AMRC Conference October 22 nd , 2008

1. Update and changes coming to Dufferin County’s urban/rural organics program AMRC ConferenceOctober 22nd, 2008 Melissa Kovacs Reid  County of Dufferin

2. Overview • Dufferin County • A Brief History • One-year in… • Moving forward • How it’s going so far… • More program changes

3. Dufferin County • Located one hour northwest of Toronto, bordering Peel, Simcoe, Wellington and Grey • 8 municipalities (3 towns, 5 rural townships) • Population: approximately 52,000 • 25,000 residents within Town of Orangeville • Local municipalities have garbage and recycling authority, County has green bin and HHW authority

4. A Brief History • 1999 - Organics pilot started • 2000 households • Green plastic bags • Processed at Guelph Composting Facility • 2004/2005 – Town of Mono Study • Co-collection of green bins and recycling/garbage • Expansion of green bin service to whole municipality • Processed at Peel’s Caledon Composting Facility • 2006 - Change over to green bins • Original pilot areas changed over to green bins from plastic bags, SSO taken to Caledon • Paper liners only…no plastic or certified compostable bags

5. A Brief History… • 2007 - County-wide expansion • Urban and rural single-family households serviced • Spring rollout for Orangeville, Fall rollout for rural municipalities • Paper liner program

6. One-year in… • Participation rate is okay, not great • Rural areas – participation and tonnage much better in some areas • Garbage bag limits, clear garbage bags, and bi-weekly waste collection are factors • Urban areas – large variation in participation rates between neighbourhoods and municipalities • Collecting approx. 2,000 tonnes of SSO per year • Number one complaint – ban of certified compostable bags and/or plastic bags in the green bin • But material going to the composting facility has been ‘clean’!

7. One-year in… • The ‘bag’ challenge…an uphill battle • Share border with Peel Region and County of Simcoe who allow compostable bags • lack of harmony between programs • Stores sell the compostable bags (and plastic bags too!) • Has been confusing for the customer and frustrating for the County

8. Moving forward… • Certified compostable bags • As of mid-Sept 2008 – Dufferin allowing cc bags, along with paper products as liners • Why? • More facilities and municipalities are now allowing the certified compostable bags • Better product recognition/awareness (look for the logo)…fear of ‘contamination’ by plastic bags not as high • Participation and capture rate needs to improve

9. Moving forward… • Education/promotion for cc bags • One-on-one meetings with store managers • Store shelving signage, newspapers, handouts at special events (Home Show, HHW Days), word of mouth, community presentations, free samples at municipal offices • Plan on in-store promotions, displays at public buildings, further written materials, transit advertising, mobile signs, website

10. How it’s going so far… • Few ‘oops’ cards are being given out for plastic bags in green bins • Little to no contamination in the SSO collected • Residents had a year to get used to program…without cc bags • ‘Look for the logo’ helps them recognize the acceptable bags • Usage of certified compostable bags slowly increasing • Some residents have decided to use the program because of the inclusion of cc bags • Non-acceptable plastic products still on the store shelves

12. More program changes… • IC&I pilot projects: • Boston Pizza, Headwaters Healthcare Centre (Orangeville and Shelburne), Montgomery Village Public School, Mansfield Outdoor Ed. Centre • Full subsidization of the two local hospitals and all education facilities (i.e. schools and education centres) • Other commercial and institutional outlets are invited to participate (at their own cost for tipping)

13. Melissa Kovacs ReidCounty of DufferinEmail: mkovacs@dufferincounty.on.caPhone:(519) 941-2816, x 2620