March 9, 1998
To: Works and Utilities Committee
From: M.A. Price
Interim Functional Lead for Solid Waste Management
Subject: 1997 RESIDENTIAL WASTE DIVERSION
Purpose:
To report on the quantity of residential waste diverted in 1997.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no funding or financial implications.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Background:
The Works Department monitors and reports annually on the quantity of waste diverted from landfill through its waste reduction and recycling programs.
Comments/Discussion:
In 1997, approximately 236,000 tonnes of residential waste were diverted from landfill. This represents a residential diversion rate of 24 percent which is slightly higher than the 23 percent rate achieved in 1996. Please refer to the attached table for a detailed breakdown.
Diversion has increased in all the programs in 1997 with the exceptions of the Recycling Depot program and what is being reported as being diverted through Backyard Composting. The primary reason for the decrease in diversion in the Recycling Depot Program is that our diaper recycling depots were canceled in 1997 due to a decision from the only supplier of diaper recycling services to no longer accept diapers from depots.
While we are reporting a decrease in diversion through Backyard Composting, in fact 8,800 more backyard composters were distributed in 1997 bringing the total distributed to date to 145,792 units. Therefore, in essence, more cumulative diversion is actually occurring than last year. However, in 1997 we changed our method of calculating estimated diversion through backyard composting. In 1996 and previous years, it was assumed that 240 kg. per year was being diverted through each unit. More recent studies indicate that an estimated diversion level of 200 kg. per unit per year may be more accurate, and we have adjusted our calculation accordingly.
The program diverting the largest quantity of waste, the Blue Box program, achieved an increase of 7,113 tonnes or six percent over 1996. This is likely due to the effect of the fibre box which was distributed in the second half of 1996, and the associated promotion around the fibre box.
This Department will continue to improve and increase recovery in current programs and implement other diversion programs where feasible, in order to minimize our dependence on landfill.
Conclusions :
In 1997, 24 percent of the residential waste stream was diverted through waste reduction and recycling programs. This diversion rate is expected to increase in subsequent years as we increase recovery in current programs and implement new waste diversion programs. We will continue to monitor and report annually on the Department=s waste diversion efforts.
Contact Name:
Tim Michael
Manager - Waste Diversion
Solid Waste Management Division
Metro Hall
Phone: (416) 392-8506
Fax: (416) 392-4754
E-mail: tim_michael@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
Michael A. Price
Barry H. Gutteridge
