Report to/Rapport au :

 

Environment Committee

Comité de l'environnement

 

and Council / et au conseil

 

March 30 2011 / le 30 mars 2011

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager/Directrice municipale adjointe, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability/Services d 'infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

 

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Dixon Weir, General Manager / Directeur général

Environmental Services / Services environnementaux

 (613) 580-2424 x22002, dixon.weir@ottawa.ca

 

City Wide/ŕ l'échelle de la Ville

Ref N°: ACS2011-ICS-ESD-0002

 

 

SUBJECT:

SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE LEVEL REVIEW

 

 

OBJET :

 

Examen des niveaux de service pour le programme de collecte des déchets solides

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That Environment Committee recommend that Council approve:

 

1.                  The following residential waste curb side collection service levels commencing June 2012:

a)      Uniform curb side collection service levels across the city, both rural and urban;

b)     Weekly Green Bin collection;

c)      Bi-weekly collection of Blue and Black box on alternating weeks;

d)     Bi-weekly residual waste collection; and

e)      Bi-weekly collection program for diapers and incontinence products, alternating with the residual waste collection.

 

2.                  The following activities to support the recommended curb side service levels:

a)      Introduction of a Special Considerations program to accommodate weekly collection of diapers and incontinence products for weeks without residual waste collection; and

b)     Development and implementation of a promotion and education campaign.

 

3.      Extension of the multi-residential collection contract for one additional year to incorporate findings from the apartment pilot project for Green Bins.

 

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Le Comité de l’environnement recommande l’approbation par le Conseil de ce qui suit :

 

1.    Les niveaux de service suivants pour la collecte des déchets ménagers en bordure de rue ŕ compter de juin 2012 :

a)      Uniformisation des services de collecte des déchets ménagers en bordure de rue dans la ville, en milieu rural et urbain.

b)     Collecte hebdomadaire des bacs verts.

c)      Collecte aux deux semaines des déchets des bacs bleus et noirs en alternance

d)     Collecte aux deux semaines des déchets résiduels.

e)      Programme de collecte aux deux semaines de déchets, tels que les couches et les produits d’incontinence pour adultes en alternance avec la collecte des déchets résiduels.

 

2.        Les activités suivantes pour soutenir les niveaux de service en bordure de rue recommandées :

a)     Introduction d’un Programme de dispositions particuličres pour faciliter la collecte hebdomadaire des couches et des produits d’incontinence pendant les semaines oů la collecte des déchets résiduels n’est pas prévue.

b)    Préparation et mise en śuvre d’une campagne de promotion et d’éducation.

 

3.   Prolongation du contrat de collecte des déchets dans les immeubles ŕ logements multiples pour une année supplémentaire afin d’intégrer les conclusions du projet pilote concernant les bacs verts et les appartements.

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

The City’s waste collection contracts expire on May 31, 2012. The purpose of this report is to recommend curb side collection service levels for the upcoming 2012 six-year contract. In broad terms, staff are recommending to increase organics collection to weekly all year round while adjusting residual garbage pick up to bi-weekly; Blue and Black box collection would remain the same while a supplementary bi-weekly collection program for diapers and incontinence products would be set up to alternate with the residual waste collection. Significant savings, estimated in the order of approximately $9 million per year, may be realized by implementing the recommended service level changes for solid waste collection and disposal than would otherwise result if current service levels were maintained.  The table below shows the estimated annual savings of the recommended service level compared to the current service level.


 

 

 

Current Service Level

(2012 onward)

Recommended Service Level

(2012 onward)

Estimated Future Annual Savings between Current and Recommended Service Levels

RATE

 

Net Change

From 2011

$2.0 M/yr decrease

 

$5.9 M decrease

 

$3.9 M/yr

TAX

 

Net Change

From 2011

$8.5 M/yr increase

$3.3 M/yr increase

$5.2 M/yr

Net

Difference

$6.5 M/yr increase

$2.6 M/yr decrease

$9.1 M/yr

 

Implementing the recommended service level is also anticipated to result in an estimated 10 per cent reduction in the solid waste component of the 2011  tax bill (rate and tax component for the average household combined). A Service Level Review was carried out to identify and assess different service levels that could minimize costs, maximize diversion, and make progress towards the City’s sustainability goals.

 

The following key options were considered: bi-weekly collection of residual waste, co-mingling of recyclables, user pay systems, and year-round collection of Green Bin and extending this service to remote rural residents. Initiatives like rotating collection schedules were not evaluated due to the increased complexity this would add to the collection schedule and the insignificant savings that could be realized as a result.

 

Extensive market research and public consultation was carried out to determine community preferences:

·         Monthly pick up of Blue and Black box materials in the rural areas was removed as an option due to concerns relating to materials storage, and the perception that a second tier level of service was being proposed for rural residents; and

·         Implementation options such as lowered bag limits and user pay models (e.g. pay per bag) were also not carried forward due to very strong public opposition during consultations.

 

Staff are holding four open houses in early April on the recommended changes, and results of these will be presented to the Environment Committee and Council. As well, an on-line survey to solicit feedback from the public will be available at ottawa.ca from March 30 to April 6, 2011.

 

The recommended system represents the lowest cost, requires the fewest trucks and promotes maximum waste diversion, with the potential to increase the City’s residential diversion rate by up to 9 per cent, and includes the following service level changes:

·         Uniform curb side collection across the city, both rural and urban;

·         Weekly Green Bin collection;

·         Bi-weekly residual waste collection; and

·         Bi-weekly collection program for diapers and incontinence products, alternating with the residual waste collection.

 

There is no recommended change to the collection of Blue and Black boxes as public consultations to date have found residents are very happy with the current service. 

 

Residents will continue to receive the same frequency of collection for the odourous material (organics), which will be taken away once per week. The only difference will be that organics will go in the Green Bin instead of garbage containers. Residents who use their Green Bins are producing very little residual waste, so for these people, the new level of service represents a minor change.

 

On this basis, staff recommends that the upcoming collection contract tender include the above service level changes.

 

 

RÉSUMÉ

 

Les contrats de collecte des déchets de la Ville arrivent ŕ échéance le 31 mai 2012. Le présent rapport vise ŕ recommander des niveaux de service pour la collecte en bordure de rue en ce qui concerne le contrat de six ans de 2012 qui est ŕ venir. En gros, le personnel recommande d’accroître la collecte des matičres organiques ŕ une fréquence hebdomadaire pour toute l’année tout en rajustant la fréquence de collecte des déchets résiduels, qui serait effectuée aux deux semaines; la collecte des bacs bleus et noirs demeure inchangée tandis qu’un programme supplémentaire de collecte aux deux semaines serait mis en śuvre pour la collecte des couches et produits d’incontinence pour adultes, en alternance avec la collecte des déchets résiduels. Il serait possible de réaliser d’importantes économies, d’environ 9 millions de dollars par année, en mettant en śuvre les changements recommandés au niveau de service et d’élimination des déchets solides. Le tableau ci-dessous indique les économies estimées qui pourraient ętre réalisées avec les modifications recommandées au niveau de service par rapport au niveau actuel.


 

 

 

Niveau de service actuel

(2012 et aprčs)

Niveau de service recommandé

(2012 et aprčs)

Économies annuelles futures estimées entre les niveaux de service actuel et recommandés

TAUX

14 $/ménage/an

 

Variation nette par rapport ŕ 2011

 

Diminution de 2 M$/année

 

Diminution de 5.9 M$

 

ŕ 3,9 M$/année

 

TAXE

 

 

Variation nette par rapport en 2011

 

Augmentation de 8,5 M$/année

 

Augmentation de 3,3 M$/année

 

5,2 M$/année

 

Différence nette

Augmentation de 6,5 M$/année

Augmentation de 2,6 M$/année

9,1 M$/année

 

La mise en śuvre du niveau de service recommandé devrait aussi se traduire par une réduction estimative d’environ 10 % sur la facture de 2011 de taxe foncičre en ce qui concerne la composante des déchets solides (composante combinant le taux et les taxes par ménage moyen).  Un examen des niveaux de service a été effectué pour cibler et évaluer les différents niveaux de service possibles en vue de réduire les coűts, de maximiser le réacheminement et de faire avancer les objectifs de durabilité de la Ville.

 

Les principales options suivantes ont été prises en compte : collecte aux deux semaines des déchets résiduels; regroupement des matičres recyclables, paiement ŕ l’utilisation, collecte ŕ l’année du bac vert et extension de ce service aux résidents des régions rurales éloignées. Des initiatives comme la rotation des horaires de collecte n’ont pas été évaluées en raison de la complexité accrue pour l’horaire de collecte et des économies négligeables qui en résulteraient.

 

Une vaste étude de marché et des consultations publiques ont été entreprises pour déterminer les préférences de la collectivité :

·          Le service de ramassage mensuel des matičres de bacs bleus et noirs en milieu rural a été écarté comme option en raison de préoccupations relatives au stockage des matičres et de la perception selon laquelle un deuxičme niveau de service était proposé aux résidents en milieu rural.

·         Les formules de mise en śuvre, telles que la limite de sac et l’introduction de modčles de paiement de redevances (p. ex. par sac) n’ont pas non plus été poursuivies en raison de la forte opposition démontrée par le public pendant les consultations.

 

Le personnel organise quatre séances portes ouvertes au début d’avril sur les changements recommandés, dont les résultats seront présentés au Comité de l’environnement et au Conseil. De plus, on affichera sur ottawa.ca un sondage en ligne du 30 mars au 6 avril 2011 afin de solliciter les commentaires du public.

 

Le systčme recommandé est celui dont le coűt est le plus bas, qui exige le moins de camions et favorise le plus grand taux de réacheminement des déchets, avec une possibilité d’augmenter de 9 % le taux de réacheminement de la Ville. Il comprend les changements de niveau de service suivants :

·         Uniformisation des services de collecte des déchets ménagers en bordure de rue dans la ville et en milieu rural et urbain.

·         Collecte hebdomadaire des déchets des bacs verts.

·         Collecte aux deux semaines des déchets résiduels.

·          Programme de collecte aux deux semaines de déchets, tels que les couches et les produits d’incontinence en alternance avec la collecte des déchets résiduels.

 

Il n’y a pas de changement recommandé dans le scénario proposé pour la collecte des bacs bleus et noirs, car selon les consultations publiques effectuées jusqu’ŕ maintenant, les résidents se disent satisfaits du service actuel.

 

La collecte des matičres odorantes (matičres organiques) se poursuivra ŕ la męme fréquence, soit une fois par semaine. La seule différence est que désormais les matičres organiques vont dans le bac vert plutôt qu’ŕ la poubelle. Les résidents qui utilisent leur bac vert produisent trčs peu de déchets résiduels, donc le changement de niveau de service est mineur pour tous ceux qui utilisent déjŕ leur bac vert.

 

Compte tenu de ce qui précčde, le personnel recommande que le prochain contrat de collecte de déchets inclue les changements de niveau de service mentionnés ci-dessus.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

This report presents an opportunity to improve residential solid waste services effective June 2012. The existing residential curb side collection contract expires May 31, 2012, and tender documents are currently being prepared for the next six-year collection contract.

 

Drafting of the new contract provides an opportunity to improve service levels and the City’s residential waste collection program. Any changes to the curb side collection contract made during the six-year contract would have significant cost impacts; therefore improvements must be made now or deferred to the next term of Council.

 

The City has various corporate policies that instruct staff to deliver services with the goals of minimizing costs, maximizing waste diversion and moving the City toward achievement of its sustainability goals. The current curb side residential diversion rate is 44 per cent.[1]

 

Currently, the City delivers the following curb side collection services to the residents of Ottawa:

·         Weekly pick up of residual waste;

·         Weekly pick up of Green Bin in spring, summer and fall; bi-weekly pick up in winter;

·         No Green Bin service for remote rural residents; and

·         Bi-weekly pick up of Blue and Black boxes on alternating weeks.

 

In 2003, Council approved the continued provision of waste services to multi-residential dwellings[2], which is optional under provincial legislation.  Currently, multi-residential properties receive weekly containerized pick up of residual waste and Blue and Black box materials.

 

Major jurisdictions in Ontario have implemented bi-weekly residual waste collection to maximize financial performance of the collection program, and to help achieve diversion targets. These include the regional municipalities of Halton, Durham and York; the cities of Toronto, Guelph and Owen Sound; and the county of Wellington.[3] The City of Gatineau has also implemented bi-weekly residual waste collection. Communities that have implemented bi-weekly residual waste collection have seen an increase in their diversion rate, for example, the Regions of Halton and York saw an increase of between 4 and 6 per cent respectively.

 

There is growing provincial pressure to implement measures to improve diversion:  the Province has a waste diversion target of 60 per cent and the Waste Diversion Act is being reviewed with the goal of promoting diversion.

 

Accordingly, the City considered a full range of solid waste collection service options during an extensive industry and public consultation program.  The following options were examined:

·         Weekly and bi-weekly collection of residual waste;

·         Collection of recyclables (Blue and Black box materials) together and in separate containers;

·         Weekly, bi-weekly and monthly pick up of Blue and Black boxes;

·         Weekly pick up of Green Bin on a year-round basis;

·         Weekly pick up of Green Bin in spring, summer and fall, with bi-weekly pick up in winter;

·         Expanding the Green Bin program to remote rural residents;

·         Co-collection of materials (separated collection of two different material streams e.g. organics and residual waste on the same truck); and

·         Incentives to improve diversion, such as a reduction in bag limits, enforcement of bag limits and implementing a “pay as you throw” system.

 

Further, the City will produce a Municipal Waste Management Plan in 2011 that will examine and guide solid waste collection, processing and disposal for the next 30 years. None of the recommendations contained in this report compromise long-term solid waste management options of the City.

 

 


 

DISCUSSION

 

Extensive public consultations were carried out to gain insight into the community’s waste management and diversion behaviors and needs, and to obtain feedback on the different service level options being considered for the next curb side collection contract. Targeted consultations with specific customer groups were used to pre-screen the options.  These were followed by broad-based consultations to obtain community-wide feedback.  The different components of the consultation program are detailed below.

 

Market Research

 

Nanos Research conducted research among three (3) key target residential groups representing the different levels of collection service provided across the City. The groups were:

·         Curb side customers with Green Bin service (largely single and semi-detached dwellings);

·         Curb side customers without Green Bin service (non-village rural residents); and

·         Multi-residential customers (apartments and townhomes).

 

Research and consultation work was carried out in three (3) phases:

·         Phase 1a – Sixty-three residents completed waste diversion diaries documenting household waste diversion habits for a period of up to two (2) weeks. Two versions of the diaries were prepared: a) residents receiving curb side service, and b) multi-residential residents.

 

·         Phase 1b – Eight (8) focus groups were held in November 2010.  Participants were the same as those who completed the diaries.  Residents were provided an opportunity to discuss their current waste management experiences and the options under consideration.

 

·         Phase 2 – A random telephone survey of 2,003 residents was conducted in December 2010 to gauge potential uptake and response to the different options.  The margin of accuracy for this sample was ±2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

 

·         Phase 3 – Nanos completed a Strategic Assessment to highlight key education and marketing opportunities for the City.

 

A summary of the responses received during the Nanos phone survey[4] is provided in Figures 1 through 6 below. It is important to note that respondents did not have the benefit of cost implications when providing their responses.

 


 

Figure 1 - Preference for Weekly Pick Up of Green Bin[5]

 

 

 

Figure 2 - Respondents Who Find Bi-weekly Collection of

Residual Waste Appealing[6]

 

 

 

 


 

Figure 3 – Preference for Bi-weekly Residual Waste Collection

(if Green Bin collected every week)[7]

 

Figure 4 – Remote Rural Residents Interest in Green Bin Program[8]

 

Figure 5 - Preference for Blue and Black Box Pick Up Frequency[9]

 


 

Figure 6 - User Fees for Residual waste - Flat Fee for Each Bag of Garbage Collected[10]

 

Based upon Nanos’ findings, monthly pick up of Blue and Black box materials in the rural areas was removed as an option due to concerns relating to materials storage and the perception that a second tier level of service was being proposed for rural residents. Similarly, implementation options such as lowered bag limits and user-pay models (e.g. pay per bag) were not carried forward. Refer to Attachments 1 and 2 for the summary findings of the Nanos consultations.

 

Broad-Based Public Consultations

 

Consultations were held between January 6 and February 4, 2011 during which residents were encouraged to comment on individual service level options relative to the current level of service.  Consultation activities included:

·         Informal presentations at rural community association meetings, followed by a question and answer period;

·         Consultation booths set up at malls and recreation centers; and 

·         A dedicated website where residents could access information, complete a feedback questionnaire and submit comments.

 

Staff attended a total of ten events, six (6) in urban areas and four (4) in rural areas. A total of 4,806 completed questionnaires were received during the consultation period, as well as over 200 emails with comments on the review.  These activities did not include consultation on the various financial impacts to the City and taxpayers.

 

As expected, and in line with feedback received through the work undertaken by Nanos Research, there is mixed reaction to bi-weekly collection of residual waste.  It should be noted that potential costs or savings associated with various service level options were not taken into consideration as part of these consultations.

 

Targeted Consultations

 

Staff met with the following stakeholders to obtain their feedback on the impact of any changes in service level:

·         Waste collection contractors, both in-house and external, to discuss any issues with the implementation of any of the different service level changes including bi-weekly collection or the comingling of recyclables (single stream system). No major issues were raised; and

·         The Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute and the Eastern Ontario Landlord Organization, who expressed concerns about the bi-weekly collection of residual waste.

 

Key Issues Raised During Consultations

 

Issues that were identified during the consultations centered on bi-weekly residual waste collection and included:

·         Management of diapers and incontinence products;

·         Odour and vermin;

·         Volume of residual waste to be stored; and

·         Management of residual waste at pad locations for low and medium density residences.

 

 

ANALYSIS

 

Three (3) systems were identified that met the cost savings and sustainability goals of the City, and were developed for detailed costing and analysis. Table 1 provides a summary of the different systems that were evaluated in detail[11].  The status quo was carried forward for comparative purposes.  Systems C and D include providing special pick up for diaper and incontinence products.

 

Table 1 - Collection Systems Evaluated in Detail

Scenario

Week 1

Week 2

Estimated Number of Trucks in Fleet

System A (Status Quo)

(Blue box)

[12] (Black box)

130-135

System B

 

 

 

116-122*

System C

 

 

 

120-126*

System D (recommended)

(Blue box)

 (Black box)

107-111*

* Truck numbers assume co-collection of materials.

 

Technical and financial analysis was carried out by Stantec consultants.[13]  The following criteria were used to evaluate the systems:

·         Public acceptability;

·         Potential effects on diversion;

·         Environmental impacts; 

·         Financial implications; and

·         General implementation requirements and/or barriers.

 

Detailed system modeling was undertaken for each service level system. Considering all four (4) systems against these criteria and public feedback, staff recommends System D, as follows:

·         Weekly collection of Green Bin year round;

·         Bi-weekly collection of residual waste; and

·         Bi-weekly collection of Blue and Black box on alternating weeks (i.e. no change).

 

This system offers the best combination of social, environmental and financial advantages.  The rationale behind selection of System D as the preferred level of service for the next collection contracts is as follows:

·         It offers the greatest cost savings;

·         It maximizes diversion;

·         It preserves a critical/irreplaceable asset—the Trail Road Landfill, through reduced disposal demand/requirements;

·         It allows the City to move closer to provincial waste diversion targets;

·         It requires the fewest trucks on the road and the least number of trips;

·         It reduces environmental and health-related impacts from collection vehicles, through a reduction in air emissions associated with a smaller vehicle fleet; and

·         It provides a consistent, city-wide service level.

 

The following program changes are recommended in order to address issues raised by the public:

 

Diaper and Incontinence Product Program

 

·         Develop a special considerations service to accommodate residents who have in-home daycares, and for families with children or adults in diapers.

·         Households would register on an annual basis and would receive bi-weekly pick up of these materials on alternating weeks to residual waste collection.

·         Items must be separated from regular residual waste and placed at the curb for collection on the off-weeks.

·         This service would be provided at no additional cost to residents.

 

Low and Medium Density Collection Pad Locations

 

·         There are some existing issues with respect to management of garbage at some of the 970 pad locations which may be compounded by a move to bi-weekly collection of residual waste.

·         Increased compliance monitoring for early set out of waste is recommended.

·         Property managers may choose to switch properties over to containerized collection, which includes weekly collection of residual waste.

·         Continue to roll-out Green Bin program to town homes and medium density dwellings.

 

High Rise Buildings

 

·         The containerized collection service provided to high-rise buildings will not be affected by the changes to the curb side program.

·         Roll-out Green Bin pilot program to apartments on containerized service.

·         Extend the multi-residential collection contract for one (1) additional year to incorporate findings from the apartment pilot project for Green Bins.

 

Communications

 

·         A well developed and executed promotion and education plan will be required to ensure awareness and understanding of the new service levels.

 

When compared to the status quo, implementation of System D and the program changes described above will achieve the following:

·         Up to $54 million in estimated savings over a 6-year period, which equates to a savings in the average residential curb side household tax bill for solid waste collection and disposal of up to 10 per cent for the solid waste collection and disposal component of the residential curb side tax bill[14];

·         Up to 9 per cent increase in waste diversion, moving the residential curb side diversion rate to between 48 and 53 per cent[15]; and

·         Up to 5,200 tonnes of recyclables and 20,100 tonnes of organics per year diverted from landfill.

 

Actual savings and increased diversion rates are subject to the competitive bidding process and the degree to which Ottawa residents heed the diversion messaging that accompanies the new service levels.

 

Moving forward with the recommended service level (System D) at this point in time will enable the City to take advantage of a number of benefits that any delay in altering service levels would not otherwise afford:  There is limited opportunity to change service levels to improve diversion rates or realize cost savings for another six (6) years at a minimum.

·         The cost savings that are able to be realized through the implementation of the recommendation will be lost.  As noted previously, this is estimated at $9 million per year or $54 million over the life of the next contract.  The current level of service provided to curb side residents (status quo) is expensive and is the highest cost option to residents;

·         The City will be perceived as having missed an opportunity to be one of the leading cities in Ontario to achieve their waste diversion target.

·         Additional collection trucks on the City’s roads equates to additional air emissions, which have both environmental and health implications

·         Other approaches to encourage and promote achieving the 60 per cent provincial diversion target will need to be implemented.  These may be even more contentious than bi-weekly collection of residual waste, cost more than the recommended service level changes and require more on-going resources to administer.

·         The City’s sustainability objectives are not met.  Material that can be diverted is being disposed of needlessly at the Trail Road facility, effectively reducing the operating life of the site.  These indirect costs were not calculated as part of this work but are expected to be significant.

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

·         The recommended system will move the City from the current 44 per cent curb side residential waste diversion to between 48 per cent and 53 per cent;

·         The switch to  bi-weekly residual waste collection will divert between  10,300 to 20,100 additional tonnes per year of organic material from the Trail Road landfill;

·         Experience from a number of other municipalities indicates that the implementation of bi-weekly residual waste collection increased the tonnages of Blue and Black box material collected[16], estimated between 1,600 to 5,200 per year; and

·         A reduction in the number of trucks needed to collect residential waste will reduce air pollutant emissions.

 

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

·         The need to site and construct a new landfill in the City of Ottawa can be deferred if bi-weekly residual waste collection is implemented. Given that these types of facilities are typically located in rural areas; this would have an indirect impact on the rural community as a whole.

·         Currently, residents in remote rural areas do not receive Green Bin service. The recommendation includes the provision of weekly Green Bin collection to all residents across the City.

·         The potential cost implication of not extending the Green Bin program to remote rural residents was assessed, and there are minimal annual savings associated with not extending the service to these residents ($0 to $225,000).  If collection of recyclables and organics is undertaken using a co-collection approach, no vehicle savings may result.

·         The overall quantity of organics diverted annually would be reduced between 2,200 and 2,600 tonnes per year if Green Bin service was not provided to remote rural households. 

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

In addition to the market research and consultations outlined above, four (4) open houses will be held on April 5 and 6 to present the recommended service level, including the cost savings.  The open houses will present the status quo and recommended systems, and will request residents to indicate which system they prefer.   The same information will be made available on the City’s web site (Ottawa.ca) from March 30 to April 6, 2011, and residents are provided with the option to vote on-line.  Consultation events are planned at the following venues, between 4:30pm and 8:00pm:

April 5 – City Hall

April 5 – Manotick Arena

April 6 – Shenkman Arts Centre and

April 6 – Kanata Recreation Centre

 

A summary of these consultations will be issued to Councillors prior to Committee and Council consideration of the report.

 

 

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no legal/risk management impediments to implementing any of the recommendations in this report.

 

 

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

 

Implementation of System D will aid the City in achieving the following City Strategic Plan policies and objectives:

·         Optimize current and future residential solid waste programs to meet environmental and sustainability needs;

·         Commit to reducing the community’s impact on the environment by developing and encouraging participation in innovative recycling programs;

·         Charter a course for municipal solid waste management and set achievable targets for diverting waste and recyclable materials from landfills to extend the life of its landfill assets; and

·         Increase waste diversion. The City is making an effort to change the way it thinks about waste. The Waste Management Strategy helps the City to manage waste effectively, prevent pollution, promote recycling and reuse of materials, and reach its environmental goals. The City is also looking into how new and emerging technologies can help to turn residual waste into a resource.

 

 

TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no technical implications.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The Special Considerations program for the collection of diapers and incontinence products will require minimal administrative support to implement the program. An investment of two (2) full-time equivalent (FTE) staff positions is projected. Staff will investigate City initiatives such as Service Ottawa to determine if any efficiencies can be realized prior to program implementation. Should staff be unable to achieve the necessary support through these programs, these FTEs will be identified in the 2012 draft Solid Waste Services budget.

 

It is important to understand that collection costs would not remain the same as the 2011 Budget for the same collection service under a new collection contract (systems A or D). Over a new contract, more households will need to be serviced, tonnages of recyclables and organics collected will increase with population growth and the contractors will have to purchase new collection trucks. However, it is estimated that the recommended System D will generate annual savings of approximately $9M, as modelled under the current service level.

 

Actual impacts on the budget to the per household fee and to the tax base will be finalized once the collection contracts are tendered and awarded later in 2011. Furthermore, since the new contracts would be implemented on or around June 1st 2012, the impact on the 2012 budget, and subsequently the per household fee and the solid waste component of the tax levy, will be prorated accordingly and the full year impact would be annualized in the 2013 budget. These impacts will be outlined in the forthcoming report for the award of the collection contracts.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1 – Nanos Report: re the focus groups  (issued separately)

 

 

Document 2 – Nanos Report: re the survey (issued separately)

 

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

ESD to issue the next Collection Contract per the service levels set out herein.

ESD to undertake the activities prescribed to facilitate implementation of the new service levels.

ESD and Legal to bring forward necessary Solid Waste By-law amendments.

 



[1] Based on 2010 data, does not include apartments. In 2009, it was 35 per cent. 

[2] Refer to council report ACS2003-TUP-UTL-0001.

[3] Based on 2009 WDO Datacall information and Study of Household Organics Diversion Programs in Ontario and the Implications for the City of Ottawa, Kelleher Environmental, August 2009.

[4] Data extracted from December 2010 Nanos survey tabulations. Where applicable, survey responses 1 – 2 were considered unappealing, 3-5 neutral and 6 – 7 appealing.

[5] Applies to residents who receive Green Bin service (1,403 survey respondents).

[6] Survey respondents that ranked bi-weekly garbage collection 6 or 7 in the Nanos survey (306 respondents)

[7] 1,403 survey respondents

[8] 100 survey respondents

[9] Applies to residents who receive curb side collection of recyclables (1,503 survey respondents)

[10] 1,503 survey respondents

[11] The same level of service would be provided to all curb side customers across the city.

[12] Bi-weekly Green Bin collection in winter.

[13] City of Ottawa Service Level Review – Final Report, March 2011, Stantec.

 

[14] Based on 2011 dollars.

[15] Based on 2010 diversion rate.

[16] Study of Household Organics Diversion Programs in Ontario and the Implications for the City of Ottawa, Kelleher Environmental, August 2009