STAFF REPORT
November 10, 1999
To: Works Committee
From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
Subject: Yard Waste Collection Frequency
Ward 3, Kingsway Humber
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to respond to a communication from Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby (Ward 3, Kingsway
Humber), concerning the frequency of yard waste collection.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Background:
At its meeting held on October 6, 1999, the Works Committee had before it a communication from Councillor Gloria
Lindsay Luby requesting that the issue of yard waste collection once every two weeks from June to September be
readdressed, as soon as possible. In the communication to the Works Committee, Councillor Luby noted that, "at a time
when gardeners are at their busiest, copious amounts of yard waste are (now) left on properties for up to two weeks. In
addition to being unsightly and smelly, this waste matter is a health hazard as it attracts wildlife and vermin."
The Works Committee referred the aforementioned communication to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency
Services for a report thereon to the Committee, including the cost of increasing the level of service for yard waste
collection to a weekly service instead of bi-weekly at peak demands in spring and fall, such report to be submitted to the
Committee prior to submission of the Operating Budget to the Policy and Finance Committee and/or the Budget Advisory
Committee.
Comments:
Yard waste collection is already provided once a week during the peak demands in spring and fall. It is our understanding
that Councillor Luby's request was to review the yard waste collection frequency from June to September.
The rationale for providing this service once a week during the spring and fall is to address the peak generation and
collection of leaf and yard waste. While the summer may be a busy period for gardening, it traditionally has not resulted in
the highest volumes of yard waste generation. Previously, once-a-week collection was provided during the summer
months, however, weighscale data indicated that this service was under utilized and that a large portion of the material
collected was grass clippings.
In 1997, a ban was implemented on the collection of grass clippings with yard waste, and residents were instructed through
a city-wide promotional campaign, to leave their grass clippings on the lawn rather than bagging them for collection. The
policy to ban grass clippings was in response to odour problems and complaints experienced at our transfer stations and
compost site during the hotter summer months. In conjunction with the grass clippings campaign, the former City of
Scarborough decided in 1997 to reduce yard waste collection frequency from once a week to once every two weeks from
June to September. Scarborough was able to reduce annual operating costs by $200,000.00 per year as a result of this
change and residents adjusted to the reduced service with few complaints. As part of the harmonization process, staff
recommended that the change to bi-weekly yard waste collection be implemented across the City in 1999.
That notwithstanding, the problems noted in Councillor Luby's communication to the Works Committee may warrant
revisiting our public education campaign with respect to the City's grass clippings policy. Staff will prepare a special article
for our spring edition of Waste Watch to specifically address Councillor Luby's concerns which will provide helpful tips on
managing yard waste through the summer months and scheduling large gardening projects close to scheduled collection
days.
Conclusions:
We recommend that the current collection schedule for leaf and yard waste remain in effect through 2000. Staff will
continue to educate City of Toronto residents about our various 3R's policies, including our campaign for managing grass
clippings (Leave it on the Lawn) through publications such as Waste Watch.
Contact:
Ben Shepherd
Manager, Operational Planning
Solid Waste Management Services
Works and Emergency Services
Metro Hall, 19th Floor
Tel: (416) 397-0206
Fax: (416) 392-4754
E-mail: bshephe@toronto.ca
Angelos Bacopoulos
General Manager
Solid Waste Management Services
Barry H. Gutteridge
Commissioner
Works and Emergency Services
BAS:RS
(yardluby)
