Washtenaw Food Policy Council
Policy Action Team Meeting Minutes
Use this form to take minutes at each Policy Action Team meeting. Proposed minutes must be available within eight business
days after a meeting. Approved minutes must be available within five days after the meeting at which they are approved. Send
proposed and approved minutes to Kathy Fellabaum at fellabaumk@ewashtenaw.org
Policy Action Team:
Food and Food Packaging Waste
Date of Meeting:
June 17, 2014
Time of Meeting:
3:30 – 5:10 PM
Address of Meeting:
City of Ann Arbor, City Hall, 301 E Huron Street
1st floor Conference Room
Washtenaw Food Policy Council attendees:
Nicole Chardoul, RRS and WFPC Chair
Additional attendees (first and last names):
Noelle Bowman, Washtenaw County, PAT Chair
Kyle Metta, WFPC Mapping Consultant
Jennifer Maxwell, Washtenaw County
Priya Knangura, Food Gatherer’s
Barbara Lucas,
Phel Meyer, Bizzee Box
Joesph Tesar, President Quantalux, LLC [guest speaker]
Public comment (first and last names):
Note taker:
None
Jennifer Maxwell, Washtenaw County
1. 3:30P-3:35
Introductions; Approve 4/15 Minutes & 5/20 Agenda
2. 3:35-3:40
General Announcements (share any relevant news,
stories, etc.!)
3. 3:40-4:40
Presentation: Bio-digester Feasibility Study for Ann
Arbor City by Joesph Tesar, President of Quantalux, LLC
Agenda:
4. 4:40-5:00
Review Draft WFPC Policy Agenda, including ‘Activity
updates from May meeting.
5. 4:40-5:00
Mapping Projects, action plan for June-July
6. 4:40-5:00
Discuss Best Next Steps for our PAT
7. 5:00-5:10P
Concluding Comments & Adjournment
Date minutes approved:
Meeting Minutes:
Started at 3:30 pm
1) Minutes approved as printed.
Agenda approved as printed.
2) General Announcements:
A. Noelle: Swedish Company (http://www.tomorrowmachine.se/) designing innovative biodegradable
food packaging with beeswax for rice, oil and more. (http://imgur.com/gallery/Quapg)
B. Company Green Box NA to start recycling food packaging waste (lids, straws, stirrers, napkins, etc.) in
Detroit. To bring 200+ jobs. (http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140527/METRO08/305270080/)
C. Phel: Company will work with California City [Citrus Heights] to collect non-recyclable plastics [straws,
drink cover, etc.] to melt and grind into pellets for reuse.
Washtenaw Food Policy Council
Policy Action Team Meeting Minutes
Use this form to take minutes at each Policy Action Team meeting. Proposed minutes must be available within eight business
days after a meeting. Approved minutes must be available within five days after the meeting at which they are approved. Send
proposed and approved minutes to Kathy Fellabaum at fellabaumk@ewashtenaw.org
3) Biodigester Feasibility Study for Ann Arbor City, presented by Joe Tesar from Quantalux, LLC 3:40 4:40PM
4) Review Draft WFPC Policy Agenda & ‘Activity’ Updates
A. Noelle: #5 - EPP Packet almost done. ESO Environmentally Sound Operations will support the EPP.
B. Noelle: #17 - Landfill ban on commercial/institutional organic material generation rates by
section/maps.
a. July 23rd Panera waste audit at new hire orientation. Possible pilot program switch to
reusable packaging [similar to Busy Box] and use Children’s Services dishwashers [across
the parking lot from LLRC]. Possibility of UM and Washtenaw Co. banning together to
promote more eco-friendly package options.
C. Nicole: Vendors could use a special code for ordering and bill department directly versus using a
purchase card. Have green purchasing guidelines.
D. Barbara: UM events use compostable items but they are landfilled. PLA is not allowed in many
commercial compost sites  Amended in July 2014 Minutes
E. Nicole/Noelle: Vendors can take material to Tuthill Farms for composting. Wording in the policy to
be such that if service is available then compost items, if not then recyclable items should be used.
F. Nicole/Noelle: Work with Staples to blacklist  “Restrict” items [Polystryene, PLA?] and education of
suppliers as well as purchasing agents.
5) Mapping Projects, action plan for June-July
A. Kyle: Mapping could be useful for our needs. He provided a map with free/reduced lunch usage in the
County. We can think about other opportunities for mapping (may want more detailed information,
e.g. usage/lack of usage of breakfast programs in the county)
B. Kyle: Joe’s maps on pre-consumer food waste were excellent and could be useful.
C. Kyle: #15, 16, 17- Food Donation: develop list and guidelines for edible food waste.
D. Kyle: Define ‘zero waste’ – general standard 90% diversion but come up with written statement.
E. Noelle: Develop previous relationships with those already working with ‘zero waste’ such as Christine
Chessler–Stull at RAA and those in Ann Arbor.
F. Barbara: Contact David Sturza, vendors & haulers of recyclables & compostable items.
6) Next steps:
A. Data gathering
B. #16 Waste & Packaging Standards for municipal-sponsored events, zero waste compliant by
2015. Check with Recycle Ann Arbor on their zero waste event standards.
7) Meeting Adjourned at 5:10PM