HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLN 04-21Report to
Executive Committee
Report Number: PLN 04-21
Date: February 1, 2021
From: Kyle Bentley
Director, City Development & CBO
Subject: Annual Update on Corporate Waste Initiatives
-File: D-7001
Recommendation:
1.That Report PLN 04-21 of the Director, City Development & CBO regarding corporate waste
initiatives be received for information; and
2.That City staff continue to report annually to Council the results of corporate waste initiatives.
Executive Summary: Staff reported on a strategy to address Resolution #77/19 regarding
corporate waste on November 25, 2019 in Report PLN 28-19 entitled Assessing and Enhancing
Corporate Waste Diversion Practices. Staff were directed to undertake the necessary steps and
report back to Council.
Initiatives were undertaken in 5 key areas of focus to improve corporate waste disposal and
diversion practices. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of these accomplishments
over the past year:
1.staff education and awareness;
2. operational training and collaboration with maintenance staff;
3.integration of waste diversion requirements into event/meeting guidelines;
4.installation of customized user-friendly waste receptacles in all City facilities; and
5.standardization of collection services within City facilities.
The COVID-19 pandemic altered how some aspects of these initiatives were delivered, for
instance in-person training events were replaced with video training tools and an online quiz.
There were other noteworthy community-focused waste diversion efforts undertaken in 2020
through the shift to electronic planning and building permit applications, Battery Recycling
Program, Dog Waste Diversion Program, and events such as the Recycling/Compost Bin
Exchange.
A number of great initiatives were achieved over the year that set a solid foundation to continue
assessing and making improvements into 2021. The community looks to the City to lead by
example. As the Province of Ontario’s ‘Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan’ evolves the City will
take the necessary steps to meet Provincial legislation and be positioned as a community leader
in waste diversion.
Financial Implications: Not applicable to this report.
Report PLN 04-21 February 1, 2021
Subject: Annual Update on Corporate Waste Initiatives Page 2
Discussion: The Province of Ontario’s ‘Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan’ outlined a
commitment to protect and conserve the air, land and water by reducing and diverting waste,
reducing plastic waste, litter and improving opportunities for waste reduction. Many of our
residents and businesses are recognizing the importance of stewardship and taking action to
address the challenges with waste. The City strives to lead by example and is on a continuous
journey to become a more sustainable city. This is reflected in the completion of measureable
actions to reduce waste, increase diversion and reduce contamination rates of recyclables.
The City’s waste strategy focused on education and awareness, operational training, integration
into events/meetings, ensuring the correct waste receptacles were installed throughout facilities,
and standardization of collection services.
Staff Education and Awareness
In an effort to optimize staff resources, the Coordinator, Environmental Engagement successfully
completed the Recycling Council of Ontario’s course and exam to become a certified Waste
Auditor. This will enable facility waste audits to be conducted internally as of 2021, in compliance
with Provincial regulations.
There were many other tools used for education and awareness. For example, Sustainability
training is provided to new staff on a monthly basis, along with Customer Care and Accessibility.
Corporate waste continues to be an important topic within this training session.
In addition to the above-noted initiatives, the City of Pickering declared October 15 to 25, 2020 as
Waste Reduction Week and celebrated with a virtual campaign to educate staff and the public
about the principles of a circular economy, resource efficiency, and waste reduction. Social media
messages and staff e-blasts promoted how to reduce textile, electronic and food waste, as well as
how to avoid single use plastics. Working with the Pay It Forward Committee, staff received waste
related trivia questions and were rewarded with prizes geared to reduce waste.
Initially, City staff were going to receive in-person training about waste diversion at work. In light of
COVID-19, these types of gatherings were not possible. To accomplish this deliverable, a 7-minute
video and mandatory 20-question quiz were produced for staff. The purpose of these tools are to
improve staff awareness so as to increase diversion and reduce contamination of recyclables
across all City facilities. The video and quiz will be issued in mid-January 2021 and staff will have
3 weeks to complete it.
Operational Training and Collaboration with Maintenance Staff
Training and collaboration with maintenance staff is critical to the successful development and
implementation of corporate waste practices. To that end, in-person training was undertaken in
early 2020 to ensure clarity and secure support. This training provided the opportunity to reiterate
waste diversion goals, discuss the role of maintenance staff, and for them to share any issues
they observe. Instructions were provided regarding waste streams, bag types and contamination
rates. A one-page document was prepared and given to facility staff that reiterated operating
procedures.
Report PLN 04-21 February 1, 2021
Subject: Annual Update on Corporate Waste Initiatives Page 3
Integration of Waste Diversion Requirements into Event/Meeting Guidelines
Regarding integration of waste diversion requirements into event/meeting guidelines, staff reviewed
the current Sustainable Meetings Resource Tool as well as the City’s Community Festival and
Events Manual and drafted new waste diversion practices. Due to COVID-19 and the cancellation
of in-person events, staff re-prioritized their efforts. These draft changes will be reexamined,
discussed with Community Services event staff and integrated in the guidelines mid-2021.
Installation of Customized User-Friendly Waste Receptacles in all City Facilities
Successes and challenges with the current waste systems were examined and recommendations
for improvement were developed and undertaken collaboratively between Sustainability and
Facility staff. The facilities included in the assessment were Chestnut Hill Developments
Recreation Complex & Arena, Don Beer Arena, East Shore Community Centre, George Ashe
Community Centre & Library, Pickering Central Library, Dr. Nelson F. Tomlinson Community
Centre, West Shore Community Centre, Pickering Museum Village and Pickering Civic Complex.
As part of the Corporate Waste Strategy, 165 new waste diversion receptacles were placed
throughout 9 City facilities to standardize collection, making it easier to reduce waste, increase
diversion, and reduce contamination rates in recyclables. The bins have clearly marked pictures
and labels for each waste stream to make it simple for staff and facility patrons to know where to
dispose of an item.
The installation and use of improved receptacles will critically influence the success of Pickering’s
corporate waste disposal. The 4-tier units collect organics, paper, mixed containers, and garbage;
3-tier units collect the same excluding organics; 2-tier units collect mixed containers and garbage
and/or paper towel and garbage depending on placement location. The new units helped alleviate
health and safety concerns staff expressed about servicing the previous systems since the
frontloading design allows staff to pull, rather than lift-up bins to retrieve materials. The new models
eliminated hygiene issues associated with frequently touched surfaces, which was a benefit
especially in light of COVID-19. Pop-up banners with ‘what goes where’ messaging have been
produced for all facilities.
Standardization of Collection Services within City Facilities
In order to standardize waste collection services, staff reviewed the City’s corporate waste
disposal and diversion practices at 9 facilities to assess garbage, organics and recycling collection
services. Staff are working with the Region of Durham and their contractor to coordinate logistics
and address inconsistencies. This work is expected to be done in early 2021. The Region of
Durham’s legacy arrangement to service the City’s municipal facilities will end in June 2022 with
the potential to extend for one year. Staff will take the appropriate steps to ensure service
continuity and update Council in a future report.
Waste Diversion Initiatives within the Community
COVID-19 challenged people to look at new ways of conducting business. One such positive
outcome was a shift to paperless building permit applications. In order to reduce exposure and
adapt to the closure of City facilities, Building Services launched a Digital Submission Application
for all building permits. The new process allowed for digital review and has greatly reduced paper
use and waste. Similarly, the Planning & Design Division has also transitioned to electronic
submission of applications and supporting material.
Report PLN 04-21 February 1, 2021
Subject: Annual Update on Corporate Waste Initiatives Page 4
In addition to waste related efforts within facilities, staff also continued to deliver programs to the
community at large. For example, residents are allowed to drop batteries off to designated bins in
4 City facilities. In 2020, over 91 kilograms of batteries were collected and recycled responsibly.
The Dog Waste Diversion Program was available in 16 parks, 6.4 tonnes of dog waste was
collected and brought to a facility for conversion into electricity, heat, and nutrient dense fertilizer.
The City regularly partners with the Region of Durham to host events such as the compost
give-away, recycling/green bin exchange, household hazardous and e-waste collection. Due to
evolving COVID-19 requirements, only the recycling/green bin exchange occurred but over
600 people took part in the drive-through event. Plans are underway to resume some of the other
events in the summer/fall of 2021 pending COVID-19 regulations.
Litter is often referred to as ‘waste out of place’. The City supported individuals and organizations
conducting small-scale litter cleanups to reduce plastic and other contaminations from the
environment. These were conducted in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines at the time.
Staff also looked for other opportunities to encourage sustainable waste related practices. For
example, the City of Pickering Farmers’ Market Vendor Application Package requested vendors to
try to eliminate the use of plastic bags and straws in favour of paper and to switch to compostable
takeaway containers. These changes were encouraged as opposed to enforced, in recognition of
the number of other modifications vendors had to make for the 2020 Market season due to
COVID-19. Staff will reevaluate for the 2021 Market season.
Moving forward into 2021 staff will monitor existing programs and develop new initiatives to
improve corporate waste diversion, including for example:
• establish waste ambassadors for each facility;
• promote personal waste challenges;
• expand education and awareness to facility patrons;
• address waste diversion at indoor/outdoor events and meetings;
• undertake a facilities waste audit to assess the impact of improvements; and
• determine a quantitative baseline that will inform future decisions.
Sustainability staff will continue to collaborate with other staff and report back to Council annually
to communicate corporate waste diversion results.
Report PLN 04-21 February 1, 2021
Subject: Annual Update on Corporate Waste Initiatives Page 5
Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By:
Chantal Whitaker, BESc (Hons), CSR-P Kyle Bentley, P.Eng.
Supervisor, Sustainability Director, City Development & CBO
CW :ld
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
Marisa Carpino, M.A.
Interim Chief Administrative Officer
Original Signed By Original Signed By
Original Signed By