VIRP Meeting 2 25 2013 Minutes - virecycles.com€¦ · Virgin Islands Recycling Partnership (VIRP)...
Transcript of VIRP Meeting 2 25 2013 Minutes - virecycles.com€¦ · Virgin Islands Recycling Partnership (VIRP)...
Virgin Islands Recycling Partnership (VIRP) Meeting
Monday, February 25, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Atlantic Time) University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas Campus, Room ACC 203
Call in Number: 1-866-299-3188 Code: 212 637 5028
Minutes
Introductions & Meeting Details • Keshema Webbe, US Environmental Protection Agency
o History of the VIRP o The VIRP Solid Waste Management Integrated Plan is available at
http://usvirp.wiggio.com. • Geoff Garrison, US Environmental Protection Agency Remarks • Judith Enck, Region 2 Administrator, EPA
Report on the VIRP: o Discuss recycling, reduction and composting o Tremendous potential for economic development and job creation.
More people are employed in the recycling industry in California than in the film industry!
www.nrc.org -‐ put out a major report on how recycling creates jobs!
o Funding for education o Opportunity to reduce marine debris
Report on the Puerto Rico Recycling Partnership:
o A partnership that has started at the same time o Tracking companies and recycling materials.
“We shouldn’t wait for the landfills to close to start to recycle. People want to recycle. People are surprised that there is not a lot of access to recycling.”
• May Cornwall Adams, Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority
o Work with Citizen Advisory Committee
o VIWMA focuses on EPA compliance and enforcement o Making progress in the areas of Scrap tires + Scrap metal
Middle of negating a scrap metal contract Scrap tires – their weight and costly shipping required a
significant startup investment • Also looking at aluminum can and plastic landfill bans
o Barriers:
o Need a Collection facility and markets for these materials o Budget reduction problems
Question (Sue Parten): Given that (1) fiscal efficiencies are lost through layers of contracting by WMA, (2) since there are already government layoffs and wage reductions (affecting both govt. and quasi-‐govt. programs), and (3) since EPA through SCOE has made available training and educational assistance to WMA and other VI orgs. for carrying out recycling and composting operations, does WMA contemplate carrying out those activities directly rather than contracting out those services. General response: No. Comment (Geoff Garrison): Down the road it would be an ideal training ground for public + private sector. Question (Jason Budsan): Re: WMA’s public service commission
Updates Organics Intern Project
• Dara Monifah Cooper, Organics Intern Coordinator • Interns are available to assist VIRP members with composting projects
o Contact Laura or Dara for more information. She is available via email/facebook/wiggio. [email protected], http://www.facebook.com/usvi.organics?fref=ts
• Upcoming VIRP Composting workshop training to be held: ABCs of Composting March 30, at Mandahl bay, Camp Umoja camp grounds (See flyer below)
• Marsha Laurencin, Organics Intern, UVI-‐ St. Thomas
o Marsha was President for a Day Scholar at the UVI: http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-‐news/2013/02/14/trading-‐places-‐uvi-‐student-‐serve-‐president-‐day
o She would like to incorporate a composting course into the UVI curriculum
• Laura Cardoso and Melissa Young, Syracuse University Environmental
Finance Center o Those interested in learning more about the internship program
should contact Laura: [email protected] VIRP Teams
• Laura Cardoso o Start organizing: start talking to your neighbors and start a model
program! o RESOURCES:
Syracuse COE in the Classroom • http://www.syracusecoe.org/coe/sub1.html?skuvar=1
66Cornell Cooperative Extensive and Cornell Waste Management
Institute • http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/ • http://www.cce.cornell.edu/Pages/Default.aspx
Puerto Rico Market Development
o Charlotte McDevitt, BVI, Green VI
o Jason Budsan, EAST Partnering with VIRP + Gifft Hill School + Organics Internship Will host the Composting workshop on Mandahl Bay March 30th
• “What can we do to showcase these efforts”? Showcase/highlight engagement of young people + community groups in a one day workshop
• Composting as a mechanism for creating, rich soil and cost to the government
Reusable bags project • Made in the USA, organic material bags • Looking for sponsorship • Get these out into the community
o Barry Devine, Island Green Building Association of St. John Provide leadership and counsel beyond green building or green/
sustainable living Sustainable living center Green construction guidelines
Education/Collabroation • With Gifft Hill School, St. John..etc/.
Discussion: How to set up source separation?
Source separation of the waste is fundamental to have a cost effective program and will create jobs.
Website Updates,
• Laura Cardoso o Current VIRP updates are available through http://usvirp.wiggio.com
and email. o A VIRP website is in development.
Other VIRP Business and Next Steps
Comment: Encouragement/support for Organics Internship and Marsha. The university is a breeding ground for ideas and initiatives. Comment: Need to teach our kids to take care of the environment. Call for supplies (Benita Martin): Looking for items that can be recycled and reused. As farmer they always need containers that can be reused such as plastic large yogurt, cottage cheese, and coffee containers. They also use paper and cardboard for mulching (cardboard ithout ink on it ). She’s building a terrace. They use a shredder to shred cardboard and compost there. Bring your clean plastic bags and they will reuse them! She has 15 farmer contacts. As many supplies as you can give to her would be very helpful. Ginger Brown has an eco-‐friendly villa on St. Croix and she is reusing coffee containers. See example photo below or Contact Benita at: [email protected]
Announcement (Jane Brown): Description of Eco-‐ friendly store + insulated reusable bags Comment: 55-‐65% of the USVI waste stream is compostable. Announcement (Jim Doersam): He is working to set up large scale composing. He can be reached at: [email protected] Comment (Sue Parten): On a larger scale, you also need legislation. The local government should mandate charging for plastic bags-‐ ie: Austin, Texas did this. They warned the local grocers and retailers that this plastic bag mandate was going to be put into effect. See below.
Get your communities to write to your senators. Say “I’m not going to vote for you unless you vote for paper bags or charge for plastic bags.” OR Sign the PetitionL http://www.thepetitionsite.com/603/676/271/virgin-‐islands-‐no-‐more-‐plastic-‐bag-‐pollution/
VIRP Member Tasks
1. Join or renew your membership online: http://lcardoso.wufoo.com/forms/virgin-‐islands-‐recycling-‐partnership/
2. Join a VIRP Team, establish a Team Chair and collaborate on any project ideas! Communicate updates with Laura Cardoso: [email protected]. Also look for information at: http://usvirp.wiggio.com
• Construction & Demolition Team • Education & Outreach Team • Glass, Metal & Plastic Containers Team • Government Relations Team • Organics Team • Paper Team • Scrap Metals Team • Special Wastes (Including Electronic Waste) Team
3. Each team coordinate team meeting(s) in March 2013
i. Team meetings can be conducted via conference call with all members. This will assist in the mobilization of teams as well as make members aware of the March 30th, composting event.
4. Attend the of ABC's of Composting Event (Organics Team)
i. See flyer attached below. ii. Assist in promotion by inviting all members and their friends and
family. Encourage face-‐to-‐face dialog as well as enlist new members.
5. Sign the petition for “Virgin Islands No More Plastic Bag Pollution” http://www.thepetitionsite.com/603/676/271/virgin-‐islands-‐no-‐more-‐plastic-‐bag-‐pollution/
6. Get reusable items to Benita Martin: [email protected]
7. Collect contact information on composting sites and/or community garden education programs in the VI. Send info to Laura Cardoso: [email protected]
8. Visit the Organics Internship Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/usvi.organics?fref=ts
Stay involved with the VIRP and share any future ideas you may have! Thank you.
What: The ABC's of Composting and You Where: Mandahl Bay at Camp Umoja Who: The Environmental Association St.Thomas St.John,VI Conservation Society, Environmental Rangers, The Virgin Islands Recycling Partnership (VIRP) and the VIRP Organics Interns along with other interested groups. When: Saturday March 30, 2013 (9:00 am to 3:30 pm) Why: In these trying economic times and where we should be doing all that we can to help our environment, we would like you to become more aware of what composting is all about and how you too can produce this useful and productive product at home, school or at the university level. This free workshop will give you hands on approach on the science of composting and how you can make your own compost bin to fit in with your needs. Organics Interns from UVI will be able to provide an update on the progress of their internship from a grant provided by Environmental Protection Agency and the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at Syracuse University. The EFC is using its solid waste management and recycling expertise to also facilitate the U.S. Virgin Islands Recycling Partnership (VIRP) in an effort to assist the islands in establishing a sustainable solid waste strategy—based on an aggressive program of waste reduction, recycling and composting—and moving toward a sustainable materials economy. The partnership includes government (at all levels), non-profit organizations, citizens, environmental groups, and the private sector. For more information on the VIRP email Laura Cardoso at [email protected]. At this workshop the above members will also provide recycling tips and how you can be more involved in recycling. These items include aluminum, glass, paper and other recyclable materials. It is estimated that between 60 to 65% of our waste stream is organic in nature and that instead of adding this valuable product to our dumps, we could
be creating rich organic compost to grow our food or other useful ways to benefit our community. Please email [email protected] or call Laura Cardoso at 315-443-8560.