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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOES 008-02 CiÚ¡ o~ 015 REPORT TO COUNCIL FROM: Richard W. Holborn Division Head, Municipal Property & Engineering DATE: February 18, 2002 - REPORT NUMBER: OES 008-02 SUBJECT: Proposed Extension and Expansion of the "Rolling to Reduce" Three Stream Cart Based Waste Diversion Pilot Project RECOMMENDATION: 1. That the Joint Report OES 008-02 from the Operations and Emergency Services Department and Corporate Services Department be received for information; and 2. That City Council pre-approve the new line item in the 2002, Solid Waste Current Budget for the Operations & Emergency Services Department, Municipal Property & Engineering Division, to extend the term of the existing pilot project by nine (9) months from April 1, 2002, to December 31,2002, at a cost of$155,250; and 3. That City Council pre-approve the new line item in the 2002, Solid Waste Current Budget for the Operations & Emergency Services Department, Municipal Property & Engineering Division, to expand the cart based waste diversion pilot project into another neighbourhood area of approximately 500-600 homes for a period of seven (7) months from June 1,2002, to December 31,2002, at a cost of $60,000; and - 4. That a copy of this report be forwarded to the Region of Durham and that the Region be requested to costshare on the extension and expansion of the pilot project on a 50/50 basis. ORIGIN: The requirement of pre-budget approval by City Council to extend and also to expand the "Rolling to Reduce" Cart based Waste Diversion Pilot Project in order to secure equipment and to commence the introduction of the program to a new area. AUTHORITY: Not applicable FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: - An extension of the existing pilot project in the Amberlea Neighbourhood for nine (9) months from April 1, 2002, to December 31, 2002, would require that the City incur the full lease cost on the Heil split cart waste collection vehicle. The monthly cost for this specialized equipment is $15,000 per month, plus P.S.T and G.S.T, for a total of$155,250 for the remainder of 2002. The Labrie organics collection vehicle is wholly owned by Miller Waste Systems and as a result of their partnership on this project, no additional costs will apply for the use of this truck. Should the extension be approved, the proposed expansion of the cart based waste diversion pilot project to another area of 500-600 homes in the City would only result in an additional expenditure to purchase and deliver carts and to print various educational and marketing tools. The split waste collection carts used in the Town of Markham will be available for purchase at 0 1. 6 Report to Council OES 008-02 Date: February 18, 2002 Subj ect: Proposed Extension and Expansion ofthe Waste Diversion Pilot Project Page 2 ~ half their new cost or approximately $60 each, while the organics carts will again be loaned to the City of Pickering by Schaefer industries. The proposed expansion to a new area of 500-600 homes would cost between $30,000 and $36,000, plus applicable transportation costs of approximately $5000 and an additional $5,000 for program marketing for a total estimated cost of $50,000. Additional costs will not apply for the collection vehicles since, under the premise that the extension is approved, they will be leased exclusively to the City of Pickering. New line items have been included in the proposed 2002 Operations & Emergency Services Department, Municipal Property & Engineering Division, Solid Waste Operating Budget for the costs associated with the proposed extension and expansion of the waste diversion pilot project. Amounts have been included in account 2430-2393 Recycling Collection for $160,000 to provide for the extension ofthe current pilot project and for $60,000 to expand the pilot project. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The "Rolling to Reduce" three-stream cart based waste diversion pilot project, which has been operating in the AmberleaNeighbourhood since November 6, 2001, has continued to produce very positive results. The waste diversion from landfill rate for the pilot project area during the first three months of operation being, November, 2001, December, 2001, and January, 2002, averages 63%, while the traditional system of bags and blue box collection for the same period is 28%. - Based on the encouraging waste diversion results that have continued to be presented and also the responses that have been received from our recent resident survey, an extension of the existing pilot project and an expansion to another neighbourhood area is suggested. The extension and expansion of the program is recommended to commence on April 1, 2002, and June 1, 2002, respectively, and continue until the end of the year. Pre-budget approval is required for both the extension and the expansion in order for the City to make commitments for equipment and to commence the implementation of the program into a new area. BACKGROUND: In accordance with Council Resolution #111/01, passed on September 17, 2001, City staff implemented a three-stream cart based waste diversion pilot project in the City. This pilot project involved a partnership between the City of Pickering, the Town of Markham, Miller Waste Systems and the Region of Durham and was officially launched in the Amberlea Neighbourhood with the first automated collection on November 6,2001. A partnership with the Town of Markham was required so that the City of Pickering could cost share on the lease of a specialized collection vehicle equipped to automatically collect the split waste/recycling cart. Although the resolution directed that the pilot project commence on October 1, 2001, for a six- month trial period, the project could not be implemented until November, 2001, when all of the necessary equipment and promotional materials were on hand. Council Resolution #111/01 also requested that the Region of Durham participate in the funding of this project on a 50/50 basis in the amount of $75,000. To date, we have not received a response on the request. The tenn ofthe existing pilot project is scheduled to end coinciding with the Town of Markham's program on March 31, 2002. - From the on-set of the program, the waste diversion and operational data has proved to be very encouraging. During the first three months of operation, November, 2001, December, 2001, and January, 2002, waste diversion rates have averaged 63%, while the rate using the traditional system of bags and blue box collection for the same period stands at 28%. The three-stream system of collection in the Amberlea Neighbourhood is responsible for an increase in the amount of materials recycled and for over 60 tonnes of organic material being composted to date. Report to Council OES 008-02 Date: February 18, 2002 0.1 f7 Subject: Proposed Extension and Expansion of the Waste Diversion Pilot Project Page 3 - On Tuesday, February 5, 2002, a resident survey was delivered to each of the 518 homes within the pilot project area. This survey requested individual responses :fÌ"om each household on a variety of issues including the applicability of the type and style of equipment used; comments on their personal waste management habits, the effectiveness of the pilot project and an overall rating of the collection system. To date, a total of225 or 43% of the surveys have been returned. It's encouraging to note the fact that, when rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, the pilot project has been given an average score of 8.2 by residents. Of equal importance is the finding that 88% of the respondents would continue to participate in the pilot project if it was extended. As can be noted in the findings of the surveys received to date, these results confinn that most residents are very pleased with the environmental benefits of the collection system and wish to continue with the program due to the relative ease of operation. Based on the results of the resident survey and also the waste diversion data, which continues to greatly outperfonn the traditional system of bags and blue boxes, an extension of the program beyond March 31, 2002, is suggested. The benefit of the extension would not only result in additional waste continuing to be diverted fTom landfill, but it would also provide staff with the ability to evaluate a cart based three-stream waste collection system during the spring, summer and fall months when other unknown operational challenges may arise. These particular challenges may include the attraction of animals or insects, smells associated with kitchen organics, boulevard trees being damaged, the continued 10ng-tenn manageability and the aesthetic placement of the carts in an urban neighbourhood environment. An extended program will also provide better comparative data to help detennine the 10ng-tenn operational feasibility, acceptance and cost effectiveness ofthis type of collection system. -. Consideration has also been given to extending the three-stream cart based waste diversion system to another neighbourhood area of approximately 500-600 homes in the City. This opportunity is suggested due to the relatively low cost that would be incurred, providing an extension of the existing pilot project is approved. Given that the specialized collection vehicles will only be utilized on Tuesday of each week in the Amberlea Neighbourhood, a second area of the City could be collected on another day of the week. The only additional cost to the City for the proposed expansion program would be the purchase of split waste carts, the printing of promotional materials and a charge associated with the delivery of the units. Our investigations have confinned that the extension of the "Rolling to Reduce" pilot project in the Amberlea Neighbourhood for another nine (9) months from April 1, 2002, to December 31, 2002, can be easily accommodated with a few minor contractual arrangements. An expansion of the program to another neighbourhood in the City could also be managed without major difficulty. All matters have been discussed with the various parties involved resulting in the following preparatory agreements being reached: The Region of Durham has agreed to continue processing and marketing the commingled recycling materials from the City's Pilot Project(s). The Region has advised that all materials from both the proposed extension and expansion areas can be accommodated. All charges for the manual sorting of these materials will be charged to the Regional Waste Management levy resulting in no direct costs being incurred by the City of Pickering for this component of the program. - The Town of Markham's pilot project is scheduled to officially end on March 31, 2002. The Bonar Plastics Split Waste Collection Carts that they are currently using will be available for purchase and could be obtained for our proposed expanded pilot project area. The Town of Markham is expected to sell the split carts for approximately half the original cost or $60 per unit. The tennination of Markham's pilot project will also require that the City of Pickering sign a lease agreement with Joe Johnson Equipment to secure the use of the Reil Split waste collection vehicle by Miller Waste Systems on our pilot project. n 1 8 Report to Council OES 008-02 Date: February 18, 2002 Subject: Proposed Extension and Expansion of the Waste Diversion Pilot Project Page 4 - SSI Schaeffer the supplier of the compo stainer organics carts and the kitchen catchers has agreed to extend the present loan on their carts for the full term of the project at no additional cost to the City of Pickering. SSI Schaeffer has also agreed to provide the City of Pickering with the compo stainer organics carts and the kitchen catchers currently used in the Town of Markhanl also at no extra cost should the expansion program be approved. SSI Schaefer will, however, require that the City pay for all costs required to deliver the equipment to the expanded pilot project area. Miller Waste Systems the owner and operator of the Labrie organics collection vehicle and its robotic arm has agreed to maintain service for the full term of the pilot project at no cost to the City. As a result of Miller's partnership on this project, the organics collection truck will be available to service both the existing and an expanded pilot project area. Joe Johnson Equipment has agreed to lease the Reil split cart waste collection truck to the City of Pickering following the termination of their existing lease agreement with the Town of Markham on March 31, 2002. A letter of intent, however, must be forwarded to Joe Johnson equipment immediately following Council's approval of this proposal to secure the truck for our extended and/or expanded waste diversion pilot programs. -. The extension of the pilot project will require that the City incur the full lease cost on the Reil split cart waste collection vehicle for the proposed nine (9) month extension from April 1, 2002, to December 31, 2002. The full lease cost for the Reil waste collection vehicle is $15,000 per month, plus P.S.T and G.S.T, for a total of $155,250 for the remainder of 2002. The proposed expansion of the cart based waste diversion pilot project to another area of approximately 500- 600 homes in the City of Pickering will only result in additional costs for the purchase and transportation of carts and various educational and marketing tools. The split waste collection carts used in the Town of Markham will be available for purchase at half their new cost or approximately $60 each, while the organics carts will be loaned to the City of Pickering by Schaefer industries. Given a proposed expansion to a new area of 500-600 homes, the used split carts are expected to cost between $30,000 and $36,000, plus applicable transportation costs of approximately $5,000 from the Town of Markham and an estimate of $5,000 for program marketing materials for a total estimated cost of $50,000. Additional costs will not apply for the use of the collection vehicles since they would already be leased exclusively to the City of Pickering. Although the above arrangements have been discussed and are feasible, it should be noted that the Town of Markham has just recently announced that their pilot project may again be extended for another three (3) month period from April 1, 2002, to June 30, 2002. If Markham Council confirms this decision, a new cost share arrangement would be implemented to jointly lease the Reil split cart waste collection vehicle between the Town of Markham and the City of Pickering on a cost share basis. A cost savings of up to 50% or $25,875 would be recognized from this type of lease arrangement, however, new split carts would have to be purchased by the City to expand the pilot project to a new area at a cost of between $60,000 and $72,000. The net increase in cost to expand the program after purchasing new carts and factoring in the truck lease savings would be between $4,125 and $10,125. Should Markham's program be extended SSI Schaeffer has again agreed. to loan a sufficient number of new carts to the City of Pickering for the full term of the pilot project following which time the carts would either have to be purchased or cleaned and returned. - It should be noted that even though an extension and an expansion of this program are recommended in this report, the long-term sustainability of the three-stream cart based system of waste collection in the City may be presently unachievable. The commingled recycling stream ultimately requires a mechanical sorting process for which local facilities may not exist. The hand sorting operation that is being undertaken as part of this pilot project is not maintainable from an economic perspective. As a result, the longevity of this type of system will require that the Region 'of Durham either adopt a commingled recycling stream and construct the necessary Report to Council OES 008-02 Date: February 18,2002 n19 Subj ect: Proposed Extension and Expansion of the Waste Diversion Pilot Project Page 5 infrastructure or that the City of Pickering seek private arrangements to process the materials elsewhere. As the pilot project develops these types of issues will be investigated further. - New line items have been included in the 2002 Operations & Emergency Services Department, Municipal Property & Engineering Division, Solid Waste Operating Budget for the costs associated with the proposed extension and expansion of the waste diversion pilot project. Amounts currently included in account 2430-2393 Recycling Collection are for $160,000 to provide for the extension of the current pilot project and $60,000 to expand the pilot project. This cost will fonn part of the total 2002 Current Budget for the City to be financed through property taxes. ATTACHMENTS: Not Applicable Prepared By: ~ // C. St~Þ ~ Br~e\ Supervisor, Traffic Engineering & Waste Management -~'" Everett Director, Operations & Emergency Services - Submitted By: Approved/Endorsed By: r~ D'vision Head, unicipal Property & Engineering ~~.-~""'"'-"" ",/ , -Giúi: Paterson' . Director, Corporate Services & Treasurer C S B : EovironmiCan Pilol ProjccUBudget Repon to Council Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council -