HomeMy Public PortalAbout1/11/2022 Resolution: Resolution to Establish a Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committeer Watertown City Council
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
ELECTED OFFICIALS: Phone: 617 972-6470
Mark S. Sideris,
Council President
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr.,
Vice President &
RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A
District C Councilor
SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
John M. Airasian
Councilor At Large
Caroline Bays
RESOLUTION # 1 2022 — R —1
Councilor At Large
Jolm G. Gannon,
Councilor At Large
WHEREAS, it October 2021 the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection issued its final 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan which establishes goals to
Anthony Palomba,
reduce disposal statewide by 30 percent from 2020 to 2030, and sets a long-term
Councilor At Large
goal of achieving a 90 percent reduction in disposal statewide by 2050; and
Nicole Gardner,
District A Councilor
WHEREAS, the City Council's Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Policy Guideline II. C.
LisaJ. Feltner,
states, in part, to "Improve the operational efficiency, flexibility, and capacity of
District B Councilor
the Public Works Department to meet the Town's growing needs to... comply with
the MassDEP 2030 Solid Waste Management Plan..."; and
Emily Izzo,
District D Councilor
WHEREAS, the Town (now City) of Watertown had a Watertown Recycling
Advisory Board created in 1992 which helped institute curbside recycling, which
was disbanded in 2012 after Watertown implemented single stream recycling; and
WHEREAS, the Town (now City) Council's Public Works Committee met in 2020
and 2021 to examine the matter of recycling in Watertown, and concluded that with
the aggressive goals of the Commonwealth's Solid Waste Master Plan, it would be
prudent to establish a new Solid Waste and Recycling Advismy Committee in
Watertown.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby
authorizes the creation of a Solid Waste and Recycling Advismy Committee to be
established as provided herein:
1) The Committee shall consisting of six Watertown residents who will serve
staggered three-year terms, with two expiring each year, to be appointed by the
City Manager and confirmed by the City Council.
2) The role of the Committee shall be to act as an advisory body to the
Superintendent of Public Works, shall present reports and recommendations
directly to the Superintendent, and shall not engage in any activities
independent of the Superintendent.
3) The Superintendent shall appoint a Department of Public Works employee to
act as a liaison to the Committee.
4) The Committee's responsibilities are defined as follows:
a. Research and make recommendations relating to recycling and reduction of
solid waste so that Watertown can meet the Commonwealth's Solid Waste
Master Plan milestones.
b. Develop and engage in communication, education, and community outreach
to increase public awareness for recycling and reduction of solid waste,
including Watertown Public Schools, the Fanners Market, Faire in the
Square, and other venues.
c. Identify, manage, and implement community -based initiatives to divert
material from the waste stream, such as "Buy Nothing" groups, repair
workshops, and corporate partners that collect non -recyclable waste to turn
it into raw material to be used in new products.
d. At the direction of the Superintendent perform other tasks for the
implementation of best practices for recycling and reduction of solid waste
in accordance with the Commonwealth's Solid Waste Master Plan
milestones.
e. Make an annual progress report to the City Council's Public Works
Conrunittee.
5) The Committee shall conduct meetings in accordance with the Open Meeting
Law and abide by all laws of the Commonwealth as they apply to public bodies.
A0.
Cooell Member
I hereby certify that at a regular meeting of the City Council for which a quorum
was present, the above resolution was adopted by a voice vote of _9_ for and _0_
against and _0_ present on January 11, 2022.
Marilyn . Pronovos , Council Cleric Mark S. Sideris, Council President