Navigating toward 60% diversion of residential wastes. Regional Municipality of Durham, Whitby, Ontario Canada

Transcription

1 Navigating toward 60% diversion of residential wastes

2 Regional Municipality of Durham Located in the highly developed and populated centre of Ontario Lies immediately to the east of Toronto Encompasses an area of approximately 2,535 square kilometres Current population of 590,000 residents in eight (8) municipalities: Cities of Pickering and Oshawa, Towns of Ajax and Whitby, Municipality of Clarington and Townships of Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock

3 Durham Region s Long Term Waste Management Strategy Plan: 2000 to 2020 (as developed by the Waste Management Advisory Committee 1999) 7 Recommendation Divert at least 50 per cent of residential waste from landfill by 2007 or earlier Secure an alternate source for disposal of residential waste when the City of Toronto s Keele Valley Landfill site closes Introduce an integrated residential waste management system for the collection, processing and disposal of: Blue Box recyclables, Food and Yard waste compostables, Residential garbage waste and Special wastes Consider an energy-from-waste facility for processing residual garbage waste after atsource recycling and composting Result New waste programs have resulted in approximately 53% diversion rate Residential waste contract awarded for landfill disposal in Michigan until December 31, 2010 Phase 1 (2003): Four municipalities start IWMP Phase 2 (2006): Remaining four municipalities start IWMP Phase 3 (2009): Standardized IWMP service levels Environmental Assessment initiated in 2004

4 The changing faces of waste diversion in Durham Region Recycling: Ongoing: Increase in types of materials accepted for recycling 2009: Increased recycling collection services to a weekly schedule in all Regional municipalities Organics/compostables: 2003: Green bin program initiated in four of the municipalities to divert food wastes from landfill 2005: Ban on collection of grass clippings in yard wastes 2006: Program initiated in remaining four municipalities Residual garbage: 2006: Bi-weekly collection service with bag limits applied in four municipalities; Bag tag system for garbage in excess of limits 2009: Bi-weekly collection service with increased bag limits to be introduced Region wide 2009: Possible introduction of clear garbage bags to increase capture rate of recyclables and compostables 2011: Proposed energy-from-waste facility to process residuals after maximized recycling and composting

5 Further waste diversion initiatives: Dedicated transfer stations Durham Region operates three waste transfer stations and one household hazardous waste station in strategic locations throughout the region for residential use. Materials diverted at Durham Region transfer stations E-waste Drywall Tires CFL Bale wrap Paint exchange White goods HHW 2007: 32% of materials collected at transfer stations was recycled, reclaimed or salvaged.

6 Community waste diversion initiatives HHW Compost E-waste Plastic Bag Launch Annual: The Region hosts free waste collection events for household hazardous and electronic waste allowing residents to drop off materials that are not collected at the curb or that can be recycled. 2007: Residents diverted 4.5 tonnes of HHW and 12 tonnes of E-waste Annual: The Region also partners with its municipalities to stage communal events such as compost give-aways offering composted organics from the Green Bin program at no cost to residents 2007: Durham Region partnered with major grocery store retailers to initiate plastic bag recycling and reusable bag programs throughout the Region.

7 State-of-the-art processing facilities Organics processing: 2005: Durham Region financed a new facility to treat residential organic material. This facility currently has the capacity to process in excess of 25,000 tonnes annually using the Ebara in-vessel compost system. 2007: Durham curbside food waste collection program diverts 26,000 tonnes Materials recovery: 2008: Durham Region commissioned its new material recovery facility in Whitby. This facility, which offers the capacity to process up to 115,000 tonnes of materials annually, was designed to accommodate expected tonnage increases from the residential sector for the next 15 years. The facility boasts optical sorters which are the first installed in Canada. These sorters will increase the quality of processed plastics up to 98 per cent of all recyclables received, decreasing the number of recyclables rejected due to contamination.

8 Comparison of municipal diversion rates for curbside programs only Municipality Pickering Ajax Whitby Oshawa Clarington Scugog Uxbridge Brock AVERAGE

9 Region of Durham Waste Management Waste disposal statistics 2000 to 2008

10 Energy-from-waste: the final frontier 2004: Durham Region embarked on an investigation into alternative disposal methods for residential residual waste. The Region was looking for a made in Durham solution to manage its residential residual waste after maximized recycling and composting through the EA process. Public workshops began. Environmental Assessment TofR 2005: York Region joined Durham Region. 2006: Ontario MOE approved the Terms of Reference and recommendations of the preferred technology thermal treatment. 2006: Request for qualifications issued. 2007: Evaluation of qualified vendors. 2007: Consultant s recommended preferred site (Clarington 01) approved by Regional councils; site-specific studies underway. 2008: Selection of vendors/technology. 2009: Submission of EA Documents to MOE for approval 2010: Construction of facility (if approved) Ong oi n g Pu bli c & Age nc y Cons ut l ati o n Provincially Approved EA Terms of Reference Ø Purpose and General Description of the Undertaking Ø EA Study Work Plan Evaluate?Alternatives to? the Undertaking Ø Consider Additional?At-source? Diversion Ø Develop Alternative Disposal Systems Ø Net Effects Evaluation of Alternative Disposal Systems Ø Preferred Disposal System Evaluate?Alternative Methods? of Implementing the Undertaking Ø Facility Site Selection Ø RFP for Selection of Technology/Vendor (if required) Ø Complete EPA Level Studies Ø Preferred Technology/Vendor/Site (i.e. the?undertaking?) Prepare and Submit EA Documentation Ø Detailed Impact Studies and Description of the Undertaking MOE Approval of EA (ApprovedM arc 200 ) Completed h 6 (June 2006) C o m pe l te d 2009 I ncre as ed Lev el of Detai l Ongoing Consideration of the Environment Potentially Affected, Impact Studies & Mitigation (Impact Management) More Site Specific

11 Getting the message out on new programs, changes in programs and new service levels The Region develops intensive promotion and education campaigns involving all media and resources to promote programs and educate its residents on (a) the benefits of the new program and (b) changes to service levels if affected by: Taking advantage of all avenues of local media available. Developing strategic programming schedules for newspaper and radio advertising and television segments. Co-ordinating the timing and scheduling for all media to re-enforce a consistent message to residents. Exploring alternative communication tools such as interactive web pages or instructional DVD s for residents at all age levels. Initiating face-to-face communications through public information sessions, workshops and presentations at the municipal, public and school levels to involve all residents.

12 Innovation acknowledgement awards Durham Region has been a leader in the development of proactive and innovative Methods to manage residential residual waste collection, processing and disposal. Its success is due to: a realistic an achievable long-term waste management strategy plan developed in partnership with Durham s residents. the implementation of cost-effective programs to capture household kitchen food waste and recyclable materials. offering special collection events on a regular basis to divert household hazardous and electronic wastes from landfill and effective communication and educational plans to ensure residential participation through education. Regional Municipality of Durham: Long Term Waste Management Strategy Plan: 2000 to 2020 Approved in principle on December 15, 1999 by the Region of Durham Prepared by the Region of Durham Works Department Waste Management Services Based on the recommendations of the Waste Management Advisory Committee

13 International recognition for waste programs and education: 2006: Project of the Year - Integrated Waste Management Program - Ontario Public Works Association 2007: Communication, Education and Marketing - Gold Award -SWANA 2007: Integrated Waste Management Program - Silver and Bronze Award - Recycling Council of Ontario 2007: Australia: Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Conference. - Keynote Speaker

14 The Future futures Roles roles of Waste waste management Management Recycling and composting programs will continue to be the primary way that households can reduce their waste. Thermal processing of residual garbage can convert residual or leftover household garbage into energy such as steam and electricity. Recovery of materials from the ash with the potential reuse of ash as an aggregate material.

15 Questions and answers For more information on the Regional Municipality of Durham s waste diversion programs, visit and bookmark For information on the Durham York Residual Waste Study