AMRC Recycling Cost Study

The Works Committee recommends that the Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators (AMRC) be invited to provide the City with a preliminary proposal on how the Association would conduct a recycling cost study, and on any funding that would be required.

The Works Committee submits the following report (August 19, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:

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 the 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, 19^th Floor

Phone: 392-4715; Fax: 392-4754

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

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The Works Committee reports, for the information of Council, having also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter a communication (September 3, 1999) from Mr. Ben Bennett, Manager, Projects and Communications, Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators, advising that given the recent indications that the Minister of the Environment may be making an announcement about the Waste Diversion Office shortly, AMRC will not be proceeding with the project for the time being.

Mr. Gord Perks, Toronto Environmental Alliance, appeared before the Works Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

(A copy of the communication dated June 2, 1999, from the Association of Municipal Recycling Coordinators appended to the foregoing report has been forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda for the Works Committee meeting of September 8, 1999, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)