Taking Innovation on the Road: Increasing Efficiency in Nova Scotia's Beverage Container System. Oct. 16, 2014

Transcription

1 Taking Innovation on the Road: Increasing Efficiency in Nova Scotia's Beverage Container System Oct. 16, 2014

2 RRFB Nova Scotia Established by the Province of Nova Scotia in 1996 as a not-for-profit corporation Mission: To work with Nova Scotians to improve our environment, economy and quality of life by reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering resources

3 RRFB Nova Scotia Mandates Operate a deposit-refund system for beverage containers Develop and implement voluntary industry stewardship agreements Develop education and awareness programs Promote the development of value-added manufacturing Support municipal waste diversion programs across the province

4 Deposit-Refund Program Consumers pay a deposit on regulated beverage containers and return the containers to an ENVIRO-DEPOT TM for a refund RRFB Nova Scotia: o Coordinates collection, transportation and marketing of empty beverage containers o Manages network of independently owned Enviro-Depots in 80 locations throughout the province

5 Deposit-Refund Program F2014 Containers on which deposits were received: 405 million Redemptions: 326 million containers Recovery rate: 80.5% 4 billionth container recycled!

6 Operational Challenges Essentially the same system since inception in 1996 Increasing costs with revenues fixed Moving a lot of air Increasing labour costs in system with stagnant productivity Changing demographics

7 Compaction Trailer Project July 2012: RRFB Nova Scotia introduced new compaction trailer Combines compaction auger on a 53-foot tractor trailer Compacts recyclable beverage containers at Enviro-Depots and transport direct to end market processor

8 Compaction Trailer Project Pilot ran July 2012 to August Enviro-Depots in Halifax Focussed on PET and tested aluminum Feedback from participating Enviro-Depots and end market: compaction trailer works well

9 Compaction Trailer Design 53 trailer collects up to 30,000 lbs of PET or AL Compression up to 8x by new generation EPC auger design Rear unloading using walking floor technology Walking floor technology improves trailer usable capacity by 15% and allows more controlled compaction nearing capacity Towable in any province by tridem axle tractor with PTO kit Variable to accommodate dock level sites or on the ground

10 Pilot Results Compaction trailer fits over 500 bags vs. 78 bags on regular trailers PET compacted at Enviro-Depots and transported direct to market. Previously, transported to one of four processing centres before going to market Fewer trucks on the road and compaction on site greatly reduces costs and greenhouse gas impact

11 Expansion to Rest of Province Pilot ended August 31, 2014 Launched province-wide: September 2014 Servicing majority of Enviro-Depots along main highway routes Aluminum added to the compaction trailer collection program 3 more trailers incorporated into the program

12 RRFB Trailer Routing

13 RRFB Nova Scotia Processing New baler installed February 2014 to accommodate the compaction trailer technology o Uniform bales, consistent for shipment to market o Improved productivity: 3-4 times material per bale

14 In-Floor Conveyor System In-floor conveyor system installed June 2014 Reduces amount of product handling Increases productivity

15 Economic Savings Through the changes implemented we expect to realize annual cost savings of between $500K to $1million per year omaintains sustainability of our recycling system oprovides funds to support our pivotal mandates in education and stimulating innovation in waste diversion

16 Environmental Savings During the two-year pilot (18 Enviro-Depots in Halifax only) the compaction trailer travelled 322,400 km less than would have been required using the former, regular trailers Equates to: o 62% reduction in km o 548 tonnes reduction in GHG emissions

17 Thank you.