March 10, 1998

To: Works and Utilities Committee

From: M. A. Price

Interim Functional Lead for Solid Waste Management

Subject: Diaper Recycling

To provide the members of the Works and Utilities Committee with an update on the status of diaper recycling.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial or funding implications.

Recommendation:

That this report be received for information.

Council Reference/ Background/History:

At its meeting of May 7, 1997, Metropolitan Toronto Council received for information Item (E) of Clause No. 9 of Report No. 5 of the Environment and Public Space Committee, which reported on the cancellation of the diaper recycling depot program.

Comments/Discussion:

The diaper depot program was originally initiated in 1994 and had expanded to a total of 7 depots, diverting a total of approximately 15 tonnes of disposable diapers per month. Three of the diaper recycling depots were located at Toronto transfer stations: Ingram, Scarborough and Disco. The other four depots were located at the East York district works yard on Northline Road, at the Walmart stores in Dufferin Mall and Agincourt Mall, and at Diapers Etc. on Zorra St. in Etobicoke. Residents were responsible for bringing household generated diapers to these depots. The diapers were then delivered to Knowaste Canada, which was, and still is, the only supplier of diaper recycling services.

In March, 1997 Works Department staff received notification that Knowaste Canada would no longer accept diapers collected at the seven depots effective March 26, 1997. Please see the attached letter dated March 5, 1997.

Since Knowaste was the sole supplier of disposable diaper recycling services, the diaper depot program was cancelled.

In addition to the diaper depot program, the former Metro Works Department funded the collection of diapers for recycling at 37 Metro-owned child care centres, 152 Metro-funded child care centres, and 15 special needs schools and women=s shelters. However, funding for collection of diapers from these sites was discontinued, effective December 1, 1996, due the high per tonne cost of collecting, transporting and having these materials recycled by Knowaste Canada, as approved by Metro Council on October 24, 1996.

Knowaste is currently concentrating their efforts on recycling diapers that are collected from residents through their subsidiary company AThe Diaper Club@. Residents can subscribe to a delivery of clean disposables and have their used ones collected from their home for the purposes of recycling. Knowaste has indicated that they will have no more municipal contracts by the end of March 1998 and that they are currently winding down their operations in the hospital, daycare and senior homes sector to concentrate more on their Diaper Club business.

Staff have also been in discussion with the diaper manufacturing/supplying industry regarding the feasibility of industry providing financial support for the recycling of disposable diapers. This issue is, however, part of a larger discussion currently taking place on product stewardship and the blue box, as is described in the attached letter from the Ministry of the Environment.

Conclusions:

At this point in time there would appear to be no outlet for recycling disposable diapers that are collected through municipal programs in Ontario. If product stewardship for materials such as diapers becomes a distinct possibility, there may be a renewal in Knowaste=s interest in dealing with municipally generated disposable diapers. Residents do, however, have the option of subscribing to the diaper recycling service individually through The Diaper Club.

Contact Name:

Carolyn McSkimming

Muncipal Compost Coordinator

Solid Waste Management Division

Metro Hall

Phone: 392-5807

Fax: 392-4754

E-mail: carolyn_mcskimming-pereira@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca

Michael A. Price

Interim Functional Lead for Solid Waste Management

Barry H. Gutteridge

Executive Commissioner

Works and Emergency Services Department