Questions and Answers

1. Why did the dog waste issue come about now?
2. What was the rationale for initiating a dog-waste pilot?
3. Which parks are these pilots taking place in?
4. Why are you doing this dog-waste pilot in my park?
5. Why not place green bins in all parks for the disposal of dog waste?
6. What has happened to the septic dog waste pilot?
7. Why do we have to carry out everything we carry in if you are only concerned with dog waste?
8. Can I use biodegradable bags for this pilot?
9. What if a pilot doesn't work?
10. Won't this encourage people to not pick-up after their pets?
11. How is the area being monitored for compliance?
12. I notice a lot more illegal dumping in the park now that the dog-waste pilot has been launched. What should I do?

a) Why did the dog waste issue come about now?
During the summer of 2006, Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) staff conducted a City-wide Parks Waste Audit. The audit found that parks litter bins contained approximately 23-27% dog waste, 15-17% other organic waste, 4-6% non-recyclable paper (including napkins and coffee cups), and 2-3% diapers by weight. These results indicate that a relatively large proportion of materials in parks litter bins consist of dog waste, which must be removed from the waste stream in order for PFR to reach Council’s target of 70% diversion of waste by 2010.

The audit findings were also cause for concern due to the fact that:

1. a large amount of dog waste left in parks is handled by Parks staff each year, with consequent potential impacts on public and worker health and safety, and


2. handling of dog waste at City transfer stations contravenes City bylaw 846, which in turn reflects state law on items prohibited from landfill in Michigan, namely hay, straw, manure and animal excrement.

In response to this issue, on April 10, 2007 the Parks and Environment Committee, requested that: "Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff continue to work with Solid Waste Management Services staff to improve and expand waste diversion initiatives in City parks" and that PFR and Solid Waste Management Services report back in September 2007 on "options to deal with dog waste in the litter stream including options for increasing the green bin program in parks."

b) What was the rationale for initiating a dog waste pilot?
In an effort to meet Council’s Waste Diversion goal of 70% by 2010 and in response to the request by the Parks and Environment Committee, PFR launched several dog waste pilots in select parks across Toronto in July of 2007 for the duration of the summer.

Following extensive research into what municipalities across the world are successfully doing with their dog waste, an analysis was conducted on the most suitable options for application in a Toronto park context. Those options include: a green bin pilot, a carry-in/carry-out pilot and a septic waste pilot.

c) Which parks are these pilots taking place in?
A carry-in/carry-out pilot has been initiated in Dean Park Walkway and Humber Gate Park. These sites were chosen specifically due to low traffic, limited number of existing bins, quantity of illegally dumped waste in bins and availability of specific entry and exit points that could be well signed.

A septic waste pilot has been initiated in the dogs off-leash areas in Woburn Park and Sunnybrook Park. The pilot will include a 750L in-ground bin, a sandbox with rakes and scoopers and signage asking dog walkers to only use the scoopers to dispose of the dog waste and not include plastic bags. The bins will be emptied via septic waste hauling vehicles.

Due to limited organic processing capacity, five small green bin pilots have already been launched at the following parks: Neilson Park, Cruickshank Park, Earl Bales Park, Trinity Bellwoods Park and Withrow Park. The pilot includes green bins placed next to litter and recycling bins, adjacent to informational signage.

d) Why are you doing this dog waste pilot in my park?
Based on recommendations by the PFR Waste Diversion Subcommittee and individual Park Supervisors, specific locations were proposed for each pilot, based on usage, demographics and park characteristics, as well as a previous history of successful diversion efforts in those parks.

e) Why not place green bins in all parks for the disposal of dog waste?
Due to limited organic processing capacity, Solid Waste Management Services cannot service more than the five green bin pilots currently in place. In addition, there are still questions as to how well dog waste encased in plastic bags may be fully diverted at the City’s anaerobic digester. Plastic bags are mechanically separated from organic waste at the plant and sent to landfill, however, dog waste is often tightly adhered to the bags. A small pilot will give PFR a better sense of how feasible this option is for dog waste.

f) What has happened to the septic dog waste pilot?
Initially, the intent was for dog waste to be vacuumed from the in-ground bin by a septic waste hauler. The contents would then be taken to the Humber Water Treatment Plant and processed in the same way that other sewage and biosolids are processed at the plant.

Unfortunately, despite extensive signage, significant contamination in the bins at both Sunnybrook and Woburn Parks has resulted in both pilots being decommissioned. The Sunnybrook bin was contaminated with plastic bags. It became difficult to empty and dispose of, as the Water Treatment Plant does not accept plastic bags in the sewage it treats. The Woburn bin became clogged with wood chips, which line the floor of the dogs off-leash area, and became extremely difficult and costly to empty.

As a result, both bins are being converted to regular litter bins.

g) Why do we have to carry out everything we carry in if you are only concerned with dog waste?
Carry-in/carry-out park programs, as initiated in other cities like Seattle and Vancouver, have typically been aimed at all forms of waste that park users carry into parks. By focusing on all types of waste, the message remains clear as to what cannot be disposed of in the park.

h) Can I use biodegradable bags for this pilot?
Biodegradable bags could not be used in the septic dog waste pilot during its operation, in the same way that they cannot be placed in the toilet, as the Humber Water Treatment Plant, where the waste was to be taken, cannot process bags with the fecal matter.

In addition, the automated organic processing plant, which the contents of the green bin dog waste pilot will be sent to, cannot differentiate between biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastic bags. Organic material is separated from the plastic in the processing plant. The plastic is then removed and sent to the waste stream. As a result, biodegradable bags cannot be bio-digested along with the organic material.

i) What if a pilot doesn't work?
The pilot phase allows us to test the different dog waste treatment options, before committing to them on a large scale. Should the pilots prove successful, they may be extended to next summer and expanded to other parks. Should the pilots prove problematic, they may be revised or discontinued.

j) Won't this encourage people to not pick-up after their pets?
PFR still encourages residents to stoop and scoop their pet waste. The City of Toronto By-law 608 (Parks) states that every person having control of a dog in a park is required to immediately pick-up and remove dog excrement "and dispose of it in a sanitary manner in a receptacle for litter or other suitable container" [section 38B (2)].

For the carry-in/carry-out pilot, Parks is asking residents to stoop and scoop and then dispose of the dog waste at home in their green bin or their toilet. For the septic waste pilot, Parks is asking residents to stoop and scoop using the shovels and rakes provided and then dispose of the dog waste in the in-ground bin. Plastic is not accepted at the Humber Water Treatment Plant.

k) How is the area being monitored for compliance?
Park staff monitored the area for two weeks prior to the pilot. They will continue to monitor the area during the pilot to ensure compliance and collect data on the pilot’s progress. Park By-law Enforcement Officers will also be focusing more attention on parks hosting dog waste pilots.

l) I notice a lot more illegal dumping in the park now that the dog waste pilot has been launched. What should I do?
If you notice instances of illegal dumping, please call Parks By-law Enforcement at 416-39C-LEAN (416-392-5326).