Present: Paula, Jill, Charles, Anne and Stella

Apologies: Esther

 

1. Pop Up Shop

Now Evans Travel is no longer available we must look elsewhere for premises.

Jill would look into the premises next to Morrisons, Anne would investigate Roem Clothing which is about to close and Esther would be asked to chase up the Museum who she has already approached. No decisions about when the event could now be held until we have a definite venue.

We have been asked to run the Sus Cred stall at the August Community Market. Anne suggested we could use it as a one day Give and Take event if no premises was forthcoming before then.

£500 has been received from DCC via Nick Way's Locality Fund to help fund the event. Paula to thank Nick. Paula is still awaiting a decision on additional funding from Awards for All.

Everyone is asked to make a list of things they feel would be suitable to have at the Pop Up Shop for the next meeting so we can compile a list of examples ready for when we can say 'go' on the project.

 

2. Plastics Collections

 

Esther and Jill asked to put up fresh leaflets advertising dates at premises where they have disappeared.

Next collection at Crediton is Sat May 31st and in the week leading up to this at Sandford and Ch Fitzpaine.

Paula to put an ad into Courier for Fri 23rd May and Jill and Anne to do the usual reminders beforehand.

Anne has sent off for Jan and March landfill credits from MDDC. All 2013 income now received.

Collection figures for Jan were 960kg and for Mar 787kg so tonnage is holding up well. Sarah Green and Anne to create a graph of collection tonnages since we started for the website.

Plastic collection tonnages for Punchbowl and Ashleigh in 2013/14 will be available soon but in 2012/13 we collected 30% by weight of total Punchbowl figures for year which all considered very good.

 

3. Recycling Tip of the Month

Stella had now written her first 'tip'  (for April) and sent off to to Alan Quicke at the Courier. He is happy to receive the tips from her.

Stella to send the 'tip' routinely to rest of WAGs and Anne will put it on website each month. Tips will also go to Gazette 2 weeks after the Courier.

Paula congratulated Stella on the quality of her first tip which was well written and interesting.

 

4.Devon Waste Strategy Consultation

 

DCC had now replied to all the public comments that had been sent in. The document and comments will now go to an inspector who will judge all the comments and determine if the plan as envisaged by DCC needs to be amended. Charles had been invited to attend at 2 days of public consultation regarding this in July, but not to speak.

The 64% recycling target for 2020 set in the document  is down to the figures submitted to DCC by Mid Devon and the other local Devon waste collection authorities. All new incinerators built in Devon from now on will be responsible for removing recyclables from the waste stream before burning the waste delivered to them, but this does not apply to Exeter and Plymouth which are already running and will burn everything delivered to them.

Plastic is now counted as a recyclable and if Devon's recycling rate falls below the 64% target the plan will need to be adjusted and some action take.

With regard to Mid Devon's recent changes and proposed changes in waste collection, the £50 charge for collection of garden waste is not yet a policy but a 'suggestion'. Charles is being sent a copy of the policy which is not, as yet, set in stone. Charles proposes to put a short survey onto the Sus Cred website to find out public views and will report these back to MDDC.

 

5. Food Festival Recycling June 14th and 15th

 

The decision was made to definitely go ahead with this. At least 6 volunteers will be needed in addition to the WAGs organising group to do it properly.

Anne to contact the 'plastics' volunteer list and Paula to contact the 'Clothes Swop' volunteer list to get a feel of how many people would be prepared to come along and help out for a couple of hours or more.

Jill will check the opening hrs with the organising group and we will make a decision at the next meeting how many hours we will cover and on which days.

We will need 2 recycling points and a total of 12 bins, 2 each for  - clean plastics, tins, glass, compostables  and landfill and 2 spare.

Jill to ask MDDC to provide the bins and suitable plastic liners.

Compostables would include compostable food boxes and cardboard cups, serviettes, wooden forks, leftover food and cardboard from trade stands. All plastic containers soiled with food would need to go into the landfill bin.

We may need to create more recycling signs and signs to go on the bins too.

 

6. Congregational Church Clothes Swop

 

Paula to get back to the organiser of this event, Clare Gibbs, to say we will advertise it in our newsletter and ask our volunteers if they would help if they are short of people plus give any help and advice they may request.

Charles to re send Paula the email from the Cong Church.

 

7. Community Market - 9th August

Anne had been asked if WAGs would organise the Sus Cred stall. We agreed to do so, details to be sorted out later, possibly as a Give and Take stall. Anne to relay information back to Food Group.

 

8. Crediton Library Review

  Anne mentioned that a questionnaire is about to be issued to get people's views on making the library more cost effective for the Council to run and to increase its relevance to the whole community. This might include its use by Community Groups for displays, meetings etc. The good news is that usage of the library is sufficient that it is not currently facing closure.

 

9.Next Two Meetings 

The meeting scheduled for May 12th/13th had now been cancelled as we have no Pop Up Shop to organise currently.

Next meeting will be Monday 19th May at 2pm at Jills with a back up date of Wed 21st May if Carolyn and Esther cannot make 19th.

Carolyn and Esther could you please get back to me on reading this and let us know your preference if any.

Following meeting Mon 2 June at 2pm at Jills - Food Festival organisation meeting.

 

If you are interested in reducing, reusing or recycling you are welcome to come and join our friendly group at this meeting to see what we are planning. Your input would be most welcome.

For more details please contact Paula, our group co-ordinator.