (Maine); Steve Hammond (New York); Bill Miller (Delaware); Peggy Harlow (Massachusetts); Mary Delahanty (student, Antioch); David Biddle (BioCycle); Phil Simmons (BioCycle & Columbia University)
Staff: Lynn Rubinstein, Executive Director and Secretary; Mary Ann Remolador, Assistance Director; Chaille Blais, Office Manager
Recorders: Chaille Blais and Lynn Rubinstein
Meeting Called to Order: Mr. Trevor called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. and noted that the attendance established a quorum for voting purposes.
Mr. Simmons gave a presentation about BioCycle’s collaboration with Columbia University’s Earth Engineering Center to conduct the State of Garbage in America Survey. The 2005-06 report will run in the April 2006 issue. There was a discussion about approaches to collecting recycled tonnage data, and how representative that data is of recycling activity as a whole in a state.
Treasurer’s Report: Mr. MacDonald distributed the Treasurer’s Report. He stated that the organization does well by maintaining a balanced budget and that the finances are in good shape.
Delaware Appointment to the Board: Mr. Trevor (Rhode Island) moved that Mr. Short be appointed to the Board of Directors, seconded by Mr. MacDonald (Maine). There was no discussion and the vote was unanimous with no abstentions.
Election of Officers: Ms. Rubinstein stated that the election of NERC Board members (President, Vice President, and Treasurer) is an annual event and that the new term begins July 1st. Elections will be held via email in June but by May a slate of candidates needs to be in place. She noted that Mr. Trevor and Mr. Bednar have both served for two years, and that Mr. MacDonald has been Treasurer for five years. Mr. MacDonald stated that he would not run again.
Summer Planning Meeting: Ms. Rubinstein asked if the Board would like NERC to hold a summer planning meeting to discuss priorities, discuss what states need/want, brainstorm, and develop an operating plan. It was agreed that such a meeting is a good idea to continue.
Discussion of Project Ideas: Included in the agenda was a quote from Greg Cooper of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) asking that NERC consider holding a conference about anaerobic digestion. Discussion followed and there was strong support for NERC holding a conference (could be part of regular semi-annual conference) on the topic of innovative technologies related to organics. Ms. Nash noted that MA DEP might have funds to contribute to the event.
Director’s Report
Regional Model Electronics Legislation - Ms. Rubinstein reported that this project is approaching completion. She asked if the Board would consider taking a vote to endorse the model electronics legislation, once it is finalized. Discussion followed. The majority of the Board members indicated that they would entertain having the question put before them.
Unwanted Medications Grants - Ms. Rubinstein has been meeting with state Boards of Pharmacy to review potential collections. All of the states have provided support and encouragement for holding events in their respective states. She will be speaking about the project at the NYSAR conference in May.
Website Updates - NERC has a grant from EPA Region 1 to make updates to the website. As a result, there has been a great deal of activity, including new documents.
Green Procurement of Electronics – NERC has grants from EPA Regions 1 and 3 to promote the green procurement of electronics with institutions and government. Patty Dillon is the primary staff person on these grants.
Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) - This is going very well, including the addition of California as a member. The TPCH has asked that NERC continue to administer the program.
Toxics in Packaging Pollution Prevention Grant – The testing phase of this project has concluded. A significant number of instances of lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium were found. TPCH is now determining how to proceed with contacting companies about potential violations and how best to encourage compliance. Mr. Trevor stated that NERC has been doing a great job on this and that Ms. Dillon has been awesome. Mr. Foley agreed.
Recycling Economic Information Study Update – Ms. Rubinstein stated that she didn’t receive many responses from the states about whether they are interested in NERC pursuing an update. She noted that it would take about $500,000 to re-create the original study and this would have to be funded by the states themselves. The Board acknowledged that updating the Study is important but funding is the barrier.
Assistant Director’s Report
Regional Recycling Message - Ms. Remolador noted that a small group is still working on the message and will bring it back to the members in the near future. Mr. Watson shared that a senior-level recycling marketing class at Rutgers is working on a recycling message specific to New Jersey and he will let Ms. Remolador know about the outcome.
New York State Recycling Markets Database – This project began in January 1 and is on schedule and going well. Jessica Wozniak has been the primary staff person.
Hauler’s Roundtable – Planning is in the beginning stages but feedback received thus far has been positive.
Press Releases – NERC is working with a writer to generate press releases about projects and conferences with the goal of getting NERC’s work more recognized.
Special Events Recycling – The guidebook is in draft form and was sent to participants. It will be available on the NERC website when it is complete.
Request from Advisory Member for Letter of Support for National Recycling Database Funding: Mr. Foley stated that the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) created a national recycling database, accessible via the phone, that is consumer and commercial oriented which allows users to see where to recycle various materials based on zip code. It has not been kept up to date in recent years due to funding constraints. SRI has asked EPA if it would take it over if there was funding to support it. Senator Snowe of Maine has expressed willingness to file legislation for funding the national database. SRI is asking NERC to provide a letter in support of such funding. After discussion, and review of a draft letter, a motion was made by Mr. MacDonald (Maine) for NERC to send such a letter to all of the Senators in the NERC region. The motion was seconded by Ms. Grober (New York). Vote eight (8) in favor, two (2) abstentions (Pennsylvania and Massachusetts).
Mr. Bednar moved that the meeting be adjourned at 12:08, Mr. MacDonald seconded, no discussion followed and the vote was unanimous with no abstentions.
