Eaton County Department of Resource Recovery
1045 Independence Blvd
Charlotte MI 48813
Office: (517) 543-3686 Fax: (517) 543-8457 Email : recycle@eatoncounty.org
Designated Implementing Agency & Resource Recovery Department
October 14, 2009
10:25 A.M.
Minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Commissioners Art Luna, Carol Strachan, Roger Harris, L. Darryl Baker,
John Forell, Jeanne Pearl Wright, Glenn Freeman
ALSO PRESENT:
Joe Brehler, Board of Commissioners Chair, John Fuentes, County
Controller; Lisa Lafferty, Resource Recovery Coordinator
September 9th, 2009 meeting minutes were reviewed. Commissioner Freeman made a motion to
approve the minutes. Commissioner Baker seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Lisa Lafferty provided an update on department activities. The Michigan Public Service Commission
awarded an Energy Efficiency Grant to Delta Township, Eaton County and the City of East Lansing.
Funding in the amount of $122,788 will be used to distribute Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs,
provide educational informational on the proper use and disposal of CFLs and to expand existing CFL
recycling efforts within the greater Lansing area.
Ms. Lafferty created and distributed a brochure that depicts a map of Department programs and
events and their locations in Eaton County. The brochure provides information on the Solid Waste
Ordinance and other details about the Department.
A regulation from the United States Department of Transportation that begins January 1, 2010 may
affect the Department’s Household Battery Collection Program. Ms. Lafferty recommended starting a
separate program to collect rechargeable batteries. Residents will be encouraged to use and to
recycle rechargeable batteries. Collection sites currently accepting household batteries have agreed
to support a separate collection of rechargeable batteries.
Ms. Lafferty has registered Eaton County as a level three Municipal Recycler with the Michigan
Recycling Coalition. The certification will provide recognition of the innovative and progressive
recycling efforts within Eaton County.
Ms. Lafferty provided an update on department programs. The Rain Barrel and Compost Bin sale on
September 12, 2009 was a successful event. All rain barrels and compost bins were sold. Another
event is being planned for the Spring of 2010.
The September 18th, 2009 Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics appointment schedule was
completely filled for the first time. Sixteen additional appointments were added to the schedule. The
September event usually draws 45-60 participants. More than 10,000 pounds of Household
Hazardous Waste and over 6,000 pounds of electronics were recovered.
EATON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCE RECOVERY
~RETHINKING OUR DEPENDENCE ON NATURAL RESOURCES TODAY BY REDUCING, REUSING & RECYCLING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW~
Printed on recycled paper
Ms. Lafferty noted that the number of participants who brought medications to the three Household
Hazardous Waste events increased by six times as many people as last year. The increase can be
attriubted to the efforts of the Eaton County Substance Abuse Advisory Group and the Greater
Federation of Women’s Clubs who helped to increase awareness on the proper storage and disposal
of medications.
The Low-Cost Televison Recycling event that occurred on September 18, 2009 recovered more than
14,000 pounds of televisions. More than 200 people participated in the event.
The Book Recycling and Secure Document Shredding Event held on September 25th, 2009 recycled
more than 10,000 pounds of materials. Participants were pleased to have an easy way to shred
boxes of documents.
The Regional Landscape Plastics Recycling event on September 30, 2009 experienced lower
participation than last year. More than 37,000 pounds of landscape plastics were recovered.
The Regional Recycling Coordiator’s Committee who organized the event believes that the event was
scheduled too late in the growing season. The Committee will schedule another event for midsummer of 2010.
The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth announced grant funding available
to assist municipalities with implementing energy efficiency strategies, reducing emissions and energy
consumption and creating and/or retaining jobs. Ms. Lafferty is interested in preparing a proposal to
garner funding for energy efficiency improvements at the Eaton County Governmental Complex and
to educate Eaton County residents about cost-effective home energy efficiency strategies.
Commissioner Strachan motioned to approve writing the proposal. Commissioner Freeman
supported the motion.
The September 2009 Budget and Finance Reports were distributed and reviewed.
The next Designated Implementing Agency meeting is set for 8:30 a.m. at the conclusion of the Public
Works and Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009.
__________________________
Art Luna, Chairman
EATON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCE RECOVERY
~RETHINKING OUR DEPENDENCE ON NATURAL RESOURCES TODAY BY REDUCING, REUSING & RECYCLING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW~
Printed on recycled paper