(Report dated June 12, 1998, addressed to Toronto Community Council, from the Director of Operations and Sanitation, City Works Services.)

Subject:Pilot Project to Provide for More Garbage Cans to be Placed on St. Clair Avenue West (Ward 21 - Davenport)

Purpose:

To establish a procedure to install additional litter receptacles on St. Clair Avenue West and determine whether the installation of these litter receptacles reduces littering and garbage accumulation.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The implementation of the pilot project recommended in this report will not result in additional costs to the City. The assessment of the pilot project will include analysis regarding the relative costs of increased numbers of litter receptacles versus street cleaning costs.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the pilot litter receptacle and garbage storage receptacle program described in this report be approved;

(2) the pilot project extend from approximately August 1 to December 31, 1998 and that all pilot litter and garbage receptacles be removed at the end of the pilot;

(3) authorization be given for the provision of approximately 20 advertising litter receptacles by Olifas Marketing Group Inc., at no cost to the City, for the duration of the pilot;

(4) the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be requested to report to the Toronto Community Council on the results of the pilot project following its completion; and

(5) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Council Reference/Background/History:

At its meeting of May 6 and 7, 1998, the Toronto Community Council requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:

A(1)to report to the Toronto Community Council to be held on June 24, 1998 on:

(a)a pilot project that would provide for more garbage cans to be placed on St. Clair Avenue West between Lansdowne Avenue and Winona Drive and its impacts on litter on the street;

(b)the number of, availability of, and demand for garbage cans in the former City of Toronto; and

(2)to meet with representatives of Corso Italia BIA, Earlscourt Residents= Association, Regal Heights Residents= Association and Policy Community Partnership - 13 Division in order to discuss possibilities in this regard, and report back to the meeting of the Toronto Community Council to be held on June 24, 1998.@

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

1. Meeting with Representatives of Corso Italia BIA, Earlscourt Residents= Association, Regal Heights Residents= Association and Police Community Partnership - 13 Division

On June 2, 1998 a meeting convened by Councillor Betty Disero was held between Works and Emergency Services staff and representatives of the above neighbourhood and business groups. The meeting included a review of the data on litter generation and collection presented in this report and a tour of St. Clair Avenue West to observe litter conditions.

In the meeting, residents indicated that a higher density of litter receptacles might reduce littering on the street and in such locations as planters, and that mid-block litter receptacles may be of assistance in reducing littering. Litter receptacles are generally located at block ends where parking is restricted in order to facilitate emptying of the receptacles. Frequency of litter pickup and the issue of garbage set out at litter receptacles was also discussed.

It was agreed that the pilot project recommended in this report be proceeded with, subject to the approval of City Council.

2. Number, Availability and Demand for Litter Receptacles in the Toronto Community

Council Area

The current inventory of litter receptacles in the Toronto Community Council Area and the demand for their use is shown in Table 1 (attached), together with the changes in numbers in recent years.

The inventory of litter receptacles increased by 25% between 1990 and 1997 and reduced somewhat in 1998 as a result of thefts of litter receptacles and the elimination of litter receptacles from low demand locations where stolen receptacles were not replaced. All stolen litter receptacles have been replaced on the street or in inventory, in accordance with the City=s self insurance policy. The current cost of the litter collection operation is $1,450,000 per year, or $900 per receptacle per year. The cost of litter collection is approximately $630 per tonne. The litter receptacles are an integral part of the Toronto Community Council Area litter collection operation, as litter collection staff place collected litter in the receptacles for transfer and disposal.

The former City of Toronto Works Services and Parks Departments developed an improved litter collection system for implementation in 1999 using improved equipment subject to appropriate equipment availability. This system will result in operational savings of approximately $500,000 per year and will require the sharing of collection equipment between Works and Emergency Services and Community and Neighbourhoods Services staff. The implementation of this improved efficiency program should proceed in 1999 when new collection equipment starts to become available.

Table 1 shows that between 1990 and 1997 there was a substantial increase in on-street receptacles due to demands from neighbourhoods. While increased numbers of litter receptacles increase capital and operating costs for receptacle maintenance and operation, they may result in reduced overall littering. No definitive relationship between the existence of litter receptacles and on-street litter has been established in any City study carried out to date.

3. Pilot Project for More Garbage Cans on St. Clair Avenue West

A pilot project has been developed to both increase the density of litter receptacles on St. Clair Avenue West and monitor the impacts of locating these additional receptacles on litter conditions. The existing and proposed pilot additional receptacles are shown in Table 2, attached.

The meeting with neighbourhood representatives showed that household garbage accumulation is at least as significant an issue as litter accumulation on St. Clair Avenue West. This is also an issue in other parts of the Toronto Community Council Area. Residents of many apartments have limited storage space for garbage and do not wish to retain it in their apartments. They sometimes place garbage in and around litter receptacles. This occurs on a seven day per week basis. It is proposed to establish enclosed outdoor garbage storage containers on the road allowance at one location on St. Clair Avenue West (on the south side of the street, on the block between Lauder Avenue and Glenholme Avenue) and to work with neighbourhood residents to determine whether the provision of such storage facilities will reduce the illegal set out of garbage in and around litter receptacles. Residents will be responsible for setting out the garbage stored in containers at curbside on regular garbage collection days. On this block, a mid-block litter receptacle also will be provided on a pilot basis to determine the impact of mid-block placement of litter receptacles and operational impacts.

4. Provision of Advertising Funded Receptacles

In order to reduce the cost of the pilot program, it is proposed to use receptacles provided by Olifas Marketing Group Inc. for the pilot. Approximately 20 litter receptacles will have advertising provided on both faces. Neighbourhood residents have viewed the receptacles and have no objections to their use in the pilot. If it is decided to expand the use of such litter receptacles funded by advertising throughout the City, the cost of the City=s inventory of receptacles including in-stock receptacles (approximately $2,000,000 in the Toronto Community Council Area) could be eliminated and revenues could be recovered by the City from the sale of advertising.

5. Timing and Cost of the Pilot Project

It is recommended that the pilot project run from approximately August 1 to December 31, 1998, and that a report be presented to your Community Council on the results of the pilot following its termination. At termination of the pilot project, all pilot containers should be removed. The cost of the pilot project can be accommodated within the overall budget for street cleaning in the Toronto Community Council Area.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

John Warren

Director of Operations and Sanitation

Toronto Community Council Area

Phone (416) 392-1846

Fax (416) 392-0396

E-Mail Ajwarren2@city.toronto.on.ca@

  (p:\1998\ug\cws\san\to980014.san) - bmk

 Table 1

 Litter Receptacles in the Toronto Community Council Area

* 1998 Inventory as of May 1, 1998

 Table 2

 Existing and Proposed Pilot Litter Receptacles

St. Clair Avenue West

From Lansdowne Avenue to Christie Street

         Table 2 (Cont=d.)

 Existing and Proposed Pilot Litter Receptacles

St. Clair Avenue West

From Lansdowne Avenue to Christie Street