Transcript Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste

Overcoming barriers to
participation in Organics
Recycling Programs
Elizabeth Baxter
Policy Analyst
Waste Program Planning, Region of Peel
AMRC Fall Conference
Oct. 22, 2008
The Region of Peel
City of Brampton ~ City of Mississauga ~ Town of Caledon




Population: 1.2 million
The Region services
300,000 single family
households, and 88,000
apartment/condo/town
house units.
445,000 tonnes of
residential waste managed
in 2007, with a 50%
diversion rate.
Region goal to divert 70% of
waste from disposal by
2016.
Waste Collection Services

Weekly garbage/recycling
collection

Two Bag Standard for
garbage, per week

Organics Recycling
launched Region-wide on
April 2, 2007

Non-compostable plastics not permitted

Only household receiving curbside collection get green bin
service – no IC&I/multi-residential

Separate leaf & yard waste collection
How Are We Doing?



Over 58,000 tonnes
collected since April ‘07
Program participation
remains at close to 50%
Driving factor for other
GTA municipalities in
achieving high
participation rates (over
70%) is every other
week garbage collection
Weekly Set Out Rates 2008
Weekly Set Out Rates for 2008
50%
49.0%
48.3%
45.9%
45.7%
45%
44.7%
43.5%
42.6%
42.3%
40.2%
40%
35%
30%
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
Average Weekly Organics Tonnage - 2008
Average Weekly Tonnage 2008
820.0
800.0
780.0
779.2
783.9
760.0
745.0
735.1
720.7
720.0
700.0
680.0
669.0
660.0
653.6
640.0
620.0
608.9
ec
em
be
r
D
ov
em
be
r
N
ct
ob
er
O
be
r
Se
pt
em
Au
gu
st
Ju
ly
Ju
ne
ay
M
Ap
ri l
ar
ch
M
Fe
br
ua
ry
ry
600.0
Ja
nu
a
Tonnage
743.5
740.2
740.0
Peel’s Communications Barriers




Addressing Peel’s ethnic diversity through
materials that communicate clearly to a range
of language groups;
Minimising confusion resulting from media
overspill from Toronto’s organics program;
Communicating a large volume of information
as simply as possible; and
Resident resistance surrounding the “yuck”
factor associated with household organics.
Barriers and Motivators to Participation
Motivators:
 Environment
 Mandatory
 Other
Barriers:
 Bin liners
 Odour
 Yuck factor
 Pests
 Storage
 Language


Missed
collection
Other
Overcoming Key Barriers - Liners

Bin Liners – availability of product,
performance of product, understanding of
how product is meant to be used.

Here is text we use on our website and in
conversation with residents:
Plastic bags claiming to be “degradable” or “oxo-degradable”
are also NOT acceptable for organics collection in the Region
of Peel. Degradable plastic shopping bags are produced by
adding a chemical additive that initiates the degradation of the
polyethylene into smaller, inert pieces. These pieces will not
compost and will contribute to the contamination of the finished
compost.
Overcoming Key Barriers – Odour
& Yuck Factor



Emphasize use of newspaper/shredded
paper in organics containers to absorb
excess moisture, contain odours and reduce
‘green bin juices’ – even when using
compostable bags!
Have a container in the bathroom to collect
facial tissues and cotton balls – will help with
odour.
Sprinkling baking soda or white vinegar also
helps minimise odour.
Overcoming Key Barriers – Pests



Reiterate tips to reducing odour
so pests are not attracted to
bins.
Provide special raccoon latch –
Norseman has one that goes
with the 46 L green bin and it
works well.
Fruit flies and maggots are a
reality of the program during
warmer months
Overcoming Key Barriers – Missed
Collection

Missed collection due to:



Contamination
Overweight (limit of 20 kgs)
By-Law Officer will investigate and empty
container for resident.


Will either provide a sample of acceptable liner
bags, or
Will deliver an additional green bin if frequently
overweight.
Overcoming Key Barriers –
Communication Tactics: Outreach
Overcoming Key Barriers –
Communication Tactics: Feedback
Next Steps




Increase processing capacity for
organics
Increase participation rates for singlefamily homes through outreach & policy
initiatives
Introduce organics recycling in the multiresidential sector
Introduce organics recycling in IC&I
sector (i.e. schools, Business
Improvement Areas)
Questions?
905-791-7800 ext. 4760
[email protected]
Website: peelregion.ca/waste