Transcript Update and changes coming to Dufferin County’s urban/rural

Update and changes coming
to Dufferin County’s
urban/rural organics program
AMRC Conference
October 22nd, 2008
Melissa Kovacs Reid
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County of Dufferin
Overview
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Dufferin County
A Brief History
One-year in…
Moving forward
How it’s going so far…
More program changes
Dufferin County
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Located one hour northwest
of Toronto, bordering Peel,
Simcoe, Wellington and Grey
8 municipalities (3 towns, 5
rural townships)
Population: approximately
52,000
 25,000 residents within
Town of Orangeville
Local municipalities have
garbage and recycling
authority, County has green
bin and HHW authority
A Brief History
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1999 - Organics pilot started
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2004/2005 – Town of Mono Study
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2000 households
Green plastic bags
Processed at Guelph Composting Facility
Co-collection of green bins and recycling/garbage
Expansion of green bin service to whole municipality
Processed at Peel’s Caledon Composting Facility
2006 - Change over to green bins
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Original pilot areas changed over to green bins from plastic
bags, SSO taken to Caledon
Paper liners only…no plastic or certified compostable bags
A Brief History…
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2007 - County-wide
expansion
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Urban and rural singlefamily households serviced
Spring rollout for
Orangeville, Fall rollout for
rural municipalities
Paper liner program
One-year in…
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Participation rate is okay, not great
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Rural areas – participation and tonnage much better in some
areas
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Garbage bag limits, clear garbage bags, and bi-weekly waste collection
are factors
Urban areas – large variation in participation rates between
neighbourhoods and municipalities
Collecting approx. 2,000 tonnes of SSO per year
Number one complaint – ban of certified compostable
bags and/or plastic bags in the green bin
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But material going to the composting facility has been ‘clean’!
One-year in…
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The ‘bag’ challenge…an uphill battle
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Share border with Peel Region and County of Simcoe who
allow compostable bags
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lack of harmony between programs
Stores sell the compostable bags (and plastic bags too!)
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Has been confusing for the customer and frustrating for the County
Moving forward…
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Certified compostable bags
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As of mid-Sept 2008 – Dufferin allowing cc bags, along with
paper products as liners
Why?
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More facilities and municipalities are now allowing the certified
compostable bags
Better product recognition/awareness (look for the logo)…fear of
‘contamination’ by plastic bags not as high
Participation and capture rate needs to improve
Moving forward…
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Education/promotion for cc bags
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One-on-one meetings with store managers
Store shelving signage, newspapers, handouts at special events
(Home Show, HHW Days), word of mouth, community
presentations, free samples at municipal offices
Plan on in-store promotions, displays at public buildings, further
written materials, transit advertising, mobile signs, website
How it’s going so far…
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Few ‘oops’ cards are being given out for plastic bags in green
bins
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Little to no contamination in the SSO collected
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Usage of certified compostable bags slowly increasing
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Residents had a year to get used to program…without cc bags
‘Look for the logo’ helps them recognize the acceptable bags
Some residents have decided to use the program because of the
inclusion of cc bags
Non-acceptable plastic products still on the store shelves
More program changes…
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IC&I pilot projects:
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Boston Pizza, Headwaters
Healthcare Centre (Orangeville
and Shelburne), Montgomery
Village Public School, Mansfield
Outdoor Ed. Centre
Full subsidization of the two
local hospitals and all
education facilities (i.e.
schools and education
centres)
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Other commercial and
institutional outlets are invited
to participate (at their own
cost for tipping)
Melissa Kovacs Reid
County of Dufferin
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
(519) 941-2816, x 2620