Annual Blue Box Charity Drive
The Works and Utilities Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (March 5, 1998) from the
Interim Functional Lead for Solid Waste Management:
Purpose:
To provide information on the ABlue Box Charity Drive@ which has been conducted annually in the former City of
Scarborough since 1995.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
No financial implications of any significance will result from the approval of the recommendation in this report.
Recommendation:
That the City=s recycling drivers be authorized to participate in a voluntary charity drive which would adopt the
Children=s Wish Foundation as the sole beneficiary of its efforts and to separate refundable beer cans and bottles from the
blue box curbside collection program on an annual basis, with all proceeds from the sale of this material being donated to
the Children=s Wish Foundation.
Background:
In 1995, Scarborough=s Works and Environment Committee authorized the City=s recycling drivers to separate refundable
beer bottles and cans from their normal collection routes. The proceeds from the sale of this material, to Brewers Retail,
were to be donated to the Children=s Wish Foundation, a non-profit charity committed to providing special wishes to
children with high risk, life threatening illnesses. A typical wish is a trip to Disney World for the child and his/her family.
The original idea for this drive came from the recycling drivers. They organized the initial event and coordinated the sale of
material. The collection took place during the month of October with over $900.00 worth of bottles and cans being
collected. A cheque for the full amount was presented to the Children=s Wish Foundation at the Scarborough Works and
Environment Department=s Waste Reduction Awards in November 1995.
At its meeting of February 26, 1996, Scarborough Council formalized the process when it adopted a recommendation of the
Works and Environment Committee authorizing the City=s recycling drivers to adopt the Children=s Wish Foundation as
their official charity and to separate refundable beer cans and bottles from the blue box curbside collection program on an
annual basis with all proceeds from the sale of this material being donated to the Children=s Wish Foundation.
In 1996, staff again collected over $900.00 worth of bottles and cans with similar results in 1997. The 1997 collection was
done between June 2 and the end of October.
Discussion:
While participation in this program has been voluntary, to date all of the drivers have elected to participate.
Bottles collected are turned in daily at the City yard where they are stored in a secure compound until there are sufficient
bottles to warrant a trip to the closest Brewers Retail store. The truck is clearly identified as participating in a charity drive.
A receipt is then issued for the bottles received. All receipts are turned into security at the yard for safe keeping. At the
conclusion of the program the receipts are cashed in and a cheque is issued by Brewers Retail for the accumulated amount.
All funds are deposited to a City account and a cheque is prepared in the full amount payable to the Children=s Wish
Foundation.
As the former municipalities of Etobicoke and York have contracted collection, this program would not be applicable in
those districts. However, collections undertaken in the remaining districts could easily result in an annual contribution of
$3,000.00 to $5,000.00 to the Children=s Wish Foundation.
Conclusion:
The extraction of this material from the blue box prior to processing results in a minimal reduction of gross revenues and
the avoidance of processing costs. The Scarborough district drivers take pride in this program and its expansion can only
serve to benefit a recognized and valuable charity.
Contact Name:
Ron Gordon, Director, Solid Waste, Recycling and Fleet Services
Scarborough Community Council Area
Phone: (416) 396-4771; Fax: (416) 396-4156
E-mail: Gordon; Internet:Gordon@city.scarborough.on.ca
