Environment Days

The Works and Utilities Committee recommends:

(1)the adoption of the report dated October15, 1998, from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services; and

(2)that the following recommendation be added thereto:

"(4)should Councillors wish to distribute blue boxes, grey boxes, water kits, peak pails or composters free of charge at the Environment Days, they agree to reimburse the Department from their office budget for the price that would have been charged to residents for the units."

The Works and Utilities Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to submit a report to the Committee on the cost of the events.

The Works and Utilities Committee submits the following report (October 15, 1998) from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to summarize the results of the 1998 Environment Days, and to recommend booking procedures for these events in 1999.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications arising from this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the number of Environment Days to be held in 1999 be limited to 28, one per ward, in keeping with Council's directive for 1998, and that no exceptions be made to this policy;

(2)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be authorized to choose the date and location and host the Environment Day in any ward where the two Councillors cannot agree by March 12, 1999, to jointly host an event on an available date and at a suitable location; and

(3)no changes be made to dates and locations for the Environment Days after they have been publicized, unless deemed absolutely necessary by the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services.

Council Reference/Background/History:

Environment Days take place in locations such as schools, parks, shopping malls and other public areas, and allow residents to participate in a variety of 3Rs activities.

Since the program's inception in 1991, 259 Environment Days have been hosted by Councillors and co-ordinated by this Department.

Comments/Discussion/Justification:

In 1998, the Environment Days were very successful, with over 10,000 residents attending the 32events that were held. The following waste diversion results were achieved:

-sale of 2,244 home composters;

-collection of approximately 210 tonnes of household hazardous waste;

-distribution of 800 tonnes of leaf compost;

-collection of 47 tonnes of tires for recycling;

-sale of 1,442 blue boxes, 796 grey boxes, 262 water kits and 300 peak pails;

-recovery of 14 tonnes of used clothing, 10 tonnes of computers and 6 tonnes of books for reuse and recycling;

-collection of 3 tonnes of non-perishable food items and hundreds of pairs of eyeglasses for redistribution;

-collection of 1 tonne of polycoat cartons, juice boxes and Brita filters for recycling; and

-collection of 3 tonnes of various plastics including polystyrene, plastic bags and plastic tubs/lids for recycling.

While the events were very successful, some problems related to booking dates and locations for the events were encountered.

Dates and locations for the events are chosen by the Councillors and communicated to the Department. Staff then determine the site's suitability in terms of safety, accessibility etc., and provide confirmation of the location and date to the Councillor's office. Once the event dates are set, they are promoted through various methods such as our residential newsletters, Waste Watch and Water Watch, telephone hotlines, flyers, newspaper advertisements and radio advertising.

On occasion, the dates and/or locations were subsequently changed by the Councillor(s) after the original confirmed dates and locations were publicized. While every effort was made at that point to advise local residents of the change, it was not possible to convey the message to everyone. As a result, some residents showed up at the initially chosen location, or on the original date, and naturally were upset because there was no event taking place. We therefore recommend that in future, once the original dates and locations are established and publicized, they not be changed unless deemed absolutely necessary by the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services.

On March 6, 1998, Council decided to limit the number of Environment Days to be hosted in 1998 to 28, one per ward. While the majority of events were jointly hosted by both ward Councillors, some Councillors could not agree to jointly host an event. Since Council's rationale for limiting the events to one per ward was for budgetary considerations, a compromise was arrived at and those Councillors were allowed to host their own Environment Day but with no household hazardous waste (HHW) collection at the event (HHW collection represents approximately 50 percent of the cost of our Environment Day program).

This caused confusion for the public because advertising for the majority of events promoted HHW collection. In some cases, residents would leave the event disgruntled because they were not able to drop off their HHW. In other instances, they would drop off their HHW at the event even though staff advised them that the material could not be accepted. This led to unsafe working conditions for our Environment Day staff since they are not trained to handle HHW (Chemist Assistants handle HHW at the regular Environment Days).

As well, sometimes two ward Councillors would have separate Environment Days in proximity to each other in their ward, on the same day. This resulted in inefficiencies as the Department had to employ double the staff, and residents were still unable to drop off their HHW.

It is recommended that there be no exception to the policy that only one event per ward be held. If the ward Councillors cannot agree by March 12, 1999, to jointly host an Environment Day on an available date and at a suitable location, then the Department will choose the date and location and host the event.

A letter will be sent to all Councillors in January, inviting them to book their joint Environment Day for 1999. This letter will outline booking procedures, suggest suitable sites and provide a date when the Department will start accepting requests from Councillors for a preferred date and location for their 1999 event. Dates will then be booked on a first-come, first-served basis.

Conclusions:

In 1998, over 10,000 residents attended the 32 Environment Days that were operated by this Department and hosted by Toronto Councillors. While the 1998 Environment Days were very successful, the recommended changes in booking procedures for the events in 1999 should result in greater resident satisfaction and a more efficient program.

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.