Hollis Select Board Transparency Archive

MN2PR12MB4094017CBD56738285E4A5BCA0132

Project Scope - Community Action Grant

From

• Mar Fink <[email protected]>

To

• Richard Morin <[email protected]>
• Mary Hoffman <[email protected]>

Cc

• Melanie Nash <[email protected]>

Date

Wed, Jun 3, 2026 · 10:53 a.m. ET

• Draft Project Scope Hollis CAG Round 7.docxOpen original

  Read from the file

  Town of Hollis Community Action Grant Round 7

  Project Description

  To guide waste diversion and education efforts, the Town of Hollis will contract with Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) to assist the Town with the Hollis Waste Diversion and Education Project. SMPDC has already assisted Hollis with the creation of the Town’s first Open Space Plan and Heating and Cooling Center Management Plan. This will allow SMPDC to build on Hollis’ existing resilience priorities and expand the town’s waste diversion and education to increase recycling rates from the current rate of 22.75%.

  SMPDC will coordinate with Ecomaine, the Town of Hollis’ provider for curbside recycling, to provide community education on waste diversion. In addition to providing educational materials, Ecomaine will provide education training to Hollis staff and committee members, bolstering local capacity to provide community education around sustainable waste management. SMPDC will also coordinate a small-scale waste audit to better understand the composition of Hollis’ waste stream. The resulting data will be valuable in identifying opportunities to increase the sustainability of Hollis’ waste management. In addition, Hollis currently has no composting of food scraps available to residents. Instead, all food waste is sent with municipal solid waste. The Town will implement a pilot composting program in coordination with Garbage to Garden, and provide education and support to Hollis residents to expand participation in the program.

  Hollis’ Waste Diversion and Education Project is a key step in the Town’s efforts to implement Maine Won’t Wait Strategy Area E: Protect the Environment and Natural and Working Lands and Waters in Maine, and Strategy Area G: Engage with Maine People.

  Tasks and Deliverables:

  Task 1: Project Administration

  SMPDC will lead project management and administration. This task will include managing the project budget and timeline, coordinating project meetings, and ensuring completion of project deliverables. The Town will administer the grant award and will work with SMPDC to submit CRP reports.

  Deliverables: Summary of project activities for input into CRP quarterly update reports Summary of project activities for input into CRP final project report

  Task 2: Recycling &amp; Compost Education Training SMPDC will coordinate with Ecomaine to train the Hollis Conservation Commission, Hollis Parks and Recreation Department, and Salmon Falls Library staff on recycling and compost education and outreach. As an Ecomaine owner community, Hollis is eligible for assistance from Ecomaine with education and outreach as part of the Town’s existing contract. Ecomaine will provide two group trainings to town staff and committee members, including educational materials and best practices for community outreach around recycling and waste management. Education trainings will expand local capacity to continue providing recycling and waste management education beyond the timeline of this project.

  Deliverables: Waste diversion education toolkit to be used by committee members and staff and distributed to community members

  Task 3: Recycling &amp; Compost Education

  Task 3a: Community Education

  SMPDC will coordinate with the Hollis Conservation Commission, Hollis Parks and Recreation Department, and Salmon Falls Library staff to provide recycling &amp; compost education for adults and youth. SMPDC will coordinate with Ecomaine to provide hands-on programming at MSAD 6 schools to educate youth on recycling and the composting pilot program. SMPDC will also work with the Town of Hollis to coordinate outreach to local businesses about recycling guidelines and the composting pilot program. SMPDC will coordinate outreach to community members via mailers, local newspapers, and online engagement to educate residents on the composting pilot program. SMPDC will also organize a Hollis Clean Up Day in coordination with local schools and youth organizations (e.g. Scouts) to educate youth on recycling guidelines and compost, and pick up litter in public areas. Education will include engagement at existing local events, including Hollis’ annual Community Day.

  Deliverables: Summary of education activities and youth engagement.

  Task 3b: Recycling Bin Distribution

  SMPDC will assist the Town of Hollis in purchasing recycling bins from Ecomaine at a discounted, at-cost price as part of the Town’s existing contract. These bins will be owned by the Town and provided to residents to facilitate recycling participation and pickup.

  Deliverables: Ecomaine curbside recycling bins provided to residents – specify number

  Task 3d: Analyze Findings and Prepare Recycling Report

  SMPDC will coordinate with Ecomaine to obtain data on Hollis’ recycling rates at the conclusion of the project. These data will be compared to Hollis’ previous recycling rates and compiled in a written report summarizing the effectiveness of Hollis’ recycling education initiatives.

  Deliverables: Recycling Report comparing Hollis’ recycling rates before and after the project.

  Task 4: Hollis Household Waste Audit

  The Town of Hollis will host a University of New England (UNE) Sustainability Fellow (hereafter referred to as ‘the Fellow’) in summer 2027 to design and implement a small-scale waste audit to better understand the composition of the Town’s waste stream. This process will also identify opportunities for improved waste reduction, recycling, composting, and materials management. This audit will provide baseline data to support future solid waste planning, public education, and future waste diversion projects. The Fellow will be managed and supervised by SMPDC, who will coordinate project administration, technical guidance, and mentorship throughout the duration of the fellowship.

  Task 4a: Apply for and Coordinate UNE Sustainability Fellow

  The Town, in partnership with SMPDC, will apply for a UNE Sustainability Fellow to lead implementation of the community waste audit during Summer 2027. SMPDC will serve as the primary supervisor and project manager, and will work with UNE and Town staff to develop a project description, establish project goals, and coordinate the work plan and schedule for the fellowship period.

  Deliverables: Host site application for UNE Sustainability Fellow program. Fellowship work plan.

  Task 4b: Develop a Municipal Waste Audit Protocol

  The Fellow, with guidance from SMPDC and the Town, will develop a community waste audit protocol tailored to Hollis’ needs, operational capacity, and waste collection practices. This task will evaluate several potential audit methodologies and recommend and approach that balances data quality, public participation, and logistics.

  Possible methods may include: An opt-in community collection event where residents voluntarily bring bagged household waste to a designated municipal location for sorting and analysis; Sampling bagged waste collected through routine municipal garbage collection routes; A hybrid approach combining volunteer participation supplemented with route-based sampling.

  This protocol will establish critical logistics and methods including sampling procedures, waste sorting categories, volunteer and staff responsibilities, equipment and site setup needs, and public outreach strategies.

  Deliverables: Written protocol document for Hollis’ summer 2027 waste audit.

  Task 4c: Conduct Waste Audit Event

  The Fellow will work with SMPDC, Town staff, and volunteers to facilitate the waste audit event, including both public outreach, preparation, and the oversight of collection, sorting, and documentation on the day of the audit event. The Fellow and team will conduct outreach in advance of the waste audit which may include recruiting volunteers, preparing educational and promotional materials, and coordinating with waste haulers and municipal staff. The Fellow and team will also prepare for the event by procuring necessary supplies, including sorting tools, and personal protective equipment and organizing the audit site layout and workflow.

  The Fellow, with support from SMPDC, Town staff, and volunteers, will lead the waste audit event and oversee activities on the day of. Waste materials will be separated into standardized categories such as food waste, recyclable materials, compostable paper, plastics, glad, metals, construction debris, and others as necessary according to the protocol developed in Task 4b. Materials will be weighed and recorded to quantify the composition of the sampled waste stream and identify opportunities for diversion and waste reduction.

  Deliverables: Public engagement materials. Documented weight of different waste categories. Data on amount, type, and location of waste analyzed.

  Task 4d: Analyze Findings and Prepare Waste Audit Report

  Following completion of the audit, the Fellow, with support from SMPDC, will compile and analyze collected data and prepare a summary memo. This memo will document findings including: The selected audit methods and implementation process; Waste characterization findings and data; Key trends and observations; Opportunities for recycling, composting, and waste reduction; Recommendations for future municipal waste management initiatives and outreach.

  The final report will provide the Town of Hollis with actionable baseline data and a locally tailored framework to support future sustainability planning and solid waste management improvements.

  Deliverables: Written summary report including recommendations for future waste management improvements.

  Task 5: Composting Pilot Program &amp; Evaluation

  SMPDC will coordinate with the Town Manager and Garbage to Garden to implement a 6-month pilot composting program. The program will include three drop-off sites in Hollis: the Town Hall complex, the Sports Complex, and Hollis’ Community Garden. Educational initiatives described in Tasks 2 and 3 will include outreach and information for Hollis residents about the composting pilot program. After the completion of the pilot program, Town staff will create a report summarizing the pilot’s successes and challenges. The Town Manager will present this assessment to the Hollis Select Board and make a recommendation on extending the composting program beyond the completion of this project.

  Deliverables: Written summary report of successes and challenges of the pilot composting program