Central Elgin Waste Management Service Delivery

1. Central Elgin Waste Management Service Delivery Public Consultation Openhouse

2. Background • Central Elgin’s current Curbside collection contract will expire in May 2020 • Council, has struck a steering committee of Council to review and report back on: • Recommendation on a level of service for materials to be collected at curbside • Garbage • Recyclables • Organics (Green Bin) • Leaf and Yard waste • Frequency of collection • How collection service will be provided • Private Contractor • “In-house” with municipally owned equipment and staff.

3. Setting the Stage Central Elgin’s Current Waste Management Program

4. Setting the stage.Facts about the waste stream in Central Elgin • In 2018 Central Elgin residents: • Disposed of 2595.36tonnes of garbage at landfill at a cost of $70.42 per tonne. • This cost residents $182,765. • Recycled 821tonnes of recyclables through the Blue Box program • The processing cost for these materials was $96081 • The revenue received from the sale of the materials collected was $125000 • Net revenue to residents to dispose of recyclables in an environmentally responsible manner $48/tonne • Disposed of approximately **** tonnes of leaf and yard waste during curbside collection.

5. Garbage Collection • Central Elgin currently uses “Bag tags” to assist in controlling the amount of waste that goes to landfill. • Bag Tags are recognized as a best practice for encouraging waste diversion. • Garbage is currently collected weekly • In 2018, approximately 5950 households had weekly garbage collection service provided.

6. Recyclables • Recyclable material is captured from the waste stream using a two stream collection method • Containers (Glass, tin, aluminum, plastic etc.) in one bin • Fibres such as newsprint, carboard, fine paper in second bin. • Recyclable material is delivered to and processed at the City of London Material Recycling Facility (MRF). • State of the art facility. • Provides for best capture rates of materials. • Provides for best revenue for processed materials due to minimal contamination. • Given good quality of material it is easier to market the material at a higher than normal revenue. • In 2018,approximately 5950 households had weekly blue box collection service provided.

7. Leaf and Yard waste / Organics • Grass clippings are banned from the waste stream. Central Elgin will not collect. • Household organics are not currently collected as a separated stream. • All household organics are being sent to landfill as part of the garbage stream • Leaf and Yard Waste is collected 4 weeks in the spring and 4 weeks in the fall. • Leaf and Yard Waste collection is only within “built up” areas of the municipality. • Port Stanley, Belmont, Lynhurst, Eastwood, Norman/Lyndale, Sparta, Union. • In 2018, approximately 3300 households had spring and fall leaf and yard waste collection service provided.

8. Setting the stage.Facts about Collection Costs • Current collection contract is on a cost per household. • In 2018 Waste Collection Services cost Central Elgin residents:

9. A New Program/ Service Level? Things to consider.

10. What we are hearing from residents? • “We would like to have a curbside “green bin” to use.” • “Spring and Fall Leaf and yard waste is not convenient or long enough in the spring and fall.” • “I do not live in an area that is provided leaf and yard waste collection and I want it that service.” • “It is not convenient to have to pick up bag tags at the municipal office or at depots.” • “Collections are missed and are not at a consistent time. Why can’t the municipality get this right?”

11. Considerations for a new program. • Garbage Collection • Moving away from using garbage bags at curbside and use municipally supplied carts like many other municipalities (Strathroy, Guelph, Middlesex Centre etc.) • Advantages • No longer require bag tags • No longer issues with birds or animals getting into bags. • Neat street on collection day. • Limited “loss time injuries” for workers as the operation is fully automated with collection equipment. • Disadvantages • Volume of garbage that can be put out is constrained by volume of the cart. • “I don’t have room for a cart on my property.” • “I can’t physically wheel a cart out to the curb.” • May still need bag tags to be purchased for high garbage producers that produce more than what can be put in a cart. “Pay as you throw.” • Frequency of collection • If the municipality implements an Organics “Green Bin” program is there a need to pick up Garbage weekly. • Green bin will take the items that tend to smell. (fruits, vegetables, pet waste, meat, dairy) • Bi-weekly garbage collection is done in other municipalities (Brooke-Alvinston, Perth South, Perth West, Dawn Euphemia)

12. Considerations for a new program. • Organics Collection • Will this service be provided municipally wide or only in “built up” areas? • Do people in rural areas actually compost????? • Do rural residents want a “green bin’ program? • Frequency of collection • If the municipality implements an Organics “Green Bin” program is there a need to pick up Garbage weekly. • This may result in a cost savings by not having to pick up garbage weekly. • Weekly collection of “Green Bin” and biweekly collection of garbage will encourage residents to use the “Green Bin” because they will get rid of the stinky waste weekly. • Higher use of “Green Bin” may result in lower disposal costs because garbage will be diverted away from costly tipping fees at landfill. • A green bin program will eliminate the need for spring and fall leaf and yard waste pickup. • This savings ($86,000 annually) could be used to partially offset an Organics program.

13. Considerations for a new program. • Recyclable Collection • Intent is to continue with weekly collection across the municipality. • Allows residents to properly dispose of recyclables without them “piling up” or throwing in the Garbage • Continue with a two stream collection method (containers and fibres separated at curbside by residents). • Advantage is it provides for the least processing cost giving the best revenue for materials once marketed and the highest marketability potential. • Continue utilizing blue bins for collection. • Advantages • Easily allows residents to sort into two streams. • No new containers would need to be purchased • Disadvantages • Still requires a manual collection operation. • Potential for litter at curbside from spilled blue boxes and wind.

14. What we want to know from you? • Would you like to have a curbside organics “green bin” program? • Do you think the provision of a “green bin” program at an estimated cost of $40 /year/household is good value to you as a resident? • Knowing the advantages and disadvantages would you accept the use of a municipally supplied cart for the provision of garbage collection rather than using ‘bag tags’? • Knowing the advantages and disadvantages would you be receptive to weekly collection of organics and recyclables and bi-weekly collection of garbage?

15. Financial considerations.

16. Next Steps. • Public Information Centres February 5th, 7th and 20th. • Allow for public feedback at information centres, questionaires, and survey on municipal website until February 22nd. • Steering committee to review and report back to Council on recommendations of program on March 11th, 2019. • What program will look like • Provision of Organic collection? • Use of Carts for garbage collection? • Service delivery model. Private contractor or “in-house” service delivery.