THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PUBLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE MINUTES

Transcription

1 THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PUBLIC LIAISON COMMITTEE MINUTES September 19, 2001 The met at 7:10 p.m. in the Seminar Room of York Region s Administrative Centre at Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario. PRESENT: ABSENT: Councillors: Gordon Landon, Town of Markham (Chair) Tim Jones, Mayor, Town of Aurora (Alternate) Leah Werry, Township of King Steve Pliakes, Whitchurch-Stouffville Public: Sandra McKay, Town of Aurora Doug Ramsey, Town of East Gwillimbury Ian Gray, Town of Newmarket Mark Brown, Town of Richmond Hill Local Municipal Staff: Brian Anthony, City of Vaughan Regional Staff: Andrew Campbell, Director, Solid Waste Management Karin Price, Committee Co-ordinator Councillors: George Timpson, Town of Aurora Jack Hauseman, Town of East Gwillimbury Ross Jamieson, Town of Georgina Erin Shapero, Town of Markham Tony Wong, Town of Markham Dave Kerwin, Town of Newmarket Dave Cohen, Town of Richmond Hill Mario Ferri, City of Vaughan

2 Page 2 Public: Gordon Craig, Township of King Damian Bassett, Town of Markham Brian Feherty, Town of Newmarket Jack Zangari, Town of Newmarket Aurelia Bertocchi, City of Vaughan David Probert, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Local Municipal Staff: Wayne Jackson, Town of Aurora Ken Lauppé, Town of Aurora Wayne Hunt, Town of East Gwillimbury Bob Magloughlen, Town of Georgina Brian Grubbe, Township of King Craig Bartlett, Town of Markham Bob Shelton, Town of Newmarket Roy Howard, Town of Newmarket Jeff Meggitt, Town of Richmond Hill Caroline Kirkpatrick, City of Vaughan Paul Whitehouse, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville Regional Staff: Kees Schipper, Commissioner of Transportation and Works Elizabeth Wilson, Solicitor Consultants: Bill Balfour, Gartner Lee Limited Bob Lippett, Gartner Lee Limited Michael Pratt, Earth Tech (Canada) Inc. Doug Thomson, McCarthy Tétrault Others: Kathy Hansen, Ministry of the Environment Rob Cook, Ontario Waste Management Association 58 Confirmation of Minutes June 20, 2001 Mr. Brown, seconded by Councillor Pliakes, moved that the minutes of June 20, 2001, as presented, be confirmed and adopted, which was carried. 59 New Members

3 Page 3 A communication was received from the Town of Newmarket, September 4, 2001, recommending that Mr. Ian Gray and Mr. Brian Feherty be appointed to the Committee. The Committee received the communication and Mr. Gray was welcomed to the meeting. REPORTS SUBMITTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION AND WORKS TO THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 12, Bill 90 - Waste Diversion Act, 2001 Mr. Campbell provided some background on Bill 90 and the various organizations involved in the development of the Waste Diversion Act, Mr. Campbell highlighted the following comments which were put forward to the Province in response to the Bill: This legislation, with minor improvements should be passed. Funding discussions and schemes have been debated for over 10 years and there is a consensus from industry to pay 50 % of the blue box costs. Specific blue box and household hazardous waste materials should be designated by January 1, Funding from the IFOs should be retroactive to the date of designation of a material. Municipalities should receive 50% funding of net operating costs. In kind funding from an IFO is unacceptable. The draft legislation only provides for funding to be not more than 50% and should read equal to 50%. It was also noted that municipalities will be a minority on the Waste Diversion Ontario Board and therefore strict timelines will need to be established to ensure that program funding delays do not occur. The legislation will hopefully go through this fall and funding could start next year. Mr. Campbell noted that York Region's share would be approximately $4,000,000. Councillor Werry inquired as to how the funding would be handled and whether municipalities would submit their costs to the Region or to the Province. Mr. Campbell stated that currently the area municipalities incur the cost so the funding relationship would be directly with the Province.

4 Page 4 Councillor Werry also stated that there was some concern that up to 50% of the funding may be given to areas with greater need and questioned how that would be determined. Mr. Campbell stated that there is a draft formula by the Association of Municipal Recycling Co-ordinators that shows how money is distributed to different municipalities. As the money would be coming from the private sector there is some concern as to the efficiency of the programs. The meaning of the term "efficient" has not yet been established. Councillor Pliakes inquired as to whether the Region is currently involved with Toronto in connection with recycling and waste disposal. Chair Landon advised that the Region is currently negotiating on its own for these services. Councillor Pliakes inquired as to the status of the 3-stream process and if construction of the Bales facility had been initiated. Chair Landon advised that the Region is still negotiating with Miller Waste and suggested the outstanding issues may be resolved by the end of October. Chair Landon stated that a full solution will not be up and running when Keele Valley closes in 2003 but the Region will be using the existing MRF facilities in the Region and contingency plans are being implemented. Councillor Pliakes inquired about the membership of the WDO and why there weren't more private individuals. Chair Landon advised that it was a concession made by the municipalities in order to get the Province to move forward and implement legislation for 50% funding of the blue box system. The Province will not be putting any money into this program. The legislation will state that the industry has to fund the program. It was moved by Mr. Gray, seconded by Ms. McKay that the update be received, which was carried. 61 Request for Proposals No. P Hauling and Disposal of Solid Waste Mr. Campbell advised the Committee that this report was referred back to staff for a further report to the next meeting of the Solid Waste Management Committee. Staff is to revise the RFP so that a vendor with less than 50,000 tonnes of capacity per year could bid on the RFP. The new RFP would also

5 Page 5 allow for more than one winner in order to accommodate the Region's waste. Mr. Gray inquired as to what measures would be taken if the bidder's site was not accessible. Chair Landon stated that all bidders have to provide for contingency sites if the designated sites were not available for some reason. Mr. Gray also asked if there was a limit on the capacity of the US site used by Republic Services in the Region s existing contract. Mr. Campbell stated it was a new landfill and there was 60 million tons of capacity. This is a significant capacity as the entire GTA area only generates about 1.3 million tonnes per year. It was moved by Mr. Ramsey and seconded by Councillor Werry that the update be received, which was carried. OPEN DISCUSSION 62 Update on Pilot Projects Ms. McKay inquired about the status of the pilot projects for recycling currently underway in the Town of Markham. Chair Landon provided an update on the following various projects: One pilot was called "Bag It" which has been completed. Organics were placed in green bags that were picked up from the curb. There were some problems with this method including racoons, dogs and other animals tearing open the bags and leaving a mess. The second pilot involved using two carts, one single cart for organics and a split cart for garbage and recyclables. This project has been underway for six months and the response has been very positive with a 62-65% diversion rate. The advantages of carts include there is no mess, everything is contained in the carts, and animals cannot get into the containers. The pick up remains the same on a weekly basis and the garbage collector does not have to lift or touch the waste because the truck is automated. The major disadvantage is the carts are fairly large and hold approximately as much as four blue boxes on one side and three

6 Page 6 green garbage bags on the other. Although the carts are light and easy to manoeuvre, storage is a problem for some residents. FCM has given Markham a $100,000 grant so the program could be extended for an additional six months which will include the winter. Winter evaluation will include the co-ordination of snow removal with garbage pick-ups. A telephone survey was done to find out if the participants would like to continue with the program. To date only two people objected. Other municipalities such as Pickering, Etobicoke and Newmarket have inquired about the program and could share the cost of the truck. Chair Landon suggested that the Committee members consider extending this program across the Region and looking at the split cart system in their own municipality. He also pointed out that it will take a significant amount of education to the public. Mr. Campbell also indicated that the other pilot starting up in a few weeks is the recycling of electronics such as used computers. Also underway in Newmarket is an expanded blue box program where more items are allowed in the blue box, such as all plastic except plastic film, gable top and TetraPak juice containers, aluminium foil and tray, and empty latex paint cans. Residents would be given larger blue boxes than the currently used containers. Pick ups would continue on the same schedule which is currently in place. Councillor Werry inquired as to the cost of the carts and who would be paying for them. Chair Landon advised that the cost of the carts is approximately $ per cart, with a 10-year warranty. The carts can be leased. The savings from not having to buy plastic bags would offset the cost of the cart in approximately three years. It has not been determined whether the homeowner or the municipality would pay for the carts. Mr. Ramsey inquired as to the costs involved if a municipality wanted to start up this program. Mr. Campbell stated that Markham s pilot was approximately $425,000 to start up. There would be a savings if the truck costs could be offset by including more municipalities so that the vehicles are in full operation five days per week. Councillor Pliakes inquired about individuals cleaning up ditches and roadsides and whether some of those materials were worth any money to

7 Page 7 someone. Chair Landon thought there was not enough incentive for anyone to do that but suggested that the local municipality could organize various service groups to clean up the roads and ditches in their area. Chair Landon also stated that typically these incentives are when there is a deposit return system. In Ontario a deposit return system is not likely to be established if Bill 90 (see above) is passed. Chair Landon sugggested representatives from Corporations Supporting Recycling and from a deposit return program come to a future meeting to present their points of view. 63 Next Meeting The next meeting of the Public Liaison Committee will be held on Wednesday, October 24, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. COMMITTEE CO-ORDINATOR CHAIR