Waste Watch Keeping Our Island Green

Transcription

1 Waste Watch Keeping Our Island Green 18th National Composting Conference Chateau Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec September 17-19, 2008 Presented By: Heather Myers, Disposal Manager Island Waste Management Corporation Prince Edward Island

2 Prince Edward Island PEI has an area of approximately 5660 km² Provincial population is 139,000 (Stats Canada) Average annual precipitation is 1100mm PEI is the only province in Canada to be totally dependant upon ground water for fresh water Estimated annual solid waste generation is 120,000 tonnes Main industries include: Agriculture Fisheries Tourism

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4 Waste Management History 1991 Province began to search for new methods of managing its waste materials, as the largest disposal site in East Prince was reaching capacity Approximately 65 community dump sites across PEI (early 1990 s)

5 Pilot Project 1992 New Source Separation System Waste Watch was conceived by a joint committee of 10 local municipalities and the Provincial Environmental Agency. The Waste Watch source separation program began with a pilot project involving 100 households and a few businesses in East Prince 1994 The East Prince Waste Management Commission implemented the Waste Watch Program to all of East Prince 11,000 Residential Households (30,000 people) 1,100 Seasonal Residents 1,000 Commercial, Institutional and Industrial (IC&I) Businesses

6 Island Waste Management Corporation (IWMC) was created under the Environmental Protection Act in May, 1999 to administer and provide solid waste management services for Prince Edward Island IWMC s mandate is to deliver a cost effective and environmentally responsible provincial waste management system to both residential and commercial sectors of PEI

7 Province-Wide System Blue Bag recycling provided to all homes in PEI ,000 homes and cottages 10,000 businesses Currently Achieving a 65% diversion rate from the waste stream

8 Waste Watch Program Waste Watch is a unique made in PEI program that protects our environment by separating, at the source, waste resources into three streams: 1 2 Recyclables Compost Waste Waste Watch is a mandatory program for both the residential and IC&I sectors.

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10 Residential Program 65,000 households Annual Fee ($195) billed through Provincial Property Tax Assessments Each household is assigned a set of carts (compost & waste) Collection provided by private sector under contract with IWMC Bi-weekly collection of waste and compost Monthly collection of recyclables (bags purchased by customer) Spring & fall cleanup and Christmas tree collection Free drop-off for recyclables on Saturdays Free drop-off of household hazardous waste (HHW), white goods and large household items (sofas, mattresses, box spring, etc) at Waste Watch Drop-off Centers (WWDC s)

11 Excess Waste Residential Residents may place up to two additional containers / bags beside cart for collection Acceptable Containers / Bags Waste Open rigid containers Clear, transparent plastic bags (No solid coloured bags, i.e. black, green, orange, blue, etc.) Compost Open rigid containers Paper bags

12 Commercial Sector 10,000 businesses Follow same sorting guidelines as residents Arranged collection by a private hauler Collection options include private contractor or self-haul to WWDC Disposal fees charged based on weight

13 Commercial Collection Containers Containers Businesses may use whatever type of containers that best suit the needs of the business and contractors Bags Recyclables Blue bags are preferable but clear transparent bags are acceptable (contract haulers & self haul) Waste Clear transparent bags only. NO coloured bags (black, green, orange, etc.) and NO blue bags Compost Paper bags are preferable. If using plastic, the contents must be emptied into the compost collection container and the plastic bag re-used if clean (or recycled) or placed in waste if dirty. The same applies if self-hauling to a WWDC.

14 Biodegradable / Compostable Bags The use of these bags is NOT desired due to operational difficulties at the compost facility Bags are not encouraged but are still accepted If used, only certified biodegradable / compostable bags are permitted

15 Public Waste Guidelines Public Waste defined as recyclable, compost & waste material that is placed in unsupervised containers in public areas such as campgrounds, fast food restaurants, festival grounds, public lobbies, parks, etc Public Waste will only be accepted if the facility generating the waste has clearly marked sorting stations Proper Setup: Provide signage and sorting information Labeled receptacles should be grouped to provide sorting stations Use clear, transparent, plastic bags if lining receptacles

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20 Public Waste (Disposal) Good Sort (90% sorted properly) Waste place bag in proper dumpster Compost if using plastic bag, empty into compost dumpster; soiled bag to waste Mixed Waste (more than 10% contamination) Identify the bag as public waste by writing PW and the name of the business on the bag and placing into the WASTE dumpster

21 Final Disposal Facilities East Prince Waste Management Facility (Landfill Cell) Central Compost Facility (Organics Processing) PEI Energy Systems (Incinerator, Energy From Waste) Green Isle Environmental Inc. (Recycling Facility)

22 East Prince Waste Management Facility Owned and operated by IWMC 40-50,000 tonnes per year Second-generation landfill cell All liquid (leachate) is collected and trucked off site for treatment

23 PEI Energy Systems (Energy from Waste) Privately owned and operated 30, 000 tonnes of residual waste converted to heat By-products include fly ash and bottom ash

24 Central Compost Facility Processes organic waste generated on PEI Owned by IWMC privately operated Design capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year

25 GreenIsle Environmental Recycling facility Privately owned and operated 15 17,000 tonnes / yr (recyclables)

26 Waste Watch Drop-Off Centers (WWDC s) WWDC s are located across the province to accept items not collected at curb and to provide collection and disposal alternatives to small businesses

27 WWDC s WWDC s material received is sorted for transfer to final disposal sites

28 WWDC (Acceptable Material) Recyclables, compost & waste (source separated) Contaminated material Contaminated soil (max. 3 tonnes) Construction and demolition debris Silage Wrap Metals

29 WWDC (Unacceptable Material) Commercial bio-medical waste Commercial hazardous waste Large quantities of asbestos containing materials Propane tanks (over 20 lbs)

30 WWDC (No Charge Material) Tires Household hazardous waste White Goods (fridges, stoves, washers, etc) Bio-medical waste / medication (residential only) Large household items (mattresses, box springs, sofas, carpets, etc) Propane tanks (20 lbs and smaller)

31 Other Waste Reduction / Reuse Programs Used motor oil must be accepted for recycling by the seller (or a designate) Deposit/Refund system for Beverage containers Used lead acid batteries must be accepted for recycling by the seller Rechargeable batteries are accepted for return by some retailers (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation)

32 Other Waste Reduction and Reuse Programs in Place A used tire collection and drop off system is in place A collection system for used cooking oils is available Cell phone recycling Inkjet and laser and toner cartridge recycling

33 Safe Needle Disposal Program Free of charge needle disposal containers are available through the local pharmacy, AIDS PEI or Diabetes Association Return full containers to the local pharmacy for proper disposal IC&I Sector: Contact Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry for disposal permit Disposal at PEI Energy Systems

34 Re-Store Your Batteries Disposal Program Batteries may be returned to any major grocery store IC&I sector should contact hazardous waste carrier

35 Fluorescent Light Bulbs Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury and hazardous gases Residents take to nearest WWDC IC&I Sector Purchase lamp crusher Superior Sanitation Hazardous waste carrier

36 Take It Back Medication Program Expired or unused medications accepted at pharmacies IC&I Sector Return to manufacturer Hazardous waste carrier

37 Conclusion 1990 s 1 landfill 1 central compost facility 6 WWDC s (includes one recycling facility) Approximately 65 community dump sites across PEI 2002

38 Thank You! Working Together Today to Preserve Tomorrow Heather Myers Disposal Manager IWMC 110 Watts Avenue Charlottetown, PEI Phone: (902) Website: