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ANOKA COUNTY SOLID WASTE ABATEMENT ADVISORY TEAM (SWAAT) WEBEX MEETING NOTES October 28, 2020 Three hundred eightieth meeting Team Members and Municipal Representatives Present: Pam Bowman, City of Anoka; Colleen Sinclair, City of Coon Rapids; Rachel Workin, City of Fridley; Jennifer Bohr, Ham Lake; Andrew Nelson, City of Lino Lakes; Paul Deuth, Linwood Township Anoka County Representatives Present: Jill Curran, Sue Doll, Ahnika Hesbjerg, Julie Mooney, Karla Risvold, Katie Stelzner, Amy Ulbricht, Robin Wodziak, and Maggie Yauk, Recycling & Resource Solutions Industry Representatives or Guests Present: Marty Christensen, Green Lights Recycling; Melissa Peck, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA); Michelle Palm, Minnesota Waste Wise; and Jackie Edwards, Walters Recycling & Refuse 1. Welcome and Introductions — In Commissioner Look's absence, Sue Doll began the meeting at 2:06 PM. It was noted that some Team members would not be able to attend today, due to election activities. 2. Approval of Agenda — Sue Doll asked participants if there were changes or additions needed for the meeting agenda. There were no requests. 3. Approval of August 26, 2020 meeting notes - Sue Doll asked participants if changes or corrections were needed to the meeting notes from August. There were no requests and the notes will be filed as written. 4. 2020/2021 Recycle Smart Holiday Campaign — Sue Doll and Maggie Yauk A. Sue Doll presented background on the region's activities that led to the development of the Recycle Smart Campaign. In 2016, the MPCA formed the Recycling Education Committee (REC), made up of recycling industry stakeholders. The industry shared information on typical contaminants being placed in recycling containers and came to agreement on the top contaminants that cause problems at Material Recovery Facilities (MRF's). Batteries topped the list, followed by, plastic bags, "tanglers" (holiday lights, cords, chains, garden hoses) and shredded paper. Bulky items and hazardous products weren't too far behind the other items. The MPCA teamed with The Recycling Partnership (TRP), a national nonprofit that assists cities, counties and states across the country with recycling communication campaigns. TRP developed materials for our state, based on recommendations by REC and MPCA and created numerous icons to represent contaminants that don't belong in recycling containers. A calendar subgroup of REC focused on timing for rolling out messaging, on the various contaminants, that may be generated during different times of the year In 2019, Hennepin County and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul developed a Recycle Smart Campaign, which provided effective messaging that addressed common recycling contaminants. Its main goals were to reduce contamination in recycling; assist recycling MRF's and haulers from the dangers and costs associated with contamination; to lower contamination fees charged to residents and municipalities; and, to support the growing need to produce marketable recycling products. Over the past couple years, Anoka County has provided sample articles on various ways to recycle correctly and to help stop contamination. The SWAAT Promotion Sub -Group discussed these issues and various Recycle Smart-themed articles and messaging have since been produced. Topics have included: Back to Basics of Recycling; Recycling Market Challenges; Top 5 Contaminants in Recycling Carts; and Top 5 Items