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Home My WebLink AboutSUS 01-23Report to Executive Committee Report Number: SUS 01-23 Date: January 9, 2023 From: Kyle Bentley Director, City Development & CBO Subject: Review of Diabetes Canada Textile Drop Box Initiative -Council Resolution #223/20-File: D-7001 Recommendation: 1.That Report SUS 01-23 of the Director, City Development & CBO, regarding the Diabetes Canada Textile Drop Box Initiative, be received for information; 2.That Council endorse staff’s recommendation that the City of Pickering not enter into a partnership agreement with Diabetes Canada to install textile drop boxes on City of Pickering properties or adjacent to City facilities; and 3.That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take the necessary actions as indicated in this report. Executive Summary: This report is intended to provide an update and recommendation in regards to Council Resolution #223/20 (see Attachment #1), where staff were directed to review the potential of partnering with the Diabetes Canada Textile Diversion program to allow drop boxes to be installed on City properties/facilities. This process was delayed due to the COVID-19 closure of Diabetes Canada offices and their Textile Diversion program. Once staff resumed their review, a number of important factors were explored. Currently, there are numerous existing textile diversion opportunities in the City, including over 25 textile drop box locations, store fronts at Value Village, Salvation Army, and H&M; and charities that arrange for textile pick-up directly from a resident’s home. There are multiple charities that use textile drop boxes to raise funds. Partnering with one sole charity may be not equitable. In addition, during multiple site visits to various drop box locations, including those of Diabetes Canada, staff continually found the units to have items littering the surrounding area (see photos on page 3). If these bins were located on City property or were adjacent to a City facility, it would result in the area looking unkempt, and the potential for many Customer Care complaints requesting the City to clean it up. Other issues may include garbage being dropped off, and pest issues. This problem was exacerbated during the pandemic, when Diabetes Canada stopped servicing their bins, leaving very large amounts of donations littering the parking lots, and the responsibility of clean up to others. Based on this review, staff do not recommend that the City enter into a license agreement with Diabetes Canada to have textile drop boxes installed on City of Pickering properties/facilities. SUS 01-23 January 9, 2023 Subject: Review of Diabetes Canada Textile Drop Box Initiative Page 2 It is recognized that waste diversion, including of textiles, is essential. To that end, staff will employ a variety of City platforms to promote these avenues to educate residents about existing textile diversion opportunities and its importance. Financial Implications: Not applicable to this report. Discussion: On January 27, 2020, Council received a delegation from Ryan Michaels, National Senior Associate, Government and Strategic Partnerships, Diabetes Canada. Mr. Michaels proposed establishing a partnership with the City of Pickering to develop a textile diversion program. A primary focus of the program was the placement of textile diversion drop boxes, located on both City and privately owned properties in the community. In consideration of Mr. Michael’s proposal, Council directed staff to form a working group, including staff representatives from By-law, Facilities, Sustainability and Planning, to work with Diabetes Canada, in an effort to review creating a partnership, and to report back to Council at its April 27th meeting on an implementation plan. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 global pandemic resulted in a shutdown of Diabetes Canada offices and their Textile Diversion program. Diabetes Canada staff were not available for discussion and no pick-ups were being done, leaving many bin sites in participating plaza and municipalities overflowing with donations. Given the closure of Diabetes Canada and a reprioritization due to COVID-19, further action on the project was deferred until such time as Diabetes Canada reopened. Following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, and Diabetes Canada’s reinstatement of staff and service, City staff resumed work on the project file and completed the following tasks: • researched existing diversion opportunities that residents can access; • completed an audit of current textile drop boxes; and • reviewed other municipal practices. An inventory of existing textile diversion opportunities throughout the City was created. Pickering residents currently have access to a variety of convenient ways to divert usable textiles from the garbage, including: • over twenty-five drop box locations; • store fronts (e.g., Salvation Army, H&M, Value Village); and • organizations that will pick up textiles from their home (e.g., Diabetes Canada, Kidney Foundation). SUS 01-23 January 9, 2023 Subject: Review of Diabetes Canada Textile Drop Box Initiative Page 3 Also, Diabetes Canada is not the only charity that collects textiles. It may not be equitable to enter into a sole partnership with only one particular charity. Lastly, as noted above, during the pandemic, Diabetes Canada stopped servicing their bins, leaving very large amounts of donations littering the parking lots. The mess became the responsibility of others to clean up. The materials had to be disposed of as garbage since the goods had been exposed to the weather. Although Diabetes Canada has resumed servicing units, based on inspections, the bins quite often have donated materials surrounding them. If these bins were located on City property or adjacent to a City facility, it will result in the area looking unkempt, litter and pest issues, and Customer Care complaints. Photos of Diabetes Textile Diversion Bins Based on that review, at this time, staff do not recommend that the City enter into a license agreement with Diabetes Canada to have textile drop boxes installed on City of Pickering properties/facilities. To help educate residents about the importance of using existing textile diversion opportunities staff will include messaging on a variety of platforms. For example a ‘Recycle Your Textiles’ section was added to the City’s website under the Take Action section for Waste and Litter. Social media messages and promotions through an eNewsletter will also be used. Attachment: 1. Council Resolution #223/20 SUS 01-23 January 9, 2023 Subject: Review of Diabetes Canada Textile Drop Box Initiative Page 4 Prepared By: Original Signed By Kristy Gagen Coordinator, Environmental Engagement Original Signed By Chantal Whitaker, BESc (Hons), CSR-P Manager, Sustainability & Strategic Environmental Initiatives Approved/Endorsed By: Original Signed By Kyle Bentley, P. Eng. Director, City Development & CBO KG:ld Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council Original Signed By Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer Attachment #1 to Report SUS 01-23 Legislative Services Division Clerk’s Office Directive Memorandum January 30, 2020 To: Kyle Bentley Director, City Development & CBO From: Susan Cassel City Clerk Subject: Direction as per Minutes of the Meeting of City Council held on January 27, 2020 Notice of Motion Textile Diversion Strategy Council Decision Resolution #223/20 WHEREAS, the City of Pickering has been approached by Diabetes Canada and York University to develop a Textile Diversion Strategy; And Whereas, Diabetes Canada is the largest charitable clothing recycler with over 30 years of collection experience, diverting over 45 million kilograms of textiles each year; And Whereas, over 205 Canadian Municipalities have partnered with Diabetes Canada who operate over 1000 bins on Municipal property; And Whereas, Diabetes Canada is a member of the National Zero Waste Council; And Whereas, Diabetes Canada is a not for profit Organization with revenues generated from Textile Diversion helps support 11 million Canadians with diabetes including approximately 27000 individuals from Pickering; And Whereas, through a Textile Diversion Strategy an estimated 3,000,000 kilograms of textiles can be diverted from landfill; And Whereas, this Textile Diversion program will help support York University’s National Textile Diversion Study; And Whereas, the implementation of a Textile Diversion program in partnership with Diabetes Canada and their charitable partners will have no financial implications for the City of Pickering and enable Pickering to regulate the placement of textile diversion receptacles on public and private properties; Now therefore be it resolved that the Council of The Corporation for the City of Pickering: 1. Supports in principle the implementation of a Textile Diversion Strategy; and, 2. Directs Staff, through the Office of the CAO, to form a working group including Staff representatives from By-law, Facilities, Sustainability and Planning to work with Diabetes Canada in an effort to review creating a partnership and report back to Council at its April 27th meeting on an implementation plan. Please take any action deemed necessary. Susan Cassel Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Director, Community Services & Deputy CAO Director, Corporate Services & City Solicitor