COTE Meeting Minutes for April 11, 2001

April 11 Meeting: Committee on the Environment/ BSA
Meeting Notes: Michael DiRamio

Present: Deane Rykerson, Martine Dion, Larry Asaro, Ambrose Spencer, Kenneth Fisher, Michael Avila, Greg Albertson, Steve Lany, Mary Beth Vogel, Michael DiRamio, Peter Smith, Alan Henderson, Charlotte Matthews

Upcoming events:

• "How We Live" Regional Planning Design Charette. Organized by The Civic Initiative for a Livable New England. April 27th-29th at Northeastern University.

• Interior Design Institute of America Conference. April 24th at office of Peabody Furniture.
• Design Professionals Day at the State House. Tuesday April 24th from 12:30pm-3pm at (obviously) the MA State House.

Comments:
Ambrose highly recommended "Ecology Building Materials" by Bjorn Berge, translated and published by Butterworth as excellent source, especially for residential and small commercial building materials.

Presentations:

• Steve Long, MA DEP: Two sources of Recyclable funding in MA - (1)Recycling Industries Reimbursement Credit (RIRC): processors and manufacturers. (2)Recycling Loan Fund: any recycling company. Steve said MA DEP hopes to have ban on C&D materials by 2003.
• DEP Operational Services Division - procurement (for public organizations only) of green products (e.g. paint, carpet, etc.)
• Interesting Org's mentioned by Steve:
  Waste Cap, 617-236-7715: they help match commercial firms with recycling companies.
• Boston Bldg Materials Resource Center - free non-profit service where they come and pick up any unwanted windows, cabinets, bricks and other bldg materials (need to be in pretty good shape). Benefits: 1)tax write off 2)reduced waste disposal
• States and Federal Funding Presentations:
  To be posted on COTE website: compilation of funding in various states and federal from efforts of various members of the committee.

Next COTE Meeting: Gather at the Kennedy School of Govt, then visit a green building site with the Union of Concerned Scientists. Details to be posted on site.