March 5, 1998

To: Works and Utilities Committee

From: M.A. Price

Interim Functional Lead for Solid Waste Management

Subject: Annual Blue Box Charity Drive

Purpose:

To provide information on the ABlue Box Charity Drive@ which has been conducted annually in the former City of Scarborough since 1995.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

No financial implications of any significance will result from the approval of the recommendation in this report.

Recommendation:

That the City=s recycling drivers be authorized to participate in a voluntary charity drive which would adopt the Children=s Wish Foundation as the sole beneficiary of its efforts and to separate refundable beer cans and bottles from the blue box curbside collection program on an annual basis, with all proceeds from the sale of this material being donated to the Children=s Wish Foundation.

Background:

In 1995, Scarborough=s Works and Environment Committee authorized the City=s recycling drivers to separate refundable beer bottles and cans from their normal collection routes. The proceeds from the sale of this material, to Brewers Retail, were to be donated to the Children=s Wish Foundation, a non profit charity committed to providing special wishes to children with high risk, life threatening illnesses. A typical wish is a trip to Disney World for the child and his/her family.

The original idea for this drive came from the recycling drivers. They organized the initial event and coordinated the sale of material. The collection took place during the month of October with over $900.00 worth of bottles and cans being collected. A cheque for the full amount was presented to the Children=s Wish Foundation at the Scarborough Works and Environment Department=s Waste Reduction Awards in November 1995.

At it=s meeting of February 26, 1996 Scarborough Council formalized the process when it adopted a recommendation of the Works and Environment Committee authorizing the City=s recycling drivers to adopt the Children=s Wish Foundation as their official charity and to separate refundable beer cans and bottles from the Blue Box curbside collection program on an annual basis with all proceeds from the sale of this material being donated to the Children=s Wish Foundation.

In 1996, staff again collected over $900 worth of bottles and cans with similar results in 1997. The 1997 collection was done between June 2 and the end of October.

Discussion:

While participation in this program has been voluntary, to date all of the drivers have elected to participate.

Bottles collected are turned in daily at the City yard where they are stored in a secure compound until there are sufficient bottles to warrant a trip to the closest Brewers Retail store. The truck is clearly identified as participating in a charity drive. A receipt is then issued for the bottles received. All receipts are turned into security at the yard for safe keeping. At the conclusion of the program the receipts are cashed in and a cheque is issued by Brewers Retail for the accumulated amount. All funds are deposited to a City account and a cheque is prepared in the full amount payable to the Children=s Wish Foundation.

As the former municipalities of Etobicoke and York have contracted collection, this program would not be applicable in those districts. However, collections undertaken in the remaining districts could easily result in an annual contribution of $3,000 to $5,000 to the Children=s Wish Foundation.

Conclusion:

The extraction of this material from the blue box prior to processing results in a minimal reduction of gross revenues and the avoidance of processing costs. The Scarborough district drivers take pride in this program and its expansion can only serve to benefit a recognized and valuable charity.

Contact Name:

Ron Gordon

Director, Solid Waste, Recycling and Fleet Services

Scarborough Community Council Area

Phone: (416) 396-4771

Fax: (416) 396-4156

E-mail: Gordon

Internet: Gordon@city.scarborough.on.ca

Michael A. Price

Interim Functional Lead for Solid Waste Management

Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services