Long Term Waste Management StrategyToronto Multi Residential Services

Marzia FadaChloe FongAisha MemonKlaseld Dedja

Toronto Waste Management PlanOver time Toronto has evolved its garbage

collection system

Last diversion plan in 2007, “Target 70”

In 2013, City of Toronto decided to move forward with the creation of a Long Term Waste Management Plan

The draft waste plan must accommodate current needs and anticipate future needs

Development of the Waste StrategyDeveloped in partnership with the community and divisional

stakeholders

Draft plan will be able to pave the way of SWMS’ policy decisions in the next 30-50 years

Phase 1: Build the Foundation

Phase 2: Develop the Strategy

Phase 3: Document and Decide

Vision for the FuturePhase 1 Consultations helped develop a

Vision Statement:Consultations of public, Stakeholder Group and

SWMS’ Senior Management

● Phase 2 Consultations helped create three Guiding Principles:

○ Mitigate Climate change○ Treat Waste as a Resource○ Prioritize our Community’s Health &

Environment

Current Waste Management SystemCity of Toronto delimitations

Ontario Largest City (2.6 million people)

Extremely Diverse

City of Toronto has an Integrated SWMS with support and services covering from waste generation to monitoring of closed landfills

SWM Services Division one of the largest in North America

System Overview

Waste materials managed:

526,900 tonnes diverted2200 tonnes of HHW524000 tonnes of garbage

Components of the ISWMSIn a system, any changes to

one component may affect other components.

It is essential to know their interaction before implementing any changes.

External and Internal influences include policies and regulation requirements.

Gaps, Challenges and/or OpportunitiesPresent and future are considered

Programmatic issues (improve performance measures, community outreach, maximize use of the system without compromising future capacity)

Facilities/Infrastructure issues (Green Lane life expectancy, IC&I limited waste diversion, Drop-off sites implementation, Commissioner TS)

Internal/External Pressure issues (sustainable financing strategy, energy dependency of the system, intensification impacts, waste stream changes and system adaptability)

Projected Long Term Needs for the FutureFuture growth of city presents both challenges and opportunitiesEstimates of future quantities of waste calculated based on economic

indicators and population projections predicts increase in future annual waste generation

City could be managing over 1.5 million tonnes annual waste generation by 2050

Anticipated that City will require additional processing capacity after 2020 when contracts with private sector facilities expire

Multi-residential ServicesCity’s Solid Waste Management Services:

Blue Bin materials, Green Bin organics, Garbage, oversized items, yard waste, electronics and household waste

Multi-residential:9 or more units including apartments, some townhouses

Small multi-residential buildings (curbside waste collection)

Large multi-residential buildings (front-end containers for waste collection)

Portion of waste managed by private sector

Multi-residential Services - Rationale and Importance

Gaps, challenges, and/or opportunities of provision of waste services to multi-residential customers:

Solid Waste Services for Industrial, Commercial & Institutional (IC&I) Sector

Multi-residential Waste Diversion

Waste Reduction & Reuse

Impacts of Intensification

Enforcement

Above grouped into 3 categories: organics management, waste collection management methods and planning, policies and enforcement

Multi-residential Services - Recommended Options for Implementation

Organics ManagementOption 2.7: Community/Mid-Scale Composting

Waste Collection MethodsOption 3.1 Container Management

Planning Policies and EnforcementOption 1.8: Multi-residential by-laws and Enforcement

Option 1.9: Updates to Current Multi-residential Development Standards

Organics ManagementOption 2.7: Community/Mid-Scale Composting

Community composting area

Organic waste collection bins at different participating sources

Collected waste to be dropped off in these community composting areas

Final compost can be used in community gardens or local landscaping

Objectives and BenefitsEncourages community composting programs

Opportunities for community engagement and education on composting values

Produces compost that can be used in other community projects

Waste Collection MethodsOption 3.1: Container Management

Use of modern technology for more efficient container management

Live tracking of waste, recycling, and/or organics

Waste tracking device : Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Can calculate diversion rates, optimize collection frequency, reduce weekly collection trips

Objectives and BenefitsProvides building specific data on waste management performance

Potential reduction in collection costs and traffic congestion

Allows monitoring of waste material generation

Planning, Policies and EnforcementOption 1.8: Multi-residential by-laws and Enforcement

Increase enforcement efforts on waste diversion by-laws

Enact new by-laws to mandate city-wide waste diversion requirements to all multi-residential buildings

Option 1.9: Updates to Current Multi-residential Development Standards

Review and revise multi-residential development standards

Introduce new requirements and Standards

Objectives and BenefitsCity measures complement existing or new provincial regulations

Diversion services in place for all multi-residential customers regardless of service provider

Toronto maintains status as leader in waste diversion programs and services

May encourage buildings to return to City collection services

Multi-residential Services - Proposed Timeline for Implementation

Multi-residential Services Fully implemented and operational by 2028

Additional overall objectives and benefitsEstimated 120 000 additional tonnes diverted from landfill over 10-year period

Estimated 2-3% increase in waste diversion for City

Industrial, Commercial & Institutional Services

IC&I facilities receiving the city’s WM services are less than 4 floors and less than 500 metres square and are also eligible for the Yellow Bag Program

Other IC&I waste materials are managed by the private sector

Challenges:Provide IC&I sector with options that promote greater diversion and accommodate

changing waste streams and customer accessibility

Find a way for the City to influence greater waste diversion in the IC&I sector for waste generated in Toronto but is managed outside of the city’s WM system

Options to meet challenges: Options 9.3 and 9.4

Option 9.3: Expand City of Toronto Share of IC&I WM Market to Provide Diversion Opportunities to More Commercial Businesses in City of TorontoWaste collection service provided by city and disposal options available

at transfer stations and at the Green Lane Landfill and curbside collection is financed through waste utility

Eligible commercial establishments pay for collection and disposal through the Yellow Bag program and green bin and blue bin collection comes at no cost

Tipping fee cost per tonne at transfer stations and Green Lane Landfill

This option increases the no. of businesses eligible for City collection and provides them with green and blue bin collection

Option 9.4: City Explores Mandatory Approaches to IC&I Waste Diversion

Combinations of legally permissible City-wide mandatory recycling by-laws, incentives or disincentives, and/or joint enforcement efforts to make IC&I waste diversion more effective

New regulations are expected in the next few years under the Waste-Free Ontario Act

Construction, Renovation, and Demolition Services

City provides LIMITED WM services for CRD materials

CRD materials are usually managed by private sector

Challenges:How to better promote and facilitate diversion of CRD materials

City has tried to implement new diversion programs but has had difficulty in finding markets to make the services viable

Constructing and operating CRD recycling facilities has failed due to lack of business and disposal is cheaper

Options to Meet Challenges: Option 10.1 and 10.2

10.1: Depots, Processing, and Policies to Divert CRD Waste

CRD drop-off bins at transfer stations, mixed CRD waste at higher fees

City responsible for designing, implementing, and managing bins and contracts to have materials processed at recycling facilities

The city can either construct new facilities or take existing facilities and retrofit

Policies and legislations for incentives to increase CRD diversion

10.2: CRD Waste Disposal BanPhased-in disposal bans on CRD materials at transfer stations to

ensure stable markets for the diverted materials

City will work with GTA neighbours to encourage similar bans so material is not disposed in neighbouring jurisdictions

City will work with CRD associations to educate members about bans and work with MOECC to ensure bans are consistent with others under the Waste-Free Ontario Act

Primary Objectives and BenefitsIncrease diversion and create local jobs

Provides low cost diversion options for home renovators and small to medium renovators

Optimal diversion of mixed CRD waste from landfill

Enhance existing CRD recycling markets and encourage new markets

City can be a leader in developing diversion policies and programs

Thoughts and RecommendationsLive tracking of waste may prove to be far too difficult to implement

across different types of multi-residential buildings

Enforcement of by-laws and awareness towards diversion rates may prove to be very efficient with the general public in multi residential buildings