Airdrie Curbside Organics: Reduce Waste, Increase Sustainability

1. CITY OF AIRDRIE CURBSIDE ORGANICS INITIATIVE Presented to GEARING UP FOR GREEN CARTS

2. CITY OF AIRDRIECOUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITY2013/2014 Reduce the amount of waste per household that goes to landfill in 2014 versus 2013 levels. Municipal decisions take into consideration, our three pillars of Sustainability: Social, Environmental and Fiscal

3. WHY NOT BLUE BOX FIRST? • Private companies in Airdrie currently offer blue box services to our residents • Higher diversion can be achieved through food and yard waste • Savings may be realized from an organics program thru reduced tipping fees whereas in a single stream blue box program, the processing fees are higher than potential revenue

5. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF SEPARATING ORGANICS FROM MAIN WASTE STREAM • Recycling a “waste” material to create a new, useable and valuable product; • Saving valuable landfill space, and • Reducing methane gases generated at the landfill.

6. Disposal Cost Trend

7. THE PURPOSE OF A PILOT PROGRAM • Analyze operational effectiveness • Gauge citizen satisfaction and address concerns • Determine participation rate • Evaluate effectiveness of education and communication tools • Measure tonnage, waste diversion percentages and contamination

8. PILOT COMMUNITIES WERE SELECTED BASED ON… • Mixture of front street and back alley pick up locations • Mature neighborhood vs. newer (ensure proposed cart generally met the requirements of yard waste volumes) • City’s ability to maintain organizational efficiencies while the pilot was being conducted (each areas on different collection days)

9. PILOT PROGRAM RESULTS 38% reduction in garbage

10. FEEDBACK FROM THE PILOT PROGRAM Residents weigh-in on the program… • “Overall we are enjoying it!” • “Once we got started with the program, it went smoothly” • “For a family it's a great way to reduce waste.”  • “This would be an excellent program city wide”

11. ORGANIC ROLL OUT HIGHLIGHTS • Organics Collection and disposal are contracted services • Organic Material is taken to a facility 6km outside Airdrie City Limits for processing • 240L Carts - chosen to accommodate volumes of food and yard waste • Rolled out to 14,600 single family homes • 129 carts were refused at the curb • Since the program started more than 30 households have called to request their cart back

12. HIGHLIGHTS Cont’d • Weekly collection May-October • Bi weekly collection November-April • Current tipping fees (2015) for waste at City of Calgary is $110/MT • Tipping fees at organics processing facility is $55/MT • Service is currently not offered to multi family or businesses • Garbage/Organics collection is 60 cents per household per day (2014 was 58 cents)

13. REACHING OUR RESIDENTS • Face-to-face communication for an opportunity to discuss opinions and concerns • Grocery store and recreation centre intercepts, a booth at our community trade show and community town halls • Waste Pirates - Engage children to be ambassadors for the program • Staff and Council became ambassadors of the program in the community

14. MARKETING MATERIAL https://www.youtubecom/watch?v=J9EVkw7RS3I

15. ORGANICS IN THE NEWS… January • Longtime composters should be rewarded, not punished • POLL: Are you in favor of curbside recycling • 50% yes, 46% no, 4% undecided • Curbside organics program unwanted • Resident doesn’t think those who already compost should be charged • What does organics recycling mean to you? • Who’s responsible for informing residents? • Resident says “no” to curbside organics • Longtime Airdrie resident does not want organics recycling • Organics recycling was passed without properly advising residents • Airdrie resident not sure how she missed important information • POLL: Do you think there was enough opportunity for public input about the City’s curbside organics program? • 29% yes, 71% no

16. IN THE NEWS Cont’d February • Group concerned about curbside organics • Rethink curbside services • City conducts organics recycling survey • Concerned residents confront council over curbside recycling • Organics recycling an authoritarian move • Green bins are just another way to tax residents • POLL: Did the City adequately inform residents about the organics recycling program? • 20% yes, 80% no • Curbside organics survey complete, City to use information at open houses • Organics study not sufficient • Discontent with organics program continues

17. IN THE NEWS Cont’d March • Airdrie resident petitioning for curbside blue box pick-up • City addresses concerns around organics pick-up at open house • Small turnout for organics open house • Green bin service should be a choice • City release video on organics recycling • Aldermen pleased with turnout at organics open house

18. IN THE NEWS Cont’d April (Organics program launched) • Curbside organics a waste • Blue boxes are needed • City shouldn’t offer recycling • Blue box service not wanted or needed in city • City council, administration does not consider alternatives to curbside organics recycling program • People should stop whining about green bins • Let’s return the bins en masse • Blue bin petition gaining attention (*currently at 920 supporters) • Curbside organics positive • Tired of green bin complaints • The green bins are here to stay so get over it • Residents slowly warming up to curbside organics program • Resident not in favor of blue bin petition • Organic opinions remain mixed • Organics recycling crazy • Blue bin program would be good addition to Airdrie • Organics recycling not the best choice • Green-bin complaints valid • Say no to curbside recycling

19. IN THE NEWS Cont’d May • Green bins a good move • Give green bins a try • Some residents do not want blue bins in Airdrie JUNE • Compost fee angers Airdrie woman who already diverts organic waste • Resident thrilled with success of green bins • City says organics program showing early signs of success • Green bin program is a huge success • Program shows early signs of success • City’s green bins are easy to use • Numbers for organics waste pick-up don’t add up • People use green bins because they are forced to pay

20. IN THE NEWS Cont’d July • City to tag green bins • Organics recycling program shows success in three months August • Follow-up Organics Survey September • Nothing October • City moves to bi-weekly organics pick-up this winter November • Green bin no monster

21. BEFORE AND AFTER COMPARISON

22. 2014 ORGANICS ROLL OUT Waste vs. Organics Comparison (May – December) 5173.07 MT Waste collected 3453.77 MT Organics collected

23. 2014 FISCAL IMPACT If 3453.77 MT of Organics (from the previous slide) had been sent to landfill rather than the Organics Processing Facility, the City would have incurred an additional $179,597 in tipping fees.

24. Survey results

25. CHANGING PERCEPTIONS AND BEHAVIOURS (from Aug 2014 Survey)

26. CHALLENGES EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION!! • In the absence of a blue box recycling program it is challenging to keep “recyclables” out of the green carts • Proper cart placement • Contents freezing in winter • Cul-de-sac access • Proper use (what goes in the cart, acceptable compostable bags)

27. Thank You Contact Information Kathleen Muretti Tel. 403-948-0246 organics@airdrie.ca www.airdrie.ca/organics