STATUS REPORT ON WASTE MANAGEMENT

Transcription

1 COUNTY OF BRUCE STATUS REPORT ON WASTE MANAGEMENT 2013 Prepared by: Bruce County Highways Department October 31, 2014

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2 2. Background County Responsibilities Municipal Responsibilities 3 3. Policy Framework 3 4. Study Area 3 5. Current Waste Management System Waste Disposal Landfill Operations Waste Diversion Blue Box Recycling Program Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste Backyard Composting Landfill Diversion Programs Waste Diversion Numbers Waste Management Opportunities Waste Disposal Waste Diversion Promotion and Education Monitoring and Review Recommendations Diversion Initiatives Landfill Site Operational Issues Landfill Site Capacity Issues Long-Term Waste Management Initiatives Conclusion 26 Figures Figure 1: 2013 Waste Management Facilities 7 Figure 2: 2013 vs 5 Year Average Fill Rate by Landfill Site 10 Figure 3: 2013 vs 5 Year Average Fill Rate by Municipality 10 Figure 4: Remaining Capacity for Waste & Daily Cover by Landfill Site 11 Figure 5: Remaining Capacity for Waste & Daily Cover by Municipality 11 Figure 6: Remaining Site Life by Landfill 12 Figure 7: Remaining Site Life by Municipality 12 Figure 8: Municipal Fill rates Figure 9: Remaining Site Life by Municipality Tables Table 1: Individual Landfill Site Capacity for Table 2: Municipal Landfill Site Capacity for Table 3: Landfill Site Fill Rates Table 4: Current Backyard Composting Programs 16 Table 5 Waste Diversion Summary 19 0

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 1995 County of Bruce Waste Management Master Plan stated that the administration of the waste management system would be shared between the County and its local municipalities. Bruce County assumed responsibility for monitoring and reporting on the County s progress towards its diversion target as well as monitoring the remaining capacity at the municipal landfill sites. The purpose of developing this report is to fulfill these responsibilities and to provide an overview of current waste management practices and identify diversion and waste management strategies. In 2013, the landfill sites within the County of Bruce had a combined fill rate of 61,830m 3 and a five year average annual fill rate of 67,967m 3. The remaining air space for waste and daily cover at the end of 2013 was estimated at 1,976,283m 3. Using the 2013 fill rate, the landfill site life expectancy for the County is approximately 32 years. When applying the five year average annual fill rate a remaining site life of approximately 29 years exists. Existing waste diversion programs include the following: Blue box recycling Leaf & yard waste Mattress and box springs Used tires Drywall Backyard composting Electronic waste Shingles Municipal hazardous & special waste Used agricultural bale wrap Scrap metal Household batteries The total material diverted by way of blue box recycling was approximately 4,800 tonnes for The County s Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste (MHSW) events diverted 108 tonnes of hazardous and special waste and the local landfill sites diverted a minimum 3,800 tonnes of material. Overall an estimated 8,700 tonnes of material was diverted in Based on the review of the municipal waste management programs, additional options for improved diversion may exist by means of: enhancing existing programs, investigating and introducing new diversion strategies and improving promotion and education of current waste management systems. 1

4 1. INTRODUCTION This Waste Management Report provides an overview of the waste management system in the County of Bruce. The County and local municipalities work to protect and conserve the capacity of the landfill sites and continue to succeed in diversion practices. The purpose of this report is to: Outline Bruce County s current waste management system; Determine remaining disposal capacity and the need for additional future capacity; Identify current and potential waste diversion programs; Provide recommendations toward achieving the Provincial waste diversion target. 2. BACKGROUND The County of Bruce completed a Solid Waste Management Master Plan in The plan provided a comprehensive strategy for diverting waste and for the efficient use of existing landfill capacity. The responsibility for the implementation of the plan and the administration of the system is shared between the County and the local municipalities. The County passed by-laws to assume waste management responsibilities and to adopt the Waste Management Plan County Responsibilities As outlined in County of Bruce By-laws No. 3544, No.3545 and No.3546, the County is responsible for the following waste management practices: Diversion Waste reduction education Household hazardous waste collection program The monitoring of the progress towards the County-wide target of 50% diversion as stated in the Master Plan (provincial waste diversion target of 60% was set in 2004.) Disposal The County can facilitate agreements between local municipalities for the use of existing landfill capacity Provide new waste disposal capacity for all municipalities Establish a Waste Management Future Planning Reserve Fund to pay for future County waste disposal requirements Assume responsibility for waste disposal education, including the exploration of alternative disposal facility operators in the County Monitor capacity and operations of existing sites. 2

5 2.2. Municipal Responsibilities As outlined in the County of Bruce By-law No.3544, the local municipalities are responsible for the following waste management practices: Diversion Responsible for recycling, composting, tipping fees, exchange facilities, data collection, monitoring and reporting. Disposal Existing landfill ownership, operation, management, closure and post closure of landfill sites. Planning Responsible for providing information, on request, into the County s long range planning process. This could include information on costs, program description, landfill monitoring reports, etc. 3. POLICY FRAMEWORK The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and its Waste Management Policy Branch is responsible for the development of policies, regulations and legislation to ensure effective management of waste in Ontario. The Branch works with municipalities, private sector and associations to develop policies and programs for the management of waste and promotes waste minimization, diversion and recycling activities. On June 6, 2013, the Minister of the Environment introduced a new Waste Reduction Act (WRA) and a draft waste reduction strategy, which is the culmination of over four years of consultation. The Waste Reduction Act would replace the Waste Diversion Act (WDA), passed in The proposed WRA consisted of a number of changes including moving towards individual producer responsibility, strengthening enforcement and oversight and increasing waste diversion programs. 4. STUDY AREA The County of Bruce is located in the northern part of Southwestern Ontario with a population of approximately 64,700 (Statistics Canada, 2011) and an area of 4,048 square kilometers. Thirty-one municipalities comprised the County of Bruce in 1993, when the Solid Waste Management Master Plan was initiated. In the late 1990 s amalgamations merged villages, towns and townships together to form eight new municipalities. The amalgamations generally eliminated the service boundaries of the landfills allowing residents to transport their waste to any landfill site within the amalgamated municipality. There are twenty landfill sites located within Bruce County, four of these sites are permanently closed, one is mothballed and fifteen are active landfill sites. 3

6 5. CURRENT WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM The County and local municipalities provide an integrated waste management service to dispose and divert waste generated within the County. Waste is generated from three sectors: Residential Institutional, Commercial, and Industrial (IC&I) facilities Construction and Demolition (C&D) activities A number of diversion initiatives have been implemented to augment the traditional waste management services offered by the municipalities. The current waste management system consists of the following components: All municipalities own and operate a minimum of one landfill site All municipalities have a bag limit or bag tag fee on the waste collected The collection of blue box materials in seven municipalities is conducted by Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling (BASWR). The recycling of blue box materials in the Municipality of Northern Bruce is undertaken by Miller Waste Systems Municipalities conduct and/or contract private sector services for curbside and dumpster waste collection In 2013, the County managed fifteen municipal hazardous and special waste (MHSW) collection events for Bruce County residents All municipalities operate electronic waste, used tires and household battery recycling programs Several municipalities offer backyard composters and/or greencone digesters to their residents at a cost Municipalities manage a number of diversion programs at the landfill site, these include: scrap metal, leaf and yard waste, used agricultural bale wrap, shingles, drywall, mattresses, fluorescent lights and reuse centres. It is important to note that the level of service and programs vary according to each municipality. The current waste management programs are described in the following sections. 4

7 5.1. Waste Disposal Waste collection services for residents are undertaken by the local municipality, either through municipal services or a private contractor. Some municipalities have implemented a user pay system where residents pay for the amount of waste they dispose, while other municipalities allow residents a select number of "free" bags per week. The cost for residents to dispose of waste varies for each municipality as shown in the table below. Municipality 2013 Bag Tag Fees / Limits Arran-Elderslie 2 bags (no cost); additional bag $3.00 Brockton $2.00, clear bags required Huron-Kinloss $2.00; Lucknow residents required to use clear bags Kincardine 26 bag tags/year (no cost); additional bag $2.00 Northern Bruce 2 bags (no cost) Saugeen Shores $2.00 $ bag (no cost); additional bag $1.50; max.3 bags Municipalities manage waste from the Residential, Industrial, Commercial &Institutional (IC&I) and Construction & Demolition (C&D) sectors. Residential waste collected at the curbside and dumpster is disposed of at the municipal landfill site. Residents and businesses can also take waste directly to the landfill for disposal. Landfill sites are owned and operated by the local municipalities. Figure 1 provides a summary of the landfill site locations in the County of Bruce. Twenty landfill sites are managed throughout the County, the Kinloss landfill has temporarily suspended the acceptance of household waste and is strictly a transfer station for recyclable materials, the Albermarle landfill site is mothballed and the following four sites are closed: Port Elgin, Carlsruhe, Ward 1 (Kincardine) and Chesley. In 2013, the total waste landfilled at the municipal landfill sites was approximately 61,830m 3. This is a decrease from the 2012 fill rate of 69,460m 3 and less than the five year average fill rate of 67,765m 3. The existing airspace available for waste and daily cover is 1,976,283m 3 which at the five year average fill rate results in approximately 29 years of remaining site life within the County. Tables 1 and 2 and Figures 2 7 provide an overview of remaining capacities and fill rates. As stated in the 1995 County of Bruce Solid Waste Management Master Plan, it is the County s responsibility to ensure that all area municipalities have disposal capacity for a minimum 20 year period. Utilizing the 2013 fill rate five municipalities within the County have remaining site life for a minimum 20 year period. Municipalities continue to implement changes to the landfill sites to ensure adequate future capacity is available. The Hanover/Walkerton landfill site expansion received Environmental Assessment Approval (EAA) in March 2011 and the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) was approved in October The expansion provides an increase in waste capacity of 411,000m 3 and assuming that the Town of Walkerton accounts for 45% of the Hanover/Walkerton landfill site, an increase of approximately 185,000m 3 was received. Northern Bruce is undertaking a Plan of Development and Operations (PDO) amendment to the Certificate of Approval (CofA) at the Eastnor landfill site which would 5

8 provide an estimated increase of 270,000m 3 of capacity and an additional 40 years of site life for the Municipality of Northern Bruce. In the future, additional capacity may be available at the Arran (additional phases), Teeswater, Greenock and Lindsay landfill sites. All sites have land designated by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) for a waste disposal site under their CofA that is not currently utilized in their existing PDO. It is noted that a CofA may approve a large area for landfilling; however it needs the support of a PDO to undertake landfilling operations. It was recognized that potential site capacities are subject to logistical measures and environmental limitations and therefore the potential volume estimated may not be attainable. A number of uncertainties surround the development of additional capacity at these landfill sites. 6

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10 Table 1: Individual Landfill Site Capacity for 2013 Municipality Arran-Elderslie Brockton Landfill Site Annual Fill Rate (m 3 ) (waste & daily cover) Average Annual Fill Rate (m 3 ) Remaining Capacity for Waste & Daily Cover (m 3 ) Remaining Site Life (years) Notes: 1) Calculations based on the assumption that the Town of Walkerton accounts for 45% of the total Hanover-Walkerton landfill site fill rate and remaining capacity. Remaining Site Life (years) year average 2013 Fill Rate 5 Year Average Arran 2,975 3, , Chesley Greenock 1,850 2,153 97, Brant 3,360 3,110 81, Hanover-Walkerton (1) 3,012 4, , Huron-Kinloss Huron 4,825 5, , Kinloss , Kincardine KWMC 17,100 15, , Ward 3 1,821 1,821 61, Eastnor 1,800 2,700 14, Northern Bruce St.Edmund s 3,300 2,483 23, Lindsay 800 1,366 27, Saugeen Shores Southampton 7,304 8, , Mildmay 1,565 1,928 22, Teeswater 1,930 1,360 37, Amabel 10,188 13, , Albemarle , Bruce County 61,830 67,967 1,976,

11 Table 2: Municipal Landfill Site Capacity for 2013 Municipality Annual Fill Rate Average Annual Fill Rate Remaining Capacity for Waste & Daily Cover Remaining Site Life (years) Remaining Site Life (years) Year Average 2013 Fill Rate 5 Year Average Arran-Elderslie 2,975 3, , Brockton (1) 8,222 9, , Huron-Kinloss 4,825 5, , Kincardine 18,921 16, , Northern Bruce 5,900 6,549 65, Saugeen Shores 7,304 8, , ,495 3,288 59, ,188 13, , Bruce County 61,830 67,967 1,976, Notes: (1) Calculations are based on the assumption that the Town of Walkerton accounts for 45% of the total Hanover-Walkerton landfill site fill rate and remaining capacity. 9

12 Figure 2: 2013 vs. 5 Year Average Fill Rate by Landfill Site 18,000 16,000 14, Fill Rate 5 Year Average Fill Rate 12,000 10,000 m 3 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Figure 3: 2013 vs. 5 Year Average Fill Rate by Municipality 20,000 18,000 16, Fill Rate 5 Year Average Fill Rate 14,000 12,000 m 3 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Arran-Elderslie Brockton Huron-Kinloss Kincardine Northern Bruce Saugeen Shores Figures 2 and 3 provide a comparison of the 2013 fill rates and the five year average fill rate at a landfill site and municipal level. The majority of municipal fill rates for 2013 are below or close to their average fill rate, with the exception of the Municipality of Kincardine. The Kincardine Waste Management Centre's fill rate will be confirmed in 2014, as the survey in the new cell will be completed. 10

13 Figure 4: Remaining Capacity for Waste & Daily Cover by Landfill Site KWMC Arran Southampton Hanover-Walkerton Amabel Kinloss Huron Greenock Brant Ward 3 Teeswater Culross Lindsay St.Edmunds Albemarle Carrick Mildmay Eastnor Chesley 563, , , , , ,000 m 3 Figure 5: Remaining Capacity for Waste & Daily Cover by Municipality Kincardine Brockton 625,196 Huron-Kinloss Arran-Elderslie Saugeen Shores Northern Bruce 0 100, , , ,000 Figures 4 and 5 provide an overview of the capacity available at the individual landfill sites and for each municipality. With the increase in capacity at the KWMC and Hanover-Walkerton landfill site, Kincardine and Brockton have significant capacity available. Northern Bruce and have the least amount of capacity available; however their fill rates are significantly less than the other municipalities and as a result still have adequate site life. m 3 11

14 Figure 6: Remaining Site Life by Landfill Remaining Site Life (2013) Remaining Site Life (Average) 50 Years Figure 7: Remaining Site Life by Municipality Remaining Site Life (2013) Remaining Site Life (Average) 50 Years Arran-Elderslie Brockton Huron-Kinloss Kincardine Northern Bruce Saugeen Shores Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the remaining site life available at the municipal landfill sites. The site life calculations were completed using the 2013 fill rate and the 5 year average fill rate. The 2013 fill rate was less than the average fill rate for the majority of landfill and as a result most municipalities have higher remaining site life using the 2013 fill rate. 12

15 Fluctuations in annual fill rates and remaining capacity at landfill sites are observed from year to year. Several factors may contribute to these changes including: increases in survey technology and improvements in monitoring at the sites; decreased and/or increased waste generation; increased waste diversion programs; improved waste compaction; operational improvements; and ongoing waste settlement. Table 3 and Figures 8&9 provide an overview of fill rate and remaining site life changes over the past five years. Table 3: Landfill Site Fill Rates Municipality Landfill Site Fill Rate Arran-Elderslie Arran ,250 2,975 Chesley 3,900 3,800 3,040 3,180 0 Greenock 2,525 1,762 1,630 3,000 1,850 Brockton Huron-Kinloss Kincardine Brant 1,722 4,290 2,820 3,360 3,360 Hanover- Walkerton 4,590 4,905 3,870 3,701 3,012 Huron 5,700 6,155 6,101 6,750 4,825 Kinloss Ward 1 10,280 10,280 10,280 0 KWMC 3,200 3,200 3,652 17,100 17,100 Ward 3 1,821 1,821 1,821 1,821 1,821 Northern Bruce Eastnor 2,250 4,000 2,550 2,900 1,800 Lindsay 900 2,050 2, St. Edmund's 1,888 3,200 1,230 2,800 3,300 Saugeen Shores Southampton 9,677 9,140 9,750 7,999 7,304 Bruce County Mildmay 2,170 2,170 2,170 1,565 1,565 Teeswater 1,217 1,217 1,217 1,217 1,930 Amabel 18,045 17,160 11,055 12,067 10,188 Albemarle ,885 75,150 63,516 69,460 61,830 13

16 Figure 8: Municipal Fill Rates ,000 18, ,000 14,000 m 3 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Arran-Elderslie Brockton Huron-Kinloss Kincardine Northern Bruce Saugeen Shores Figure 9: Remaining Site Life by Municipality Years Arran-Elderslie Brockton Huron-Kinloss Kincardine Northern Bruce Saugeen Shores 14

17 Landfill Operations Landfill site operations are the responsibility of the local municipalities and as a result, hours of operation, tipping fees, diversion programs and general operations vary throughout the County. The majority of landfill sites have weigh scales installed which assist in recording and monitoring all materials entering the site. Compaction rates range in density from 400kg/m 3 to 800kg/m 3 depending on the equipment and practices used for compaction. The denser the waste is packed combined with the tighter controls on the amount of cover material used would significantly affect the remaining capacity and site life of a landfill. It is important to recognize that achieving higher compaction levels may not be a practical solution for small landfills that operate on a limited service basis Waste Diversion Bruce County is a diverse mix of residential and rural households, offering many challenges to implementing a successful diversion program. Waste management programs continue to grow as additional diversion options become available. The County and local municipalities support a variety of waste diversion and recycling initiatives which include: Blue Box Recycling Leaf & Yard Waste Municipal Hazardous & Special Waste Used Agricultural Bale Wrap Electronic Waste Recycling Polystyrene Used Tires Mattresses & Box Springs Scrap Metal & White Goods Construction & Demolition Waste Backyard Composting Household Batteries Fluorescent Lights Reuse Centres Blue Box Recycling Program Residential recyclable materials are collected through the blue box program. Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling (BASWR) provides curbside blue box collection to seven of the local municipalities. BASWR is a not-for-profit organization which was established and remains possible through the cooperation of its member municipalities. Miller Waste Systems provides curbside and depot blue box collection for the Municipality of Northern Bruce. Materials included in the blue box recycling program are outlined below: Metal Aluminum foil containers & wrap Food tins Pop cans Empty aerosol cans Empty paint cans Paper Newspaper & inserts Magazines & catalogues Boxboard Brown paper bags Fine paper Spiral boxboard containers Plastic #1 PET plastic containers #2 HDPE screw-top plastic bottles #3 V or PVC plastic bottles #4 LDPE plastic bottles #5 PP plastic tubs #7 Other plastics Glass Bottles & Jars Flint glass (clear glass) Coloured glass (beer/wine bottles) 15

18 Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste In 2013, the County of Bruce hosted fifteen municipal hazardous and special waste (MHSW) collection events which provide residents an opportunity to bring materials from their household that require special recycling or disposal. Over 2,100 vehicles used the one-day drop off events and 108 tonnes of hazardous and special waste was recycled and/or disposed of properly. The County has an Agreement with Stewardship Ontario and the Recycling Council of Ontario for the reimbursement of a portion of costs incurred during municipal hazardous and special waste collection events. The following materials are accepted that the County s municipal hazardous and special waste collection events: Paint Used Oil Solvents Pesticides Aerosols Antifreeze Batteries Fertilizers Oxidizers Acids Bases Caustics Propane Fuel Fluorescent Bulbs and Tubes Backyard Composting Five municipalities currently offer greencone digesters and/or backyard composters to residents at a cost, to encourage backyard composting. Backyard composting removes organic waste from the garbage stream reducing the weight and volume of material placed at the curbside for disposal. A backyard composter and/or greencone digester can divert 100kg to 250kg of organic material per year. The following table outlines the composting programs currently in place. Table 4: Current Backyard Composting Programs Municipality Composters Green Cones Brockton $30.00 $85.00 Huron-Kinloss - $55.00 Kincardine $43.50 $91.50 Northern Bruce $ Saugeen Shores $15.00 $ Landfill Diversion Programs Municipal landfill sites offer a variety of diversion programs for residents and the Industrial, Commercial &Institutional (IC&I) sector. These programs are outlined below. Electronic Waste Recycling Municipalities operate an electronic waste diversion program at their local landfill sites or a local transfer station through Ontario Electronic Stewardship. Electronic waste includes monitors, televisions, desktop and portable computers, printing and copying devices, telephones and cellular devices, cameras and other video devices. Residents can dispose of electronic waste free of charge. Used Tires Municipal landfill sites are certified collection sites with Ontario Tire Stewardship and operate a Used Tire recycling program that allows residents to dispose of old tires (up to four/visit) free of charge. Tires are shipped off-site and reprocessed into rubber aggregate and new products. 16

19 Scrap Metal and White Goods Scrap metal and white goods are diverted from disposal and are recycled by local municipalities. Residents and businesses can dispose of these materials at the landfill site either free of charge or for a fee depending on the municipality. Leaf and Yard Waste Leaf and yard waste are diverted at the municipal landfill sites. The materials are separated at the landfill where they can be composted and used on-site for cover material. The majority of municipalities offer curbside collection of leaf and yard waste during high generation periods. Used Agricultural Bale Wrap The collection of used agricultural bale wrap creates an additional waste diversion stream. Bale wrap is gathered within a designated area at the landfill site and is picked up by Think Plastics Inc. and transported to their recycling facility in New Hamburg, ON. Landfill sites participating in the bale wrap recycling program in 2013, included: Eastnor Brant Chesley Mildmay Huron Greenock Arran Teeswater KWMC Polystyrene Polystyrene is a light, bulky material made up of 98% air, 2% plastic and has an average mass weight of approximately 100kg/m 3. Kincardine, Saugeen Shores, Brockton and currently accept Polystyrene for recycling at their landfill site and transfer station and recycle the material through Grace Canada. and Northern Bruce will be implementing this diversion program in Grace Canada is currently able to process, in truckload quantities, white, un-baled, bagged and dry expanded polystyrene (EPS). Municipalities participating in the program provide this recycling service free of charge. Mattress & Box Spring Recycling The recycling of mattresses and box springs can provide large savings in capacity at a landfill site. Municipalities have implemented this diversion initiative at their landfill sites for a fee, which offsets the cost of recycling these items. Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste is generated from the construction, renovation, repair and demolition of structures such as residential and commercial buildings, roads and bridges. The composition of C&D waste varies for these different activities and structures. In general, C&D waste is composed of wood products, asphalt, drywall and masonry. Other components that are often present in significant quantities include metals, plastics, earth, shingles, insulation and cardboard. In general, landfill sites segregate C&D waste received and divert these materials through their recycling programs and/or use the materials for on-site road construction and maintenance. The Municipality of Kincardine and the Hanover-Walkerton landfill site segregate and recycle drywall and shingles through private sector contractors. will start recycling shingles and drywall in

20 Household Batteries Municipalities collect household batteries at local landfill sites, municipal offices and additional municipal locations to remove these items from the waste stream. The collected batteries are recycled through Raw Materials Inc. Household batteries are also accepted at the MHSW events. Fluorescent Lights Fluorescent lights (tubes and bulbs) are collected for recycling at the Southampton landfill site and the Kincardine Waste Management Centre. These items can also be brought to the MHSW events for recycling. Reuse Centres Five landfill sites have established reuse centres to promote waste diversion through reuse practices. These sites include: Kincardine Waste Management Centre, Eastnor, St.Edmund s, Southampton and Hanover-Walkerton. There are a number of programs available to Bruce County residents to donate gently used items. These programs are established through the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Canadian Diabetes Association and other local agencies Waste Diversion Numbers Table 5, 2013 Waste Diversion Summary provides an overview of waste management practices that are established in each municipality. The shading of an individual cell indicates a diversion program exists. In 2013, approximately 4,800 tonnes of material were diverted through the blue box curbside and depot collection program. The Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste (MHSW) events managed by the County diverted 108 tonnes of materials in Additional diversion and segregation programs operated at the municipal landfill sites accounted for approximately 3,800 tonnes of material being diverted from the landfill. Quantifying diversion in a consistent manner continues to progress and implementing comparable conversion rates will be investigated for the 2014 report. 18

21 Table 5: 2013 Waste Diversion Summary Municipality Blue Box MHSW Landfill Site Electronics Polystyrene Arran-Elderslie Brockton Huron-Kinloss Kincardine Northern Bruce Arran Chesley Leaf & Yard Waste Bale Wrap Tires 7.50 Brant m Greenock Hanover Walkerton Huron Kinloss KWMC Ward Eastnor Lindsay 9.20 Sept St. Edmund's Saugeen Shores 1, Southampton , Mildmay Teeswater Amabel Oct Bruce County 4, ,

22 Municipality Landfill Site Scrap Metal & White Goods Shingles Drywall Mattresses/ Box Springs Other Total Arran-Elderslie Brockton Huron-Kinloss Kincardine Northern Bruce Saugeen Shores Arran Chesley Brant Greenock Hanover-Walkerton Household Batteries Huron Kinloss KWMC 0.68 Household Ward 3 Batteries & Fluorescent Lights 1, Eastnor Automotive Lindsay Batteries & St. Edmund's Reuse Centre Construction Southampton Debris & 2, Fluorescent Lights Mildmay Teeswater Amabel Bruce County , Diversion measures in tonnes unless otherwise noted Shaded areas denotes diversion program in place Materials diverted for Walkerton were calculated on the assumption that the Town of Walkerton accounts for 45% of total materials diverted from the Hanover-Walkerton landfill site. 20

23 6. WASTE MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES A number of options for the development of a sustainable waste management system exist in Bruce County. The following section provides an overview of potential initiatives that can be undertaken by the local municipalities and the County Waste Disposal Bag Tags A number of municipalities currently implement a user pay waste management program, in which residents are required to pay for the waste they place at the curbside. Four municipalities continue to allow a set number of free bags before instilling the mandatory bag tag. The implementation of a clear bag policy promotes the reduction of recyclables and hazardous waste from being landfilled. Municipalities should continue to use this waste reduction strategy to decrease residential waste generation. Landfill Operations Improvements to landfill operations can help reduce the amount of materials being sent to the landfill and increase diversion rates. Landfill sites may want to consider the following: Install weigh scales if not present; Ensure effective signage is used for waste segregation; Ban certain materials from being disposed in the landfill; Maintain records of the quantity and types of waste diverted and disposed; Reuse available materials on-site; Ensure maximum compaction efforts are being utilized; Establish additional diversion areas where applicable; Operate efficient hours of operation Waste Diversion Blue Box Recycling Program New products and materials are continuously being introduced into the market place which provides an opportunity to expand the materials accepted through the blue box program. Expanding the blue box recycling program requires consideration of increased cost for collection as well as market demand for the recyclables. Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste Collection Program(MHSW) The County operates the MHSW collection program and manages fifteen collection events throughout the County on an annual basis. Uncertainty with provincial funding for the MHSW program has stalled the investigation on a permanent MHSW or any other changes to the current program. The County should continue to monitor this program and implement any changes as funding programs materialize. 21

24 Backyard Composting Backyard composting of materials is a prime example of reduction at the source. Many municipalities offer subsidized compost bins to residents to encourage backyard composting. Aggressive promotion, education, distribution and use of home composters can divert up to 30% of the residential waste stream from landfill. There is also potential for composting at schools and other institutions within the County. Efforts on the part of both the County and the local municipalities to promote and expand home composting need to be enhanced. Electronic Waste Local municipalities have successfully established electronic waste recycling programs. Municipalities are encouraged to continue to provide this diversion program to their residents and increase this service by accepting additional electronic waste as Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) expands their list of acceptable materials. Used Agricultural Bale Wrap Municipalities have engaged Think Plastic Inc. to provide recycling services for used agricultural bale wrap. This program has reduced the amount of bale wrap material entering the landfill or being privately burned. There are additional contractors providing bale wrap recycling services and therefore municipalities should evaluate their program to ensure they are receiving the best service. Polystyrene A number of municipalities have established successful polystyrene recycling programs. As this recycling option continues to exist, municipalities not collecting this material for recycling should explore implementing this diversion program to eliminate polystyrene from entering the landfill. This program could be a positive reduction strategy at the IC&I level where a large amount of polystyrene is generated. Mattress and Box Spring Recycling A mattress and box spring recycling program has the potential to divert a large volume of waste from the landfill. Municipalities are beginning to employ this diversion initiative at their landfill sites. Utilizing the user pay system for this recycling program would allow the municipality to run the program a minimal cost. Construction & Demolition Waste Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste can include materials such as drywall, lumber, metal, brick, concrete, carpet, plastic, piping and earth. C&D waste makes up a large component of the non-hazardous solid waste stream. Efforts to divert C&D waste will have a large potential for reducing the quantity of materials being disposed of. Municipalities should maintain and enhance reuse and recycling initiatives for C&D waste materials where able at their landfill sites. It may also be advantageous for municipalities and the County to provide contractors and businesses with information regarding the waste management practices currently in place. Fluorescent Lights Residents are replacing regular incandescent lights with more energy-efficient products such as fluorescent lights. Fluorescent lights contain mercury and therefore have to be handled and disposed of with caution. Fluorescent tubes and bulbs are recycled through the County s MHSW program; however some municipalities recycle these items at the 22

25 landfill site on a year round basis. Additional municipalities should investigate implementing a fluorescent light recycling depot at their landfill site to provide residents with an opportunity to recycling these items outside of the MHSW program and to ensure they are eliminated from the waste stream. With the cancellation of the Phase 2 funding program, the recycling of fluorescent lights at landfill sites would be at a cost to the municipality as there is no longer funding for the recycling of fluorescent bulbs and tubes. Reuse Centres Landfill sites receive a significant quantity of reusable materials that are unwanted and discarded. These materials are often in fair condition and can potentially be utilized by someone else. Establishing a reuse centre would divert useful materials from the landfill. Industrial, Commercial & Institutional Waste The Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) sector produces a large volume of recoverable wastes and are therefore a clear target for waste minimization. Ensuring that materials, which can be reused and recycled, are diverted at the source and not improperly disposed of is critical. Facilities within the IC&I sector should consider engaging in waste audits, which assist in determining the quantity and composition of the waste being created. Waste audits involve waste reduction work plans, which may become an important part of a facility s operation by: assisting in the execution of an environmental management system; helping the facility comply with government policies and regulations; realizing economic benefits; and improving operating efficiencies. 7. PROMOTION AND EDUCATION Public education is important to the success of an effective waste management system. The County of Bruce assumes responsibility for waste diversion and disposal education; however the municipalities undertake a number of initiatives to promote their waste management programs. Promotion and education initiatives include information pamphlets, environmental calendars, newsletters, newspaper ads and website communications. To increase effectiveness and efficiency, all waste management initiatives need to be supported by a well-developed, comprehensive promotional and educational (P&E) program. Obtaining comparable efforts in waste disposal and diversion would give way for a successful promotion and education program at a County-wide level. Recommendations for enhancing promotion and education include: Promote new and existing diversion programs in local newspapers and on County and municipal websites. Investigate a promotion and education campaign by sending residents seasonal newsletters providing information on waste management programs. Consider a promotion and education strategy for the C&D and IC&I sectors The County will work with the local municipalities to increase promotion and education of the waste management system. 23

26 8. MONITORING AND REVIEW Monitoring and reporting on the waste management system is a County responsibility. Since 2007, the Bruce County Highways Department has prepared an annual Bruce County Status Report on Waste Management, which outlines the waste management practices, landfill site capacities and options for enhancing the waste management system. Each year the County will review the annual monitoring reports from the local landfill sites and prepare a Status Report on Waste Management with updated landfill capacity information to monitor remaining site capacity and also review diversion and disposal programs. A Waste Management Technical Sub-Committee was established in 2009 by the County of Bruce as a working group and reports to individual municipalities and to County Council through the Highways Committee. Sub-Committee members are composed of one staff member designated by the local councils, a member of BASWR and County staff. The purpose of this Sub-Committee is for the local municipalities and the County of Bruce to convene and discuss information regarding current waste management practices and initiatives and to collaborate on issues regarding future waste management programs. 9. RECOMMENDATIONS This report recommends the following activities be addressed: Diversion Initiatives Landfill Site Operational Issues Landfill Site Capacity Issues Long-Term Waste Management Initiatives 9.1. Diversion Initiatives There continues to be support for reducing, reusing and recycling through a number of waste management programs. Implementing new diversion programs, modifying existing programs, and ensuring a high degree of public education will be an ongoing process for the County and local municipalities. Recommendation That the local municipalities continue or consider the following items to encourage diversion initiatives: Implement a bag tag fee; Investigate and implement diversion initiatives for organic waste; Implement a ban on recyclable materials from the waste stream; Encourage waste management practices in the IC&I sector; Investigate and implement additional public education/incentive strategies Landfill Site Operational Issues Landfill sites continue to improve their operational approach. Understanding the volume and/or weight of materials being disposed and/or diverted allows for accurate and comparable disposal and diversion rates. Effective waste screening can also improve disposal and diversion practices by ensuring waste is being properly managed at the landfill site. It is noted that there is variation in waste densities due to the nature of waste treatment (shredding) and the method of compaction. 24

27 Recommendation That the local municipalities continue or strongly consider the following items for landfill site operations: Engage in effective waste screening of vehicles; Continue to undertake effective data collection of disposed and diverted materials; Continue to ensure effective compaction practices are implemented; Where able, investigate alternative cover material if approved in the sites CofA/ECA Landfill Site Capacity Issues As illustrated in the tables and figures in this report, a small number of municipalities are currently under the minimum 20 year period site life. As available capacity at the landfill sites continue to increase and fill rates remain stagnant or decrease, municipalities will progress towards the 20 year threshold for remaining site life. Recommendation To encourage and facilitate the sharing of information between the County and local municipalities to ensure municipalities have a site capacity for a minimum of 20 years Long-Term Waste Management Initiatives In 1995, the County assumed the power to provide landfilling sites for all local municipalities forming part of the County of Bruce. This authority was limited to the power to enter into agreements with local municipalities for the use of existing landfill capacity. The County also assumed responsibility for monitoring the remaining capacity at the municipal landfill sites and to ensure that all area municipalities have disposal capacity for a minimum 20 year period. The uncertainty of provincially funded waste diversion programs makes it difficult for municipalities to investigate and implement specific diversion programs. Recommendation Encourage municipalities to continue to engage in long-term waste management initiatives, which may include: enhancing diversion programs and increasing landfill site capacity if available; Monitor the performance of current waste management programs; That the County provide technical support to the local municipalities with their longterm waste management initiatives; That the County and municipalities stay informed of provincial initiatives, policies and funding opportunities as they become available. 25

28 10. CONCLUSION There is a desire at the municipal and County level to maximize the use of existing approved landfill site capacity within the municipalities, recognizing this capacity as a finite resource with significant value. Ultimately reducing the amount of waste generated through reduction and reuse initiatives is best as it reduces the amount of energy and resources that are required to transport, process and/or dispose of the waste. Local municipalities have successful waste diversion programs in place for a number of items that had been previously landfilled. The Province encourages cooperation among municipalities to seek efficiencies and to find mutually acceptable solutions to waste management. This partnership approach has the potential to expand waste management options available to the municipalities involved. The waste management environment is considered to be dynamic with changes occurring to both diversion and residual waste options on an ongoing basis. A Waste Management Technical Sub-Committee outlines capacity and diversion issues and collaborates on developing future waste management programs. Through this Sub-committee efforts towards obtaining comparable landfill site capacities and establishing uniform diversion programs have been undertaken and will progress as each municipality moves forward with their waste management program. 26