Location: Somerville, Somerset County, NJ.
Prepared by Fred Stanger (Hip-Hip Horay for Fred!!!)

Attendees

County Representatives

  • Rich Baroch, Bergen County
  • Greg Hulse, Monmouth County
  • Mark Vangieri, Bergen County
  • Laura Macpherson, Morris County
  • Ken Atkinson, Gloucester County
  • Larry Gindoff, Morris County
  • Mary-Ellen Gilpin, Hudson County
  • B. Ellie Arnould, Passaic County
  • Nick Staniewicz, Hudson County
  • Diana Vigilante, Somerset County
  • Fred Stanger, Middlesex County
  • John Cannata, Sussex County
  • Carole Tolmachewich, Middlesex County
  • JoAnn Gemenden, Union County
  • Alain Fortier, Monmouth County
  • William Carner, Warren County

Other Attendees

  • John V. Tekin Jr, Radiac Research Corp.
  • Mike Adelsberger, Curbside Inc.
  • Rich Rosfjord, NJIT Technical Assistance Program
  • Lorraine Graves, US EPA Region II
  • Ralph Davis, NJ DEP
  • Priscilla Hayes, Rutgers University
  • Paul DiGiulio, AETS (now Onyx Environmental Services)

The meeting was called to order by Ken Atkinson at 10:10 a.m.

Priscilla Hayes – Rutgers Solid Waste Policy Group:

Priscilla Hayes from Rutgers University gave an overview of the Rutgers University Solid Waste Policy Group. The concept behind the group is to combine Rutgers U. resources with other resources to solve real life problems.

The group has been broken down into 3 areas, or projects: 1. Demographics of Waste, 2. Food Residuals and 3. Hazardous Waste Diversion, the later discussed in more detail following the ANJHHWC meeting.

Those interested in learning more or becoming more involved can contact Priscilla at (732) 932-1966 or hayes@aesop.rutgers.edu

Richard Rosfjord – NJIT Technical Assistance Program:

Rich Rosfjord from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Technical Assistance Program (TAP) gave an overview of the TAP program and an excellent review of the Federal regulations as it relates to large, small and conditionally exempt hazardous waste generators.

NJIT TAP offers free and confidential consulting to small businesses (i.e. 100 employees or less) in order to assist with reducing or eliminating the need to dispose of hazardous waste. The program concentrates on ‘in process’ methods as opposed to ‘end of pipe’ solutions. Suggestions as simple as covering stored material to reduce air emissions is just one example of how the TAP program helped one business. Examples of businesses that could benefit include auto body shops and dry cleaners.

For more information please contact Rich Rosfjord at (973) 596-8195, rosfjord@admin.njit.edu or visit http://www.cees.njit.edu/njtap/index.htm.

Chemical Reactions with Paul DiGiulio, – AETS

Paul DiGiulio, from AETS (which is now called Onyx Environmental Services) gave a presentation on chemical reactions. He showed a very interesting 10 min. video produced by AETS in 1988 demonstrating chemical reactions. The video presented 6 categories of chemical reactions: 1. oxidizing liquids, 2. water exposure, 3. air exposure, 4. temperature sensitive, 5. spontaneous combustibles and 6. shock sensitive materials.

Some problematic HHW materials include: Wet chlorine pellets (emit chlorine gas). Advise residents to keep it dry! Short circuiting batteries. Prevent fires or explosions by taping the positive and negative terminals to avoid contact with other batteries. Some batteries may still have a charge. Never mix bleach and ammonia!

The Association asked Paul if it is possible to have a copy of the video and Paul said he would look into it. You can reach Paul at the Onyx office in Flanders, NJ by calling (973) 347-711 or (800) 426-2382.

EPA Clean Sweep Update

Fred Stanger and Carole Tolmachewich completed a grant application which was sent to the EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs (in D.C.) asking for $2550.00 to conduct a survey to determine the amount of pesticides in NJ that requires proper disposal. The grant application asked for Clean Sweep proposals; actual collections of targeted pesticides. ANJHHWC decided it is more important to discover if a Clean Sweep project is necessary before seeking funding for disposal.

ANJHHWC Video Update

ANJHHWC is still looking into having a video produced to highlight HHW issues. We are also interested in having public service announcements (PSA’s) and we may look into the idea of customizing existing PSA’s from Earth’s 911. See below for more info. on Earth’s 911. We hope to send out proposals soon to get quotes for a 10-15 minute video. If anyone knows of a company that we should send the proposal to, please contact Carole T. at (732) 745-4170 or e-mail mcdswm@superlink.net.

Earth’s 911 is a national hotline and web site designed to keep USA residents informed about local recycling and HHW markets, etc. by zip code. You can call 1 800 CLEANUP or view the info (and PSA’s) at www.1800cleanup.org. HHW coordinators are encouraged to contact Anne Reichman, Director of States Coordination by e-mail, areichman@cleanup.org or phone (602) 224-5444 (Arizona) to update the information.

ANJHHWC Newsletter

Carole T. asked for volunteers to write articles for the next newsletter. It was suggested that Bergen County write a story about their large scale events. The newsletter committee will meet in October.

Vendor Chat

  • John Tekin Jr. from Radiac reported that they are working with several NJ Counties this year and look forward to bidding on programs for next year.
  • Mike Adelsberger from Curbside Inc. reported having contracts with entities in PA, NJ IL, MI, and 36 programs in CA. They collect on average 160 lbs. of material from households, which, Mike reports, is 2x the national average.

SWANA Awards Winners

Morris County and Middlesex County received the Silver and Bronze Award respectively for the Special Waste Category given by SWANA. The Awards will be presented at the 1999 WASTECON Conference in Reno NV in October.

NJDEP Update

Ralph Davis reported that the DEP is holding the first in a series of meetings to address the re-adoption of the Hazardous Waste, Universal Waste and Used Motor Oil regulations. The first meeting will be held on Sept. 16th.

Mr. Davis also talked about mercury issues. Fred Stanger interjected and told of his attendance to the Mercury Task Force meeting held on Aug. 13th at the DEP. The Mercury Task Force will be concentrating on outreach, and will want to work together with ANJHHWC to accomplish this. The first thing HHW coordinators can do to help is to keep an inventory of the sources of mercury collected via HHW events/facilities. Then the task force can determine where to focus outreach efforts.

Sue Shannon from the DEP is involved with the Mercury Task Force and can be reached by calling (609) 292-1156 or e-mail: sshannon@dep.state.nj.us

Mr. Davis went on to discuss and stress that HHW should be disposed of like any RCRA waste, and that all counties should take measures by editing their bid specs if required to ensure proper disposal. He also mentioned that to award an HHW bid, any bidder must have an A-901 license.

The issue of DEP inspectors visiting HHW events/sites has re-surfaced. Expect the possibility of a site visit.

EPA Update – Lorraine Graves, Region II

Lorraine spoke briefly about 2 non HHW related events planned.

1. ‘Buying Recycled: The Real Story about Cost, Availability and Quality’ is the name of a teleconference to take place on November 9th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST. Learn more by visiting www.epa.gov/wastewise and click on Satellite Forum. The event will be taped at the EPA at 290 Broadway in NY, NY. To find out where to attend in New Jersey, visit

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/reduce/wstewise/wwsf/nj.htm

2. A Multifamily / High Rise Recycling Workshop will take place on Thursday October 7th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the EPA office at 290 Broadway, 27th Floor in New York, NY. It is being presented by The Municipal Waste Management Association, an affiliate of The U.S. Conference of Mayors, and featuring Barbara J. Stephens, Ph.D., President of Ecodata, Inc.

Lorraine also spoke about how the American Hospital Association put in place an agreement to reduce mercury pollution within 10 years by eliminating emissions by 2005 and by cutting back the use of mercury 30% by 2005 and by 50% by 2010. They are also looking at ways to reduce other bio-accumulative toxins.

You can reach Lorraine by phone at 212-637-4099 or e-mail graves.lorraine@epamail.epa.gov

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at approximately 1:00 pm.