Exemption from Waste Management Fees

for Charitable Organizations

The Works and Utilities Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (November 18, 1998) from the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services:

Purpose:

To seek general authority to allow charitable organizations free disposal of up to 20 tonnes of solid waste and source-separated recyclables each per year, and to authorize the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services to administer this exemption from solid waste management fees in accordance with the conditions set out in this report.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no funding implications resulting from this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)charitable organizations be granted an exemption from the solid waste management fee otherwise payable at the City's solid waste management facilities for the receipt of solid waste and source-separated recyclable materials, provided that the following conditions are met:

(a)such organizations are registered as charitable organizations with Revenue Canada;

(b)the waste or recyclable materials are generated within the City of Toronto, Regional Municipality of York or the Regional Municipality of Durham;

(c)the waste or recyclable materials are generated through the activities of the charitable organization; and

(d)the exemption applies only to a maximum of 20 tonnes of waste or recyclable materials per year from the charitable organization; and

(2)the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services be authorized to administer the conditions of the exemption as set out in Recommendation No. (1).

Council Reference/Background/History:

On September 30, 1992, the former Metro Council approved Clause No. 2 of Report No. 19 of The Works Committee which recommended that: "subject to approval by Council, charitable organizations as registered by Revenue Canada with waste originating from the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, the Regional Municipality of York or the Regional Municipality of Durham be eligible for grants by way of exemptions from the waste management fees otherwise applicable for residual waste from a waste diversion program." On April 28 and 29, 1993, Metro Council approved Clause No. 15 of Report No. 9 of The Works Committee which recommended that these grants be extended to include source-separated recyclables.

In 1993, waste management provisions were enacted under the Municipal Act allowing for exemption of fees, aside from any grant-making powers.

On January 25 and 26, 1995, the former Metro Council approved Clause No. 9 of Report No. 1 of The Environment and Public Space Committee which recommended that "subject to approval of specific individual reports by Council, charitable organizations registered with Revenue Canada with waste generated through day-to-day operations originating from the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, the Regional Municipality of York or the Regional Municipality of Durham be eligible for grants by way of exemptions from the waste management fees otherwise payable for source separated recyclables and residual waste from a waste diversion program."

Discussion and Justification:

In 1997, a total of 5390 tonnes of waste and nine tonnes of recyclable materials generated by charitable organizations were received at no charge at our solid waste management facilities. This waste was primarily from nine charitable organizations that dispose of their waste on regular basis, such as Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army and Daily Bread Food Bank.

Presently, when this Department receives a request for free disposal by a charitable organization, a report is submitted to the Works and Utilities Committee and subsequently to Council for approval. This system works well for requests from charitable organizations with significant quantities of waste. However, we receive approximately 10 requests annually from charitable organizations that need to dispose of minimal quantities of waste (e.g., less than 20 tonnes), that has often been generated as a result of a special event. If they have not provided us with sufficient lead time, it is not possible to get their request through the approval process in time. Even if they do make their request well in advance, there are time and costs incurred for staff to prepare the report and for the Works and Utilities Committee and Council to review the report.

In order to streamline the process, we recommend that a general exemption be granted to charitable organizations for free disposal of up to 20 tonnes of waste per year and that the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services be authorized to administer such requests. All requests by charitable organizations for free disposal of over 20 tonnes per year would still be subject to approval by Council.

Under the conditions to the exemption as set out in the Recommendations of this report, we will continue our procedure of ensuring that the charity requesting free disposal is registered as a charitable organization with Revenue Canada. We will also request that the attached form be submitted to our Department. This form will enable staff to verify the quantity and type of waste prior to disposal, identify any potential diversion opportunities and ensure that the conditions of the exemption are met. Furthermore, this prior notification will enable staff to monitor the quantity of waste delivered to our facilities by a hauler, on behalf of the charity.

Conclusions:

In order to streamline the process of approving requests from charitable organizations for free disposal of waste and recyclable materials, we recommend that a general exemption for charitable organizations be granted on the conditions set out in the Recommendations of this report and, in particular, that the exemption be limited to 20 tonnes of waste and recyclable materials per year. Further, the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services should be authorized to administer the conditions to the exemption from fees.

Contact Name:

Kevin Vibert, Waste Management Advisor

Works and Emergency Services Department

Phone: (416) 397-0203; Fax: (416) 392-4754

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

(A copy of the form referred to in the foregoing report has been forwarded to all Members of Council with the supplementary agenda for the Works and Utilities Committee meeting of December 2, 1998, and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)