Final Draft Strategy for A Waste- Free Ontario: Building a Circular Economy Overview Waste Management Planning Steering Committee January 23, 2017
Outline Background Strategy Vision and Goals Strategy Objectives and Actions Strategy Alignment with Previous Comments EBR Comments Recommendations and Next Steps 2
Background On November 30, 2016, the Province proclaimed the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 and the Waste Diversion Transition Act, 2016, enacted by the Waste-Free Ontario Act, 2016 (WFOA). On December 16, 2016, the Final Draft for the Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building a Circular Economy was posted (comments due by January 30, 2017). Various staff reports/memos provided updates and comments on the legislation and previous draft strategy: Last set of formal comments submitted in PW 12-2016. 3
Background On January 9, 2017, the Draft Transitional Operating Agreement between the Minister and the Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (Authority) was posted to the EBR (comments due by February 23, 2017): Association of Municipalities of Ontario is conducting a legal review; and Important document as it delineates responsibility between MOECC and the Authority. 4
Strategy Vision and Goals Vision The vision for Ontario is one where waste is seen as resource that can be recovered, reused and reintegrated to achieve a circular economy. Goals To achieve a zero waste Ontario and zero greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector. Interim Waste Diversion Goals 30% diversion by 2020 50% diversion by 2030 80% diversion by 2050 5
Strategy Objectives and Actions Objective 1: Enhance Provincial Direction and Oversight Action 1. Empower the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority 2. Issue policy statements to provide clear direction on the provincial interest 3. Establish a registry and build data capacity to provide for evidence based decisions Currently Underway Empower Authority Short Term (2017-2018) Continue to build Authority s capacity Develop and begin to implement first policy statement Establish Resource Productivity and Recovery Registry Medium -Long Term (2019 & Beyond) Continue to improve the Authority s capacity to fulfill its role Develop and implement additional policy statements and review existing Maintain and continue to improve the registry 6
Strategy Objectives and Actions Cont d Objective 2: Enable Efficient and Effective Recovery Systems Action 4. Transition existing waste diversion programs smoothly to new producer responsibility framework without disruption of services 5. Amend the 3Rs regulation to increase resource recovery across all sectors 6. Establish service provider requirements to protect the environmental while promoting resource recovery Currently Underway Short Term (2017-2018) Begin to transition existing waste diversion programs Develop and consult on amendments to 3R regulations Develop and consult on improved service provider standards Medium -Long Term (2019 & Beyond) Complete transition of existing waste diversion programs (~2020 for all except BB and ~2022 for BB) Implement amended 3R regulations (~2019) Implement improved service provider standards 7
Strategy Objectives and Actions Cont d Objective 2: Enable Efficient and Effective Recovery Systems Action 7. Ensure landfills are well planned and managed to minimize the need for them and reduce GHG emissions 8. Establish promotion and education (P&E) requirements to support public participation in resource recovery Currently Underway Improve landfill data by working with industries and Ministry of Finance Short Term (2017-2018) Improve landfill planning and management Begin setting P&E standards Medium -Long Term (2019 & Beyond) Implement improved landfill planning and management Continue to set P&E standards 8
Strategy Objectives and Actions Cont d Objective 3: Increase Waste Reduction & Resource Productivity Action 9. Designate new materials to ensure producers are fully responsible for recovering more materials from products and packaging 10. Implement an action plan to reduce the volume of food and organic waste going to landfill Currently Underway Establish stakeholder working group Short Term (2017-2018) Begin to designate new materials (e.g. batteries, fluorescent bulbs and tubes, additional electronics ) based on priorities Develop, consult and implement action plan Medium - Long Term (2019 & Beyond) Continue to designate additional materials (e.g. mattresses, carpets, furniture and other bulky goods, ~2020 and additional goods in ~2023 and beyond) Implement additional actions (2019) 9
Strategy Objectives and Actions Cont d Objective 3: Increase Waste Reduction & Resource Productivity Action 11. Implement an Excess Soil Management Policy Framework to increase the reuse of excess soil, while protecting human health and the environment 12. Adopt and implement modern regulatory approaches to build on and promote innovative best practices Currently Underway Release framework Begin to identify and adopt modern regulatory approaches Short Term (2017-2018) Develop and consult on regulations, standards and guidance Continue to identify and adopt modern regulatory approaches Medium-Long Term (2019 & Beyond) Implement additional actions 10
Strategy Objectives and Actions Cont d Objective 4: Create Conditions to Support Sustainable End-Markets Action 13. Improve and establish environmental standards to provide a level playing field and a strong foundation for markets 14. Use green procurement practices to build market demand for recovered materials Currently Underway Review existing policies Short Term (2017-2018) Develop and consult on new standards and adopt national, international and industry standards Develop and implement new/revised policies as identified by the review Medium-Long Term (2019 & Beyond) Implement new standards Continue to implement new/revised policies as identified by the review 11
Strategy Objectives and Actions Cont d Objective 4: Create Conditions to Support Sustainable End-Markets Action 15. Implement disposal bans to direct materials to end markets Currently Underway Short Term (2017-2018) Develop and consult on policies regarding disposal bans (e.g., materials under existing waste diversion programs, food waste) Integrated in many of these actions is consultation with stakeholders including municipalities. Medium-Long Term (2019 & Beyond) Implement bans, providing time for industries to prepare (~2021-2022 for materials under existing diversion programs and ~2022-2023 for food waste disposal ban) 12
Strategy Areas of Alignment Niagara Region supports the Final Draft Strategy (Strategy) as it generally aligns with previous positions put forward by Niagara. Previous positions and comments in alignment are reflected in the following areas: 1. Diversion of more waste from disposal through actions that include: Targeting areas for greater diversion by designating new materials e.g. additional electronics (appliances, electrical tools), florescent bulbs and tubes, mattresses, carpets, clothing and textiles, furniture and the bulky items; Developing and implementing an Organics Action Plan; 13
Strategy Areas of Alignment Applying producer outcomes and requirements/targets for products and packaging that focus on: - Waste reduction, increasing material s reusability and recyclability, reducing or elimination use of hazardous or toxic materials or increasing use of recovered resources in a product or packaging. 2. Municipalities have a role in transition of programs to new regime including consultation on: Roles and responsibilities for the operation of the Blue Box system; and Opportunities for municipal integrated waste management systems to support producer responsibility. 14
Strategy Areas of Alignment 3. Transition plans will consider how to address municipal contracts and assets and how to avoid stranded assets. 4. Consumer convenience will be maintained or improved and access to existing services will not be negatively impacted. 5. Review of the 3Rs Regulations to improve diversion from the IC&I sector. 6. Ban designated materials from disposal after waste diversion plans are in place and when a viable alternative to disposal exists for a designated material. 7. New Authority has compliance and enforcement powers to oversee producer responsibility programs and manage data. 15
EBR Comments The following sections summarize previous Niagara Region positions/comments, which will be submitted to the EBR (in addition to areas of alignment): Municipal Role Strategy acknowledges that municipalities operate integrated waste management systems and municipal consultation will continue. Municipalities should be able to choose (future decision points for Council) to continue providing the following services, with fair compensation from the producers: Collection of Blue Box materials as part of an integrated collection system; Blue Box processing; and Collection of other designated materials e.g. hazardous waste. 16
EBR Comments Compensation/Costs 1. The Strategy identifies that consideration should be made on how to address municipal stranded assets, however provides no further details. Transition should address fair compensation for stranded municipal assets (e.g. Recycling Centre). 2. Municipalities should be fairly compensated for any new major costs as a result of the new legislative framework (e.g. municipal administration of disposal bans). 3. Need to eliminate/reduce possible unfunded municipal costs; (e.g., indirect administration costs related to designated material and cost of managing any designated material that is disposed and is litter i.e. designated materials in all streams). 17
EBR Comments Compensation/Costs cont d 4. Need to ensure the system (during and after the transition) is simple and cost-effective to administer: Reduced (or at least no increase) in administration costs for municipalities. 5. Accelerate Blue Box funding transition to 100% producer funded: Increase funding percentage during transition; Consultation should begin immediately; and Address municipal contract implications and assets. 18
EBR Comments Compensation/Costs cont d 6. Internalization of the cost of end-of-life product and packaging management with all-in pricing to remove the cost from the municipalities/taxpayers and provide the opportunity for design for the environment and less disposal. 7. Mechanisms must be in place to prevent producers from using non-designated material for packaging to avoid fees and would result in municipalities being responsible for the management and cost of this packaging (e.g. designate all packaging). 19
EBR Comments Extended Producer Responsibility to More Branded Goods 1. The Region supports the designation of new materials as set out in the Strategy and in addition, the following should also be designated: Construction and demolition waste; Small household items such as toys; Non-food organics; and Additional electronics not currently proposed in the Strategy. 2. Focus should be on designation of IC&I Blue Box and other materials for targets to be reached (need to be compensated for IC&I materials that are municipally collected). 3. Timeline for designation should be accelerated, where possible for materials that have end markets. 20
EBR Comments Other Mechanisms to Increase Diversion 1. Incentives to promote waste reduction (avoid waste generation) followed by reuse, recycling/composting are needed (e.g. targets and funding to increase reduction and reuse initiatives). 2. Material-specific targets /standards to be established by sector: Ensure no erosion of the residential programs; and IC&I waste generation and diversion should be tracked and audited parallel to the residential waste stream. 3. Accessibility and service level standards (includes promotion and education and other program support). 4. Recognition of energy production from biological treatment as diversion (e.g. anaerobic digestion to produce biogas or biological drying of organics into biofuel). 21
Next Steps Submit above comments on EBR posting in letter form and also identify: Need to receive timelines for milestones e.g. transition dates for HHW, tires and electronics; draft regulations; schedule for new materials to be designated and potential policy statements MOECC is considering, etc.; and Consultation and transition work for Blue Box program should begin now to facilitate movement to 100% producer funding. Staff will continue to participate in ongoing consultations and be actively involved in industry/municipal associations in the review of the impact on municipalities. Recycling Center options review in progress. 22
Questions? 23