August 19, 1999
To:Works Committee
From:Barry H. Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
Subject:AMRC Recycling Cost Study
Purpose:
To provide an assessment of the proposal by the Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators (AMRC) to analyze
municipal recycling costs and develop a product stewardship funding formula.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications arising from this report.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that we not proceed with funding the AMRC recycling cost study at this time.
Council Reference/Background/History:
At the Works Committee meeting on July 14, 1999, Mr. Ben Bennett of the AMRC made a presentation regarding a
proposal to analyze municipal recycling costs across Ontario and develop a recycling funding allocation formula for the
industry funding which is expected to be forthcoming through the Provincial Government's proposed Waste Diversion
Organization.
The Committee referred the proposal to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services for a report.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
In April 1998, the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) submitted a report on options for consumer product and packaging
stewardship in Ontario (The Recycling Roles and Responsibilities Report) to the Ministry of Environment (MOE). The
report included an analysis of municipal Blue Box recycling costs across Ontario. In November 1998, the Minister of the
Environment announced the formation of a provincial Waste Diversion Organization (WDO) whose mandate would be to
collect industry funding and distribute it to municipalities to fund Blue Box Programs and other waste diversion activities.
Since the announcement, the MOE has been in discussions with industry groups about participation in the WDO and
funding levels.
As of this date, there has been no formal announcement on the structure and responsibilities of the WDO, other than the
fact that industry, municipalities and non-government organizations will have seats on the WDO board. A formal
announcement on the start up of the WDO is expected before year-end. According to MOE staff, it is anticipated that the
WDO will conduct multi-stakeholder discussions on the costs of municipal recycling programs and how the industry
funding should be allocated.
We agree with the AMRC that there is a need to review the program cost information presented in the RCO report.
However, we think it is premature to start gathering municipal cost data and analyzing it before the WDO is in place.
The multi-stakeholder WDO board should first decide what cost data it needs and how the data should be collected.
Information gathered in advance of this step may not be in accordance with the agreed upon protocol, and result in
duplication of effort.
Conclusions:
Based on staff's understanding that the proposed WDO will be given a mandate to review municipal recycling costs and
develop funding formulas, we recommend not funding the proposed AMRC recycling cost study at this time.
Contact Name:
Andrew Pollock
Director, Policy and Planning
Solid Waste Management Services
Works and Emergency Services
Metro Hall, 19th Floor
Phone: 392-4715
Fax: 392-4754
E-mail: andy_pollock@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
Angelos BacopoulosBarry H. Gutteridge
General ManagerCommissioner
Solid Waste Management ServicesWorks and Emergency Services
CAP/ag/swm - AMRC_CS.doc
