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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOES 37-03 Ciú¡ c~ REPORT TO FINANCE & OPERTIONS COMMITTEE 45 Report Number: OES 37-03 Date: November 1O, 2003 From: Richard W. Holborn, P. Eng. Division Head, Municipal Property & Engineering Subject: Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Elimination of Clear Plastic Bags Amendment to By-law #5422/98 Recommendation: 1. That Report OES 37-03 regarding leaf and yard waste collection - elimination of clear plastic bags be received; and 2. That Council adopt the elimination of plastic bags from leaf and yard waste collection commencing April 1, 2004 in conjunction with an advertising and promotion campaign to Pickering residents; and 3. That a by-law to amend the City's Waste Management By-law # 5422/98 to give effect to the change be forwarded to Council. Executive Summary: The Council of the Region of Durham has requested the City of Pickering not to deliver any Christmas trees, leaf and yard waste or grass clippings in plastic bags to the Region for processing into compost and not to deliver these materials to the Region as garbage waste for landfill disposal. The City's Waste Management By-law already mandates the separation of recyclable materials, leaf and yard waste from the garbage stream due to restrictions at landfill sites, however, the elimination of plastic bags from leaf and yard waste collection will be difficult to implement mainly due to cost of kraft paper bags that most residents will revert to. Residents will have to embrace the long-term benefits of removing plastic bags from the compost process through lower processing (disposal costs) and production of better compost material for end users. An amendment to the City's Waste Management By-law # 5422/98 is required to eliminate plastic bags from leaf and yard waste collections and to make it enforceable. Due to the timing of the request, there is insufficient time to implement the change any sooner than the spring 2004 yard waste collections. The City's Christmas tree collection program in January 2004 will not be affected, as tree bags are presently not accepted. Report OES 37-03 Date: November 10, 2003 46 Subject: Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Elimination of Clear Plastic Bags Amendment to By-law #5422/98 Page 2 Financial Implications: The elimination of plastic bags from leaf and yard waste collections will not impact costs related to the collection program itself, residents that set out leaf and yard waste in plastic bags will have to convert to more costly kraft paper bags or purchase additional open rigid top containers. Elimination of plastic reduces compost-processing costs, which translates to lower disposal costs at the Regional level. Background: It has been policy for the City of Pickering to accept residential Leaf and Yard Waste in clear plastic bags, kraft paper bags, bushel baskets or open rigid top containers. The City's Christmas tree collection program bans tree bags, and the City discontinued grass-clipping collection in 1996. The City's Waste Management By-law # 5422/98 makes the separation of yard waste and recyclables from garbage mandatory. Leaf and Yard Waste materials collected by area municipalities are delivered to a composting site for processing. Continuing to accept clear plastic bags in the Leaf and Yard Waste Stream is a practice that is no longer viewed as environmentally conscientious or financially sustainable. As a result, many municipalities are moving toward a ban on plastics within the Leaf and Yard Waste stream. Plastic bags do not decompose and must be screened out (de-bagged) during the processing phase. Furthermore, the plastic bags pose a substantial litter predicament at the composting site. The cost for the processing of Leaf and Yard Waste in plastic bags is significantly higher when compared to the processing of Leaf and Yard Waste collected in kraft paper bags. While the use of clear plastic bags has been adequate from a collection standpoint, it is considered a contaminant by the horticultural market; which in turn makes the finished compost difficult to market and consequently reduces its commercial value, resulting in higher costs to the taxpayer and consumer. The use of kraft paper bags for Leaf and Yard Waste provides a significant cost savings during the processing phase when compared to plastic bags. The bags and their contents are shredded to reduce the bag into particles that decompose with the Leaf and Yard Waste, which in turn, negates the requirement for screening out the miscellany of plastic bags. A large number of municipalities in Ontario have implemented policies for the collection of Leaf and Yard Waste, which restricts packaging to kraft paper bags or open rigid top containers. The introduction of kraft paper bags within these municipalities such as the Town of Whitby has demonstrated to residents a practical collection container with no significant problems experienced in the collection process or with resident acceptance. Report OES 37-03 Date: November 10, 2003 Subject: Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Elimination of Clear Plastic Bags Amendment to By-law #5422/98 47 Page 3 In the Spring of 2003, the Region of Durham introduced their Integrated Waste Management Program in the Municipality of Clarington and the Townships of Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog. Residents in these municipalities have accepted the program with little difficulties in the new ways of preparing, separating and placing out their waste materials. Kraft paper bags or open rigid top containers are mandatory for their Leaf and Yard Waste. Plastic bags have been banned for all compostable materials placed out for collection in these municipalities. On October 7, 2003, Pickering Council passed Resolution #144/03, endorsing in principal, the implementation of the Region of Durham's Integrated Waste Management System. The banning of plastic is consistent with Durham Region's initiative to eliminate plastics from the composting stream. As we approach the introduction of the Region of Durham's Integrated Waste Management System, the banning of plastics is viewed as a proactive step toward the Integrated System, which is clearly designed around "Organics". On October 8, 2003, the Region of Durham Works Committee considered Report 2003- WR-7 and recommended the following to Council: IlThat the Cities of Oshawa and Pickering and the Town of Ajax be requested to: Not deliver any Christmas trees, leaf and yard waste, or grass clippings in plastic bags to the Region for processing into compost, because plastic bags are not compostable and they create unnecessary litter in our community; and Further Not to deliver any Christmas trees, leaf and yard waste, hedges or grass clippings to the Region as garbage waste for landfill disposal, because these materials are prohibited in the State of Michigan's landfill sites." The recommendations stated above were adopted by Regional Council at a meeting held on October 22, 2003. The expectation is that the area municipalities abide by the request as soon as possible but practically speaking commencing with Christmas tree collections in January 2004 and with the spring 2004 yard waste collection. This would give City staff sufficient time to advertise and promote the change, and sufficient time for residents to prepare for the change. The City of Pickering has been promoting the use of kraft paper bags for yard waste for several years. In 2002, a campaign was launched whereby each residence was supplied with two (2) kraft paper bags as a promotional initiative. Staff have observed that some residents in the City of Pickering have switched voluntarily to kraft paper bags for leaf and yard waste collection. Report OES 37-03 Date: November 10, 2003 48 Subject: Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Elimination of Clear Plastic Bags Amendment to By-law #5422/98 Page 4 Attachments: 1. 2. 3. Report 2003-WR-7 Letter dated October 22, 2003 from Regional Clerk By-law Prepared By: ~~- Clerk, Technical Support Services Everet Director Operations & Emergency Services RH:ds Attachments I:\COUNCIL \OES3 7 -O31.docNov-O3 Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council // t,CHMENT#~, TOREPORT# O~SS 7 -03 J .oj 3 Regiom¡¡¡ Munícipaiity of Durham To: The Works Committee From: Commissioner of Works Report: 2003-WR-7 Date: October 8, 2003 49 SUBJECT: The Use of Plastic Bags and the Disposal of Leaf and Yard Wastes and Christmas Trees RECOMMENDATIONS: THAT the Works Committee recommends to Regional Council that: The Cities of Oshawa and Pickering and the Town of Ajax be requested: - Not to deliver any Christmas trees, leaf and yard waste, or grass clippings in plastic bags to the Region for processing into compost, because plastic bags are not compostable and they create unnecessary litter in our community; and - Not to deliver any Christmas trees, leaf and yard waste, hedges, or grass . clippings to the Region as a garbage waste for landfill disposal, because these materials are prohibited in the State of Michigan's landfill sites. REPORT: 1. BACKGROUND In December 1999, Regional Council adopted the "Region of Durham Long Term Waste Management Strategy Plan: 2000 to 2020". One of the main goals of the Waste Plan is to "to divert at least 50% of the residential waste from disposafby the Year 2007 or earlier." . In the spring of 2003, the Region introduced the new integrated waste management system in the Municipality of Clarington and the Townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge. The residents in these communities have adapted extremely well to a new way of preparing, separating and putting out their residential waste materials. They use kraft paper yard waste bags or rigid open top containers for their leaf and yard waste to be composted. Grass clippings are simply left on the lawn. They do not use plastic bags for compostable materials, as plastic bags are not compostabîe and they create unnecessary litter. In addition, the collection contractors do not pick up any yard waste as a garbage waste for landfill disposal. an "I'V Report No.: 20C3-\NR-7 I, TOREPORT# 6ES 3J-<J3 Page No.: 2 Þ ACHMENT# 50 Based on experience at the Region's compost yard on Garrard Road in VVhitby, plastic bags are not compostable and they create unnecessary litter in our community. Residents living near the compost site have been complaining about litter from these plastic bags on their properties and were very surprised that some area municipalities within the Region were still collecting leaf and yard wastes and Christmas trees in this manner. Existing levels of Curbside Collection Service Where Plastic Bags are Permitted Municipality Christmas leaf and Grass Garbage Trees Yard Wastes Clippings Waste Pickering No Yes No Yes Ajax No Yes Yes Yes Whitby No No No Yes Oshawa Yes Yes Yes Yes Clarington No No No Yes Scugog No No No Yes Uxbridge No No No Yes Brock No No No Yes It is time to make a change in the way these materials are received by the Region for outdoor windrow composting. Staff propose that effective January 2004, all Christmas trees, leaf & yard waste, and grass clippings delivered to the Region for processing into compost, not be in plastic bags, because plastic bags are not compostable and they create unnecessary litter. This recommendation will have an impact on the area municipalities noted above that still collect compostables in plastic bags. Subject to the approval of the recommendations of this report, these municipalities will have several months to prepare for their Christmas tree collection in early January 2004 as well as a few additional months prior to spring clean up collection in April 2004. Of a more urgent nature, these area municipalities are currently developing their 2004 waste calendars and it is desirable that these revisions be included so as to . . minimize any confusion next year. The Region will continue to actively assist in educating residents about the benefits of not using plastic bags for their compostable materials. 2. PROHIBITIONS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN The Department of Environmental Quality in the State of Michigan recently released the results of their intensive inspection program to evaluate landfill disposal practices in IVíichigan. Weekly inspections were undertaken from mid March to mid June and approximately 5,000 loads of waste were inspected. 91 .("ACHt"'1ENT #--L. TO REPORT# DeS 3 J-o:s,",.".,=: ~,;.~. ' ':'- Kepo;;. No.: 20G3-WK-7 S u; ~- . a~~ ,"~.. '-' Their findings included the f'oiiowing: 51 - A large number of waste loads during the summer months contained some amounts of yard wastes, despite Michigan's prohibition on the disposal of such waste in their landfill sites - Yard waste was found in a much greater percentage of Ontario waste loads than in Michigan loads or loads from other States Unfortunately, the results do not specifically identify where in the Province of Ontario these loads of excessive yard waste materials originated. The other municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area already provide separate yard waste collections to their residents during the seasonal growing season. However, in order to comply with the State of Michigan's landfill regulations, it is proposed that those area municipalities currently responsible for waste collection not deliver any Christmas trees, leaf and yard waste, hedges, or grass clippings to the Region as a garbage waste for landfill disposal, because these materials are prohibited in Michigan's landfill sites. All the garbage waste from the Cities of Pickering and Oshawa as well as the Towns of Ajax and Whitby is disposed of by Regional Contractors in a landfill site in the State of Michigan. 3. CONCLUSION The Region of Durham needs to be aggressive and progressively move forward on its waste reduction programs. This report outlines environmentally beneficial programs that seek to improve the quality of Region's compost, reduce the amount of litter in our community and minimize the amount of yard waste materials being disposed of in landfill sites. It is proposed these changes take effect in January 2004. I is, P.Eng., MBA oner of Works Recommended for Presentation to Committee: G.H. Cubiti, MSVV, Chief Administrative Officer WM1/cb 92 ATiACHMENT#_~,- TO RE PORT # OGS ~ 7-ð3 ?~';'~ of., I""", THIS LETTER HAS 8EEN-FGRWARDED TO THE TOWNOFþJþJC .A:ND'C1TY~OF OSHAWÁ"CLERKS 5') <- 'Clerk's. Department. ENGlf'JEEiJiNG' October 22, 2003 '. """~'~" ~r'" City of Pickering 1 The Esplanade, ", Pickering, ON L1V 6K7' , The Regional Municipality , 'of Durham , ' 6Q5ROSSLAND RD, E, PO BOX623" , WHITBY ,ON L1N 6A3 "'CANADA' 9b5~668-i111', , ' 1-800-372-1102 , , Fax: 905-668-9963 ' " ,,' ' , , ' , 'Smail' . ',",','", "',',, " " " ,,', " "", " " :cle¡-k~@regbn;durham,Dri,C;;\ ' Mr. Taylor, the Works pommittee of R~gional CounciLconsidered tbe, above, ' , ',', , " ,matter and at a meeting held on October 22, 2003, Council adoptsd the' " :;~::::~::::::~~~(T1~nctations of the Co(T1(T1ittè~: , ',", .', ',' , . ",. '.' ',' RegionalClerk,/ '/ If THATthe, Giti6r of OshawaandPickeringandtheTownof Ajax be , " (Jr:quested",) ,', ,",',," ,\, ' "', ' "" dÞKff10 delivera~y Christmas trees, leaf and yard waste, or grass " ~ clippings in plastic bags to the Region for processing intO90mpost, , , becausepJasticbags are not compostable and they ,create: ' ul1necessarylitter in our community; and, ' ,,' " , ' ' ' , ' , ' ¡HE USE OF PLASTIC' 13AGS AND THE DISPÖSA't"()Fj:E~F')\j\JD~~YA"RD""'":'~' "WASTES AND 'CHRISTMAS TREES GR #2003-WR-70URFILE: " , ' Notto deliver any Christmas' trees, leafand yard wàste,hed9,es, or , grass clippings tothe Region as á garbage waste for landfill " ", disposal, ,because these materials .arepröhibited inthe State òf . Michigan'slandfillsites," ' " ' ' (} A 11, r M¿Jß \.,_J/ r æø~ ' P.M. Madill, A.M,C.T., CMM I Regional Clerk PMIVUis C. Curtis, Commissioner of WOiks "Seniice Excellence iorÒi:Jì'Commuhities" @ 100% Post Consume! ðT'ACHMENT# 3,,_. TOREPORT# S 7-63 __-L ot I THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PICKERING BY-lAW NO. 51 Being a by-law to amend By-law 5422/98 for the collection and removal of garbage, recyclable materials, yard waste and other refuse. WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 208.6 (1) and (2) the Municipal Act, RS.O. 1990, chapter M.45, as amended a local municipality may pass by-laws to prohibit or regulate the use of any part of a waste management system; NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCil OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PICKERING HEREBY ENACTS AS FOllOWS: 1. Section 1 to By-law Number 5422/98 is hereby amended by deleting therefrom the following item: (I) (iii) Only clear, transparent, heavy-duty plastic bags, returnable bushel baskets or open top reusable receptacles shall be used for yard waste 2. Section 1 to By-law Number 5422/98 is hereby amended by adding thereto the following item: (I) (iii) Only clear transparent, heavy-duty plastic bags, returnable bushel baskets or open top reusable receptacles shall be used for yard waste until March 31, 2004. Only multi-layer kraft type paper bags, sufficiently durable to withstand lifting without breaking open not greater than 90 centimetres in height by 70 centimetres in width, returnable bushel baskets or open top reusable receptacles shall be used for yard waste commencing April 1, 2004 BY-lAW read a first, second and third time and finally passed this 2nd day of February 2004. Dave Ryan, Mayor Bruce Taylor, City Clerk