STAFF REPORT
November 9, 1999
To: Works Committee
From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
Subject: Keele Valley Landfill
Supplementary Solid Waste Management Fee for Biomedical and Asbestos Waste
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to seek authority to increase the solid waste management fee for biomedical and asbestos
waste disposed at the Keele Valley Landfill in order to recover costs incurred by the City for additional handling protocols
applied to these special wastes.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The corporation currently receives approximately $506,000.00 annually for disposing of approximately 9,200 tonnes of
biomedical and asbestos waste from the private sector. By increasing the Solid Waste Management (SWM) fee from
$55.00 per tonne to $75.00 per tonne, additional revenues of approximately $184,000.00 may be realized on an annual
basis. No additional operational expenditures are proposed in relation to handling these special wastes.
The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and concurs with the financial impact statement.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) the Solid Waste Management fee for the disposal of biomedical and asbestos waste at the Keele Valley Landfill should
be increased to $75.00 per tonne effective January 3, 2000; and
(2) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Background:
Staff estimate that the City of Toronto will receive 1100 loads (4300 tonnes) of biomedical waste and 1680 loads (4900
tonnes) of asbestos for disposal at the Keele Valley Landfill in the City of Vaughan in 1999. Revenue from these tonnages
will amount to approximately $506,000.00.
Each load of biomedical and asbestos waste requires special handling in view of the potentially hazardous nature of the
material. Prenotification of site personnel as to the planned disposal of these materials is undertaken. A designated area is
defined on the landfill each day for receipt of the waste, and precautions are taken to ensure that the material is buried
safely with a minimum of disturbance to each load. Any excavation of entombed material during regular drilling or
trenching operations at the landfill requires acknowledgement of the inherent danger of the contents of the landfill and the
associated special training of staff to work in this higher risk environment. Reports are prepared routinely and upon request
for Ministry site inspectors as they relate to management of these special wastes.
Staff estimate that special precautions associated with management of these wastes requires the City to expend an
additional $65.00 for each load received at the landfill. This additional expenditure equates to approximately $180,000.00
on an annual basis.
In order to recover these costs through a fee based on weight in tonnes, staff recommend that the SWM fee be increased to
$75.00 per tonne. Accordingly, additional revenue accruing to the City from the anticipated disposal of 9,200 tonnes of
biomedical and asbestos waste is estimated to be approximately $184,000.00. Gross annual revenues from the disposal of
biomedical and asbestos waste are anticipated to be approximately $690,000.00.
Comments:
There is a clear need to recover costs incurred by the corporation as a result of providing a special service related to the
safe handling of asbestos and biomedical waste at the Keele Valley Landfill.
Staff has considered the economic impact to the generators of biomedical and asbestos waste and feel that an increase from
$55.00 per tonne to $75.00 per tonne will not cause economic hardship to the industry.
This increase to the SWM fee for special wastes disposed at landfill should not affect the rationale for fees charged for any
other material disposed at the transfer stations and landfill.
Conclusions:
The Corporation incurs additional annual costs of approximately $180,000.00 for disposing of biomedical and asbestos
waste at the Keele Valley Landfill. These costs result from special notification, handling, risk assessment, and reporting
related to the potentially hazardous nature of biomedical and asbestos waste delivered to the landfill.
In order to recover these costs, it is recommended that a SWM fee which reflects the nature and effort expended by the
corporation to safely manage these wastes be established.
Accordingly, it is recommended that the SWM fee be set at $75.00 per tonne for biomedical and asbestos waste disposed at
the Keele Valley Landfill effective January 3, 2000.
Contact:
Ken Hogg
Manager, Operational Support
Transfer, Processing and Disposal Operations
Solid Waste Management Services
Works and Emergency Services
Metro Hall 19th Floor
Phone: (416) 392-4226
Fax: (416) 392-4754
E-mail: ken_hogg@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
Angelos Bacopoulos
General Manager
Solid Waste Management Services
Barry H. Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
KSH/ag/swm
Biomedic.doc
