MEETING NOTES. NIAGARA HAMILTON LIAISON GROUP Thursday June 10, am to 11 am Casablanca Winery Inn Reflections Room 4 Windward Drive, Grimsby

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1 MEETING NOTES NIAGARA HAMILTON LIAISON GROUP Thursday June 10, am to 11 am Casablanca Winery Inn Reflections Room 4 Windward Drive, Grimsby Attendance: City of Hamilton Working Group Members Russ Powers, Councillor (Co-chair) Chad Collins, Councillor Dave Mitchell, Councillor Staff Support - City of Hamilton Gerry Davis, General Manager, Public Works Department Beth Goodger, Senior Director, Operations & Waste Management Division Pat Parker, Director, Support Services, Operations & Waste Management Division Adrienne Press, Acting Supervisor, Operations Support, Operations & Waste Management Division Regional Niagara Working Group Members Damian Goulbourne, Mayor of Welland (Co-chair) Brian Baty, Regional Councillor Judy Casselman, Regional Councillor Bill Hodgson, Mayor of Lincoln Doug Symington, Waste Management Advisory Committee (WMAC Chair) John Bacher, Waste Management Advisory Committee Staff Support - Regional Niagara Andrew Pollock, Director, Waste Management Services Division Lydia Torbicki, Manager, Policy and Planning, Waste Management Services Division Cheryl Crawley, Waste Management Services Coordinator, Waste Management Services Division The meeting was called to order by the Chair, Councillor Damian Goulbourne. 1. Adoption of Agenda The agenda was adopted as presented by Councillor Baty, and seconded by Councillor Mitchell.

2 2 June 10, Introductions The Chair welcomed members to the annual meeting, and waived introductions as no new members were present. 3. Update on Alternative Disposal Technology Projects Staff gave the members an update on Alternative Disposal Technology Projects including: Durham/York Energy from Waste Facility Dongara Pellet Plant, York Region City of Ottawa Plasma Gasification Pilot and agreement with Plasco Energy City of Vancouver Energy from Waste Facility City of Edmonton Integrated Processing and Transfer Facility City of Toronto proposed Mechanical Biological Treatment Facility City of Sault Ste Marie Steam Reformation process 4. Hamilton Diversion & Disposal Initiatives Staff gave an overview of the City of Hamilton diversion and disposal initiatives. ONE Container limit A ONE container limit per household for garbage started in April 2010 for curbside collection. When asked about amnesty weeks staff responded that residents are allowed extra garbage bags (up to 3) following the Victoria Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. There is no tag system for extra containers. It was suggested that a tag system may reduce illegal dumping. Residents still have the option of taking extra garbage to the recycling depots. Gold Box program This is a reward and recognition program for residents who are participating well in curbside waste diversion programs. Based on field audits, residents are given a gold recycling box, and the resident with the highest diversion in a month receives a cheque equal to the waste portion of their property tax bill for the year. Team up to Clean up In this litter collection program, over 17,000 residents participated during Earth week, and collected over 4,000 bags of litter in Hamilton. It was noted that residents may participate in the clean up program at any time of the year. New Contracts for Facilities The City has new contracts this year for the operation of Transfer Stations, Community Recycling Centres and material haulage. The 10-year contracts were awarded to BFI Canada Inc. In addition, a new 10-year contract for the operation of the Glanbrook landfill was awarded to Waste Management of Canada Corporation. Hamilton Utilities Corporation (HUC) Study of Integrating Energy from Waste (EFW) with the Glanbrook Landfill The City and HUC partnered to consider the integration of an EFW with the Glanbrook landfill. The Study has been referred to the 10-year review of the SWMMP, which was initiated in spring Solid Waste Management Master Plan Review An RFP has been awarded to Trow Associates for the 10-year review of the Master Plan, to be completed late The intent is to update the existing master plan, consider existing activities, review the waste diversion target and consider long term management of residual waste.

3 3 June 10, Niagara Diversion & Disposal Initiatives Niagara Region staff gave an overview of the Niagara diversion and disposal initiatives. New Service Levels New Niagara Region service levels will begin March Residents will be permitted 1 bag of garbage weekly, with the option of buying a garbage tag for $1 per bag. Multi-residential and mixed use properties (with a residential unit) will have a six bag limit. Residents will also be able to set out both the blue and grey recycling containers (containers and fibres) each week for collection. In addition, grass clippings will be banned from curbside collection, and the Green Bin program will be rolled out to Wainfleet and West Lincoln. Social Marketing and Awards Programs Staff explained as part of the Smart Gardening program, a comprehensive grasscycling campaign has been launched including; newspaper ads, radio station jingles and promotions and giveaways. Three current promotions include; It Takes Three, Waste Diversion Hero and Recycle and Win. The percentage of grass is approximately 10% of all organic waste, or approximately 4,000 tonnes per year. Public Space Recycling Pilot A public space recycling pilot was initiated early in 2010 in partnership with Refreshments Canada and four Niagara Region municipalities. The pilot will be completed in fall 2010, and a report will follow. It was noted that schools are a separate initiative and a recycling coordinator does work with Niagara Region schools to encourage and initiate recycling programs. Walker Contract The Region has a 20 year contract with Niagara Waste Systems Ltd. (part of Walker Environmental Group) that will begin in March Niagara Region will continue to evaluate and potentially implement new technologies. On a question if Niagara Region would be required to pay a surcharge if they did not supply 25,000 tonnes per year (TPY) of waste to Niagara Waste Systems, staff responded that the minimum 25,000 tonnes per year is a put or pay agreement, however this is considerably lower than the residential tonnage projection. Long Term Waste Management Strategic Plan (LTWMSP) The plan will include: an update of goals, objectives and guiding principles, public engagement, an update of Regional diversion targets and timelines, a review of new waste processing technologies, identification of necessary investments in infrastructure, sustainable financing strategy and diversion and education strategy. 6. Niagara-Hamilton & Other Joint Municipal Initiatives Financial Options Study Update An assessment of sustainable financing options for Niagara Region and the City of Hamilton was recently completed. The City of Hamilton has decided not to pursue a user pay or utility-based system further at this time but to allow households to adjust to the new container limit. Niagara Region currently has a complicated billing structure with a mix of Regional and individual Municipal taxation, and would like to move to a simplified system. The Niagara study is scheduled to be completed and implemented by Other Collaboration o Regional Public Works Commissioners of Ontario A joint submission with Municipal Waste Association (MWA) was made to the Ministry of the Environment on the amendments to the Waste Diversion Act (WDA). As well, a position paper on biodegradable plastic containers and bags was

4 4 June 10, 2010 produced, and letter of support to Provincial Government to introduce a Bill to reform the Waste Diversion Act (WDA) was submitted. On a question about the quality of the compostable bags, staff responded that the bags must be certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and the logo is required to be visible on the bag. A member pointed out that paper bags were also acceptable in organics containers, although it is recognized that these tend to cost more than compostable bags. 7. Waste Diversion Act Anticipated Amendments and Implications Staff gave an overview of the anticipated amendments and implications from the Waste Diversion Act review. Estimated Timeline The Provincial Government is expected to introduce a Bill to reform the Waste Diversion Act (WDA) in fall 2010, with passage in early The regulations are expected in 2012, with a transition period of 5 to 10 years. Description of Possible Changes The changes will be based on an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, where producers are responsible for the end-of-life management of their materials. A key change will include a shift from monopoly stewardship organizations to competing material management schemes. The long-term schedule will include Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) packaging and paper, construction and demolition material branded organics, furniture, mattresses and appliances. The review is also expected to introduce disposal levies and material bans. Municipal Issues List The municipal issues associated with the WDA review/blue Box Program Plan (BBPP) include; o Identifying one stewardship organization to manage transition to full EPR o Opportunity for municipalities to provide service o Establishing standards for service levels, promotion and education o All packaging, printed paper in Blue Boxes by end of transition period o Full financial EPR during transition o Orderly transition from existing contracts and assets to new framework A member inquired if Niagara and Hamilton could implement the same blue box and the grey box system. Hamilton staff responded that they will be reviewing the types of containers during the master plan review and in conjunction with a collection review, including consideration of a cart based collection system. On a point about litter blowing from recycling boxes, staff explained that some residents were using clear bags for recyclables but this causes problems at the Material Recycling Facility and taller blue boxes may help to control wind blown litter. There could be a possibility for Niagara and Hamilton to develop a standard for recycling box lid covers. Single stream recycling continues to have challenges with material quality and some material markets require a clean product, free of contamination. There are challenges with the current fibre market as some newspaper producers are using virgin paper for their newspapers to satisfy the publishers. Both Niagara and Hamilton are currently reviewing their master plans, and some decisions relating to these items may emerge from the processes. 8. Other Business The Vineland Research Centre recently hosted a presentation from Dongara Pellet Plant. The agriculture industry has expressed interest in the Dongara waste pelletization process, and its possible uses for energy.

5 5 June 10, 2010 Future Meetings It was suggested the group meet again in August or September A suggestion was made to invite all Councillors. The Chair requested a two-page memo be put together by staff on what the two municipalities could discuss at future meetings. A request was also made that staff ensure that the Niagara Hamilton Liaison Committee meeting notes were brought to each municipality s respective Councils. 9. Adjournment A motion was made to adjourn by Councillor Powers, and seconded by Councillor Hodgson.