March 11, 1998
To: Works and Utilities Committee
From: M.A. Price
Interim Functional Lead - Solid Waste Management
Subject: Avondale Composting Facility
Purpose:
To address the options relating to the expiry of our approvals to operate the centralized composting site at Avondale in the Region of York. The site approvals expire on May 31, 1999.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
No financial implications will result from the approval of the recommendations in this report. A further report, regarding the outcome of the requests for an extension of the temporary zoning and Certificate of Approval, will be submitted subsequently in addition to a report regarding planning for a new facility.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be authorized to request an extension of the temporary zoning by-law applicable to the Avondale Composting Facility from the City of Vaughan;
(2) in the event that a temporary zoning extension from the City of Vaughan is denied, the
Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be authorized to appeal the denial to the Ontario Municipal Board;
(3) the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be authorized to apply to the Ministry of the Environment for an amendment of the Certificate of Approval applicable to the Avondale Composting Facility;
(4) the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be directed to engage in the necessary planning steps to secure a long-term composting facility for the City of Toronto; and
(5) the appropriate City of Toronto officials be authorized to take such steps as may be required to implement the foregoing.
Council Reference/Background/History:
The former Environment and Public Space Committee of Metro Council on November 26, 1997, had before it a communication (September 29, 1997) from the Regional Clerk, Regional Municipality of York, advising that the Council of the Regional Municipality of York does not object to the Ministry of the Environment issuing an approval for adjustments to the height of the Keele Valley Landfill Site, and that the operation of the Avondale Composting Facility shall cease on May 31, 1999, subject to the requisite approvals. The approvals referred to are temporary zoning and the Certificate of Approval applicable to the Avondale Composting Facility, both of which must be renewed effective May 31, 1999.
The Committee received the aforementioned communication and requested the Commissioner of Works to submit a report to the appropriate Committee of the new City of Toronto Council with respect to this matter. This report before you meets the request set by the former Environment and Public Space Committee of Metro Council.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
The Avondale Composting Facility (AAvondale@) has been in operation since 1988. It is located adjacent to the City of Toronto=s Keele Valley Landfill Site, located in the City of Vaughan. Using a Awindrow@ composting technology it diverts approximately 55,000 tonnes of leaf and yard waste from disposal, and produces a high quality compost product. Approximately 5,000 tonnes of compost are provided to Toronto residents free of charge through transfer station depots and Environment Days. The remaining quantity of compost is used by the Parks and Recreation Department, and to augment topsoil as final cover on completed portions of the Keele Valley Landfill.
The Ontario Municipal Board considered the Avondale operation as part of a hearing on the City of Vaughan=s Official Plan Amendment 332, which dealt with land use on and around the Keele Valley Landfill site. Through the decision of the Ontario Municipal Board in 1996, official plan approval and temporary zoning was approved to permit the operation of Avondale. The Board was satisfied that there were good reasons to link the completion of composting activities to the completion of the landfill site and that while the planning documents should be used to permit the composting, that we should cease at the completion of the final rehabilitation phase of the landfill site.
In 1995 some odour problems were experienced at Avondale as a result of the requirement of the Province that collected grass clippings be composted. Subsequently, grass clippings are no
longer collected with leaf and yard waste and complaints related to off-site impacts from composting have been virtually eliminated.
The City of Vaughan=s zoning by-law currently permitting the operation of Avondale expires on May 31, 1999. The Department=s objectives, as per the recommendations in this report, are to seek a favorable extension for the temporary zoning by-law and, should this not be forthcoming, to request an order from the Ontario Municipal Board permitting further composting on a temporary basis.
The continued use of Avondale will provide a greater return on the capital investment in the facility and will assist in the progressive closure of sections of the Keele Valley Landfill site by providing a useful source of compost. The Department=s goal is therefore to maintain the operations of Avondale until the closure of the Keele Valley Landfill. The Ontario Municipal Board recognized this goal in its approval of the City of Vaughan=s Official Plan Amendment 332, which allows for composting to continue during the life of the Keele Valley Landfill site, subject to the granting of temporary zoning approval.
It is our intention to carry out the above cited actions regarding an extension of the temporary zoning by-law and potential appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board in co-operation with the City Solicitor. Staff of the City=s Legal Department have reviewed the recommendations contained in this report and are in agreement with them.
While it would be preferable to maintain the operation of Avondale until the closing of the Keele Valley Landfill Site, scheduled for 2002, contingency planning is needed in the event that Avondale must close ahead of that date, and to identify potential sites to go beyond 2002. It is therefore our intention to engage in the following planning steps to secure long-term composting capacity, and, if necessary to provide a contingency if new capacity is needed in the short-term:
- engage in an identification of suitable public lands that could be utilized for composting;
- investigate private sector options for provision of composting capacity;
- meet with Council=s 3Rs Task Force to discuss options and solicit their input;
- investigate the possibility of an inter-regional compost facility to serve long-term needs;
- prepare business cases for: (i) maintaining operations at Avondale; (ii) siting a new centralized facility; and (iii) establishing a multiple sites option.
A further report will advise of the outcome of our planning effort and will contain recommendations for next steps.
Conclusion:
The City of Toronto requires approvals in order to continue composting at its Avondale Composting Facility beyond May 31, 1999. Authorization is sought to obtain such approval through a request to the City of Vaughan to amend the site=s zoning by-law, and, if unsuccessful, to appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board. Authorization is also sought to apply to the Ministry of the Environment for an amendment of the Certificate of Approval applicable to the Avondale Composting Facility.
Planning will be initiated to secure long-term composting capacity to serve the City=s needs, and, if necessary, to provide contingency capacity in the event of a May 31, 1999 closure date for Avondale.
Contact Names and Telephone Number:
Angelos Bacopoulos
Director, Solid Waste Management Division
City Works and Emergency Services Department
Phone: (416) 392-8831
Fax: (416) 392-4754
E-Mail: Angelos_Bacopoulos @ metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
Lawson Oates
Manager, EA Co-ordination Branch
Management and Technical Services Division
City Works and Emergency Services Department
Phone: (416) 392-9744
Fax: (416) 392-2974
E-Mail: Lawson_Oates@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
M.A. Price
Interim Functional Lead - Solid Waste Management
B.H. Gutteridge
Commissioner
Work and Emergency Services
