Location: Somerville, Somerset County, NJ.
Prepared by Richard Baroch, Bergen County Utilities Authority (Hip-Hip double Hooray for Rich!!!  Thank You:)

Attendees

County

  • Fred Stanger, Middlesex County Solid Waste Management
  • Diane Vigilante, Somerset County Solid Waste Management
  • Laura Macpherson, Morris County MUA
  • Richard Baroch, Bergen County Utilities Authority
  • Mark Vangieri, Bergen County Utilities Authority
  • Brian Constantino, Camden County Div. of Env. Affairs
  • Chuck Giacobbe, Camden County Div. of Env. Affairs
  • Carol Tolmachewich, Middlesex County Division of Solid Waste Mgmt.
  • Joel Grimm, Monmouth County Health Department
  • Joann Gemenden, Union County Environmental Services
  • Bill Carner, Warren County PCFA
  • Vic Camporine, Warren County PCFA
  • Melissa Harvey, Somerset County

State

  • Sondra Flight, NJDEP
  • Robin Heston, NJDEP
  • Anthony Fontana, NJDEP
  • Karen Kritz, NJ Dept. of Agriculture

Vendor

  • Donnie Strader, ECOFLO
  • Arick McDonald, ECOFLO
  • Beth Berglund, Merck & Co, Inc.
  • Mario Ianiero, AERC Recycling Solutions
  • Tim Staiano, Onyx Environmental Services
  • John Schantz, Onyx Environmental Services

Opening

Fred Stanger opened the meeting at 9:45a.m.with opening introductions.

By-Laws

Mr. Stanger introduced some policy changes to the Association of New Jersey Household Hazardous Waste Coordinators Constitution and By-Laws. The major change included a minimum of two (2) yearly meeting instead of the present four (4) quarterly meetings along with some minor language changes to replace telegram notification with e-mail notification. Since changes were recommended in the By-Laws a vote was conducted and passed by ANJHHWC members.

General Issues

Mr. Stanger discussed the status of ANJHHWC membership and encouraged attendees to pick up the 2003 membership forms for completion.

Mr. Stanger discussed 40 hr. hazwopper training and 8 hour refresher training. He also referenced the internet as a great source of literature on education, siting multiple sites for information. One site reference was made about INFORM. A report called “Cleaning for Health: Products and Practices for a Safer Indoor Environment” was recently published to help indoor air quality in office buildings, schools and hospitals by switching to “greener cleaners”. Changing cleaners used by janitorial staff will increase indoor air quality for the building occupants and janitorial workers. The report is a one-stop guide to environmentally preferable cleaning products and methods that have been effectively used in the USA and Canada. To review the report visit www.informinc.org/CFHbook.htm.

NJDEP and State Update

Robin Heston (NJDEP) discussed the recent regulation changes with consumer electronics. NJDEP adopted amendments to the universal waste rule to include consumer electronics. The amendment to the rule will be operative on December 17, 2002. Counties presently operating under the pilot project will have to notify the NJDEP in writing prior to December 17th as to whether the facility will operate as a small quantity universal waste handler or a large quantity handler. A large quantity handler means a handler who accumulates greater than 5,000 kilograms of consumer electronics at any time. Both small and large quantity handlers need to follow EPA and DEP regulations. NJDEP will also require all electronic demanufacturing companies to obtain a Class D recycling facility permit. For complete regulations visit the EPA at www.epa.gov under Federal Universal Waste Rule (40 CFR part 273) and/or www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw under NJ Recycling Regulations. Questions regarding the recent rule changes can contact Ms. Heston at 609-984-6650.

Sondra Flight (NJDEP) discussed the BBQ propane cylinder disposal problem in NJ. She received several inquiries about a problem in Hudson County with a scrap metal shredder. They were receiving cylinders hidden in appliances and trunks of vehicles causing health and safety problems at the facility. She wanted to know if this was a problem throughout the state? The answer was yes with a group discussion that followed.

Anthony Fontana (NJDEP) Chief of the Bureau of Hazardous Waste & Transfer Facilities briefly discussed permitting requirements for permanent HHW facilities. The NJDEP enforcement units are currently targeting permanent HHW facilities for compliance. The NJDEP is looking to generate revenues to fund programs and NJDEP departments. Mr. Fontana said funding might also come from a cost per ton fee on disposal at landfills and transfer stations. A group discussion on used motor oil collection facilities centered on compliance with signage problems. To find out more about permitting requirements at hazardous waste & transfer facilities, Mr. Fontana can be reached at 609-292-9880.

Karen Kritz, NJ Department of Agriculture, discussed a recent pilot project in NJ that collects only HDPE plastic pesticide containers, nursery pots, planting flats and five (5) gallon buckets for recycling. Recently, Cumberland County, Burlington County and Sussex County hosted successful one-day collection events with farmers and nurseries. Some strict rules apply to the participants. Participants are required to triple rinse all HDPE containers and must thoroughly clean all buckets, pots and flats of dirt and debris. The one-day events operate by choosing a temporary site for collection. A contractor is hired by the NJ Department of Agriculture to screen the delivered material for acceptability and grind all of the collected plastic on site for recycling. The recycled flakes generated from the collection programs stay in the chemical industry to make containers and pots.

The NJ Dept. of Agriculture is looking to expand the pesticide container-recycling program with other Counties in NJ. To get more Counties involved a brief questionnaire was sent to all 21 Counties in NJ to see if there was interest with this recycling program.

To set-up a worthwhile pesticide container recycling program in your County please contact Karen Kritz at (609) 984-2506 or email her at karen.Kritz@ag.state.nj.us.

Beth Berglund, Merck and Co, Inc., discussed efforts by Merck to reduce mercury pollution in the environment. Merck would like to conduct a mercury thermometer exchange program in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties. Non mercury thermometers are limited so contact Ms. Berglund at 908-423-7835 if you are interested in setting up a program.

County Update

Each County representative briefly discussed the extent of his or her County HHW program schedule for the 2003 season.

  • Middlesex County -seven (7) one-day events, continual paint drop-off program, curbside HHW p/u program
  • Bergen County – seven (7) one-day events
  • Somerset County – five (5) one-day events
  • Union County – four (4) one-day events
  • Morris County – two (2) one-day events, permanent HHW facility opens three days per week by appointment only
  • Warren County – two (2) one-day events
  • Monmouth County – three (3) one-day events, permanent HHW facility opens five days per week by appointment only.
  • Camden County – five (5) one day events, three (3) paint-only events

Vendor Report

  • Donnie Strader (small business account manager) of Ecoflo gave a brief overview of their Hazardous Waste Company located in Greensboro, North Carolina. They do not have any treatment facilities in New Jersey. They will ship all waste to their TSD facility in North Carolina. He asked to be put on all future HHW bid lists. He provided a statement of qualifications for review. The contact information is Ecoflo 2750 Patterson Street, Greensboro, NC 27407 1-800-999-6510.
  • Tim Staino, Onyx Environmental Services, discussed business strategies regarding permanent and HHW events. He asked to be put on all future HHW bid lists. The contact information: Onyx Environmental Services, 1 Eden Lane, Flanders, NJ 07836 1-800-426-2382.

Closing

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:34 p.m.

The next meeting has not been scheduled to date.