Waste Management Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

Transcription

1 Waste Management Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday September 19, 2018, 7 p.m. Niagara Region Headquarters Building, Campbell West, Committee Room Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, Ontario WMAC Members Present Ms. Holly Washuta Mr. Vince Pignataro Mr. Albert Witteveen Mr. Mike Balsom Dr. Abrar Baig Mr. Rocco DiMatteo Dr. John Bacher Regrets Mr. Gregg Furtney Mr. Gavin Coman Mr. Dean Cruikshank Absent Niagara Region Waste Management Services Staff Present Mr. Brad Whitelaw, Waste Management Policy and Planning Program Manager Mrs. Susan McPetrie, Waste Management Services Advisor Ms. Sandy Sawatzky, Waste Management Clerk/Program Administrator 1. Approval of Agenda Motion: To approve the September 19, 2018 Agenda Moved By: Dr. John Bacher Seconded By: Rocco DiMatteo Carried. 2. Business Arising from Previous Minutes There was no business arising from previous minutes 3. Items for Consideration There were no items for consideration

2 4. Presentation a) Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) Susan McPetrie, Waste Management Services Advisor A member commented on the Municipal Comparators slide that it is not really comparing apples to apples. A member agreed it was good to compare to others, but not for us to be satisfied where we are, we should always be looking to improve. Members inquired why certain municipalities do better than others. Staff explained implementation of specific drivers (i.e. bi-weekly collection) will affect the success of diversion programs in municipalities. A member asked if there was a cost for organics collection and processing and whether the Region receives any funding. Staff responded that there is a cost associated with organics collection and processing. Staff mentioned under the Province s new food and organic waste framework, there is likely no funding to be provided to municipalities for their organics collection and processing costs, unless full producer responsibility is implemented, for example branded organics. A member inquired whether the costs associated with the Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM) strategy for the Region s Green Bin Campaign were worth it. Staff advised that the costs of the CBSM have proven its worth. A member suggested outreach to schools is where the Region should focus for the future. Staff responded that the Region is already providing outreach to schools and this will continue to be a focus. A member inquired about schools only having a single recycle container and everything went it in, paper and plastic. Staff explained that the Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB) is currently in a recycling contract with a private company and they receive on-site collection, so there is no interest from the NCDSB in switching recycling providers, at this time. 5. Items for Information Motion: To receive items as a block Moved By: Mike Balsom Seconded By: Albert Witteveen Carried.

3 a) WMPSC-C 27 Curbside Battery Collection b) WMPSC-C 28 Ontario s Food and Organic Waste Framework Action Plan c) WMPSC-C 29 Alternative Waste Management Technologies Update d) WMPSC-C 31 Q2 Recycling Centre Markets Update e) WMPSC-C 32 Porcelain Recycling Pilot f) WMPSC-C 33 Waste Management Tipping Fees g) WMPSC-C 34 Creating a Pollinator Friendly Habitat h) PW Emterra Collection Contract Update i) Staff Directions Update j) WMAC Meeting Minutes June 20 (Approved via ) k) Staff Directions Update There were no staff directions from the previous meeting. Staff asks if there are any questions regarding the reports. A member commented on the collection issues with Emterra s contract. A member mentioned a similar issue in Peel Region since about May, and that Niagara Region is not the only one having a problem with this contractor. The member was surprised by Peel Regional Council s approved motion to remove a minimum of one route each collection day from Emterra s contract. A member continued to say he understands that with 95 o weather, it is hard to work on the back of the truck, hard to find people to do the job, and asked if Niagara Region is getting any closer to a solution? Another member mentioned collection issues are not everywhere, south Pelham didn t have too many issues. Staff responded Emterra has experienced difficulties with finishing daily collection (i.e. entire or partial routes) and on 28 separate occasions since

4 January 1, 2018, collection was not fully completed. Between March 2017 and June 19, 2018, the Region has issued $465,000 in liquidated damages for failure to comply with the Contract terms and conditions. The Region will continue to enforce the Contract to ensure compliance with the Contract terms. A member asked how old their fleet is and why Emterra doesn t get a new fleet or use other trucks? Staff responded that it is not that easy, as other vehicles owned by Emterra are used in other municipalities they service and it may not be feasible to purchase new vehicles for a 3 year contract extension, however Emterra did source additional vehicles for the contract extension. Members commented that Emterra received the extension too easily. These complaints are not new, as delays were happening in the winter. If the Region knew the average life of vehicle is 7 years, why did they give them 3 year extension? Staff responded that vehicles do last longer than 7 years, if they are well maintained. The contract was extended primarily due to the implications of the Province s new Waste Diversion Act. At the time the extension was being considered, there was a possibility that industry/stewards would be taking over recycling collection and processing as part of full producer responsibility over a 5 year period. A one year extension only, was being initially recommended by staff with the option of two additional one year extensions, and that may have helped to preempt the current ongoing problem. Other members agreed there is a huge problem in the industry, and no one wants to be a truck driver. A member mentioned that since the Region asked Emterra to extend the contract, the Region should share in the cost of the issues. This is the price we pay for the greater good of the system. People need to be reasonable, it is garbage. Staff responded that the Region has acted reasonably in authorizing later collection on numerous occasions, for causes related to Emterra s business operations (i.e. truck breakdowns or staffing issues). In February 2018, Niagara Region approved Emterra s request to extend the daily end time from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., while Emterra acquired additional vehicles and personnel resources. This temporary extension expired on March 18, Emterra was also provided with a one-time payment of $350,000 to be paid on March 4, 2019, plus an additional price adjustment in the form of a one-time payment equivalent to 1.5% of contract value in Year 10, minor operational changes requested by Emterra and two pre-payments of diesel in 2017 to mitigate costs associated with the Carbon Tax to extend this contract.

5 A member asks if it has been considered to offer free landfill tipping fees during delays. This has not been considered, as Emterra is required to collect any missed collections. A member commented we haven t had an issue with the company up until this year, and that possibly the minimum wage increase may have had an effect. A member comments on employment issues across all industries, agriculture brings in offshore labor and without it the agriculture business wouldn t survive not because of the cost of the labor but because they work. A member asked what makes up the porcelain recycling program. Staff responded that porcelain recycling includes items such as toilets and sinks. 6. Other Business A member questioned whether marijuana plants will be accepted at landfills? Some transfer stations will not be accepting, because they won t be able to take across border for disposal. Another member commented that growers will be moving to organic medium in order for everything to be composted and perhaps will need to take care of it onsite. A member asked if the Region has a strategy regarding marijuana. Serious dollars and jobs. In reference to Report GM Sub-Committee Extensions the report recommendation is that all our advisory committee appointments will continue until no later than May 31, 2019 pending completion of the Committee review and that where appointees are unable to continue, the quorum for the committees be adjusted accordingly to reflect the reduced number of members. Committee members are asked to make aware their intensions of remaining on the Waste Management Advisory Committee by to sandy.sawatzkyupper@niagararegion.ca as soon as possible. 7. Next meeting: Wednesday, November 21, 2018, 7 p.m., Niagara Region Headquarters Building, Campbell West, Committee Room 4, 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, Ontario. 8. Adjournment Motion: To adjourn

6 Moved By: John Bacher Seconded By: Albert Witteveen Carried. Staff Requests a) Is Niagara Region Waste management developing a strategy for marijuana? Note If you require any accommodations for a disability in order to attend and participate in the WMAC meeting, please contact the Accessibility Advisory Coordinator at , extension 3253, to make the appropriate arrangements.