To: East York Community Council

York Community Council

From: Angelos Bacopoulos, General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services

Subject: Proposed Solid Waste Management Services Requirements for Developments and Redevelopments

Purpose:

To provide each Community Council the opportunity to comment on the proposed Solid Waste Management Services Requirements for Developments and Redevelopments.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no direct financial implications as a result of this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) this report be received for information; and,

(2) that comments regarding the draft document entitled Requirements for City of Toronto Garbage and Recycling Collection at Developments and Redevelopments be forwarded no later that April 12, 2000 to the contact noted at the end of this report.

Background:

Currently, each Community Council Area has set different standards regarding development criteria for solid waste collection. Development criteria includes, but is not limited to, roadway width requirements for solid waste collection vehicles, overhead allowances, loading facilities, collection points, storage spaces etc. The collection system and criteria imposed on a development or redevelopment is dependent on the actual type of proposal submitted by the development company. A harmonized set of procedures is required to ensure that all new developments and redevelopments are subject to the same requirements and will be provided with the same level of service City-wide. Attached is a copy of the proposed Requirements for City of Toronto Garbage and Recycling Collection at Developments and Redevelopments for comment. In conjunction with the review by each Community Council, other stakeholders including architects, development companies and property managers will be given the opportunity to review the draft document and provide their comments to Solid Waste staff. Following this consultation process, the draft requirements will be presented to the Works Committee in June, 2000.

Please note that these requirements will not apply to existing locations except in the case of redevelopments or where a request for change of collection method or collection location has been made.

Comments:

The Works and Emergency Services Department reviews all development and redevelopment applications, rezoning applications and condominium applications, along with some developments going to the Ontario Municipal Board and Committee of Adjustment. Developments that don't go through the processes above, including proposals to change collection points or the method of collection, must also be reviewed by the Department.

In order to qualify for City of Toronto garbage and recycling collection services, new developments or redevelopments must adhere to the requirements outlined in the proposed document. These requirements are being proposed by Solid Waste Management Services to ensure that any operational limitations have been revealed and proper planning procedures are initiated to avoid problems following construction. Non-conformance to these requirements may result in the City being unable to provide collection service due to access and health and safety issues.

While the document attempts to address all developments and redevelopments, there may be times when the location dictates additional requirements due to such issues as layout or space restrictions.

Not all development and redevelopment requirements will be applicable in each Community Council Area, however, staff have attempted to ensure that all requirements have been addressed appropriately and in sufficient detail to ensure that any user has ample information to begin the planning procedure.

Most of the recommended criteria are currently applicable in each of the Community Council Areas. However, the following summarizes key differences in the proposed requirements:

(a) Criteria for Collection at Multiple Household Locations

Currently, the Toronto Community Council Area requires that all multiple household developments provide a central collection area and rarely provides door to door collection on private roadways. In all instances, the resident is required to bring their garbage to a central collection point. Generally, all housing associated with townhouses, stacked townhouses and other similar types of developments over 29 units are provided with bulk containers. Locations with fewer than 29 units are provided with collection from a central curbside collection point.

All other Community Council Areas provide door to door collection on private roadways from townhouses and other similar types of developments. The private roadway must be constructed to the standards set by each of the Community Council Areas.

Bulk collection is currently the most efficient and cost effective method of garbage collection provided by the City. Additionally, loose garbage is eliminated from private and/or public property and residents of the complex are provided with a sufficient storage facility for their garbage. Collection of garbage and recyclables door to door is the costliest method collection currently supplied by the City. However, collection from a central collection point increases productivity and decreases costs in comparison to door to door collection.

Therefore, in an effort to increase productivity and lower costs, it is proposed that the draft requirements allow for the provision of garbage and recycling collection services from central collection points (either bulk lift collection or a central collection point at the curb) at all multiple household locations, including townhouses with private roadways.

(b) Public Lane Collection

Currently, the Toronto Community Council Area is the most affected by developments and redevelopments fronting onto existing public laneways. Typically public laneways in older parts of the city are narrow, potentially deadended and not maintained in the winter months. Collection from public streets will potentially eliminate the use of public laneways as storage areas and creates a safe collection environment for both staff and the public. Therefore, it is proposed that public street set out points be required to ensure that vehicles can safely and efficiently provide collection. Only in instances where public street set out points are not feasible will public laneway collection be considered and the requirements outlined in the requirements must be met prior to approval.

(c) Recycling Requirements

All Community Council Areas currently require that all new developments and redevelopments provide adequate recycling facilities for residents. This may include a recycling room in a high rise complex or a recycling compound central to all residents. It is proposed that the requirements stipulate that the recycling system in a development or redevelopment be planned to ensure that it is as convenient as the garbage collection system. Developers and property managers, for example, may opt to include chute recycling systems, some of which are currently operating in some residential buildings within the City or recycling rooms on every floor of an apartment complex. This requirement allows for creativity and may open the door for entrepreneurial activities. It is anticipated that this requirement, coupled will a mandatory recycling requirement, will significantly boost recycling rates in multiple household dwellings.

(d) Bulky Item Collection

Currently, all Community Council Areas, with the exception of North York, collect bulky items (furniture, mattresses, etc.) manually from a designated collection point utilizing a rear load packer. The North York Community Council Area requires multiple household developments to place bulky items in 4 cubic yard bulk bins to be collected weekly as part of the bulk collection contract.

It was determined that while the cost of collecting bulky items manually exceeds the cost of collecting items with a bulk lift system, the bulk bins limit the amount and type of material that can be collected. As a result, property managers are required to purchase additional bins or, if space is a problem, to hire private contractors to remove excess materials. In addition, safety concerns have been raised with regards to the overhead tipping of items such as couches and the potential for items falling as the bulk bin is being elevated. While staff are not aware of any problems that have occurred in the North York Community Council Area, safety concerns are of paramount importance across the City.

In addition, the nature of the materials collected greatly increases the wear and tear on a front end collection vehicle and, as such, this type of additional operating expense is expected to be reflected in any future contract costs.

Therefore, it is recommended that the City continue to provide rear load collection of bulky items to all new developments and redevelopments. While the North York Community Council Area has contracted the provision of bulk collection services at all existing developments, all new developments will be serviced with an existing rear load vehicle, thereby increasing the productivity of our fleet.

Conclusions:

The proposed requirements for solid waste collection for developments and redevelopments have been prepared to ensure a fair and equitable collection system for our customers and also addresses opportunities for improved service delivery, increased waste diversion and increased efficiencies through standardizing collection practices. Following the consultation process, feedback will be incorporated into the draft requirements prior to submission to the Works Committee in June , 2000.

Contact:

Catharine Daniels

Senior Analyst, Policy Development

Solid Waste Management Services

Works and Emergency Services

Phone: 392-4632

Fax: 392-4754

E-mail: daniels@toronto.ca

Angelos Bacopoulos

General Manager

Solid Waste Management Services

Attachment:

Requirements for City of Toronto Garbage and Recycling Collection and New Developments and Redevelopments

(access public consultation.doc)