August 17, 1998

To:Works and Utilities Committee

From:A. Bacopoulos

General Manager - Solid Waste Management Services

Subject:Management of Grass Clippings

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to provide a response to a communication from the former City of Etobicoke Works and Environment Committee concerning grass clippings.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

This report is for information and there are no funding or financial implications.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Council Reference/Background/History:

At its meeting of September 8, 1997 the Environment and Public Space Committee had before it a communication (July 14, 1997) from the Commissioner of Administrative Services and Clerk/Treasurer, City of Etobicoke, forwarding a copy of Clause 138 of the Thirteenth Report of the Works and Environment Committee, adopted, as amended, by the Council of the City of Etobicoke on July 11, 1997, wherein it is recommended that Metropolitan Toronto be requested to:

1) investigate opportunities for the reintroduction of grass clippings into the yard waste collection program for composting;

2) continue the advertising campaign to advise people of the advantages of leaving grass clippings on lawns; and

Investigate if grass clippings can be composted, taking into consideration the impact on peoples' health, quality of life, the environment and property values.

The Committee also had before it a communication (September 3, 1997) from Mrs. B. Lamb, Etobicoke, Ontario, requesting that the Committee not consider the request of the Council of the City of Etobicoke at this time, that the matter be referred to the Metro staff for a report thereon to the new City of Toronto. The Committee referred the aforementioned communications to the Commissioner of Works for a report thereon to the appropriate Committee of the new City of Toronto.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Grass clippings were banned from the yard waste collection program in May 1996 following a decision of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) forbidding the composting of grass at the Avondale Composting Site. The decision was in response to odour problems associated with the grass composting operation. Therefore, the new City of Toronto is not investigating opportunities for the re-introduction of grass clippings into the yard waste collection program for composting at this time.

The City of Toronto continues to promote grasscycling through a promotion and education campaign advising residents of the benefits of leaving grass clippings on lawns. We have promoted this message in English advertisements in the daily papers and the community weeklies and in foreign language advertisements in the community papers. The "Get a Great Lawn With All The Trimmings" booklet has been revised and updated, fact sheets have been prepared, and a display has been developed. In addition to the above, the Department continues to operate the Lawn Line at 397-5296 (LAWN).

Although it is more cost effective to leave grass clippings on lawns, grass can be composted without adverse effects to peoples' health or to the environment. There will be an opportunity to test the composting of grass clippings in the Small Scale Mixed Waste Recycling and Organics Processing Facility which is expected to be operational by Spring 2000. The facility can process either mixed waste or source separated organic material, and grass could be accommodated in either mode. Because the facility will utilize anaerobic digestion technology within a fully enclosed, odour controlled building, odour problems associated with grass composting should no longer be a concern.

Conclusions:

Grass clippings have been banned from the yard waste collection program due to a decision of the OMB forbidding grass composting at the Avondale Composting Site. Thus, the City of Toronto is not investigating opportunities to reintroduce grass into the yard waste collection program. The City of Toronto is continuing its advertising campaign to advise residents of the benefits of leaving their grass clippings on the lawn. There will be an opportunity in the future to test the composting of grass in the Small Scale Mixed Waste Recycling and Organics Processing Facility scheduled to be operational in Spring 2000. The facility will be fully enclosed with odour controls and therefore the odour problems associated with grass composting should not be a concern.

Contact Name:

Renee Dello

Coordinator-Municipal Recycling

Solid Waste Management Division

Metro Hall

Phone: (416) 392-5806

Fax: (416) 392-4754

E-mail: renee_dello@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca

Angelos Bacopoulos

General Manager

Solid Waste Management Services

Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner

Works & Emergency Services