SWANA Florida Winter Conference, 2015 Clearwater Beach, Florida

The Future of Waste is…Canada? Presented by: Jim McKay, HDR Engineering Craig Bartlett, Regional Municipality of Durham

© 2014 HDR, all rights reserved.

Objective  

 

Provide an overview of solid waste management in Canada Discuss trends and drivers that have led to the programs we have today Highlight some key advances beyond “traditional” waste management services Postulate on what the future might hold

Trends and Drivers  

   

  

Lack of a strong Federal governmental presence (no equivalent of US EPA) “Dabbling” by Provincial governments Regulatory hurdles / barriers preventing investment and development Cost of services and infrastructure Extended Producer Responsibility Municipal commitment to sustainability in programs and initiatives Difficulty siting new infrastructure Cross-border shipment restrictions and future uncertainty Movement towards greater private sector involvement and P3 developments

Reduction  

  

More funds zero waste and the development of the National Zero Waste Council Food Wasteage Strategies Not-for-Profit Partnership (E.g. Second Harvest) Promotion and Education on “Behaviour Changes” Packaging Changes

Reuse  

  

Not-for-Profit partnerships (e.g. Goodwill, Salvation Army) Collection at your door (e.g. Canadian Diabetes Association) Repair Café workshops Community Environmental Centres “Refill” and “Take Back” programs

Recycle  

   

Extended Producer Responsibility Blue Box and Hazardous Waste Program Funding Single stream collection and processing Hazardous waste collection and processing Multi-Residential Diversion Source Separated Organics

Recovery  

  

Durham-York Energy Centre (Durham, ON) Enerkem Waste to Fuel (Edmonton, AB) Disco & Dufferin AD Facilities (Toronto, ON) Surrey Biofuels Facility (Surrey, BC) St. Mary’s Cement Alternative Fuels (St. Mary’s, ON)

Residual    

Cross-border shipments continue (US landfill capacity is cheap, even with added transportation costs) Difficulty in establishing new landfill capacity (e.g. 10 years plus just for approvals) Landfill design very similar to US Electricity generation premiums on landfill gas $0.11/kwh in Ontario)

Measuring Performance  

Silent Diversion More than just waste diversion o

  

What about generation reduce, recycle, recover

Cost of review provision Development of “Balanced Scorecards” to measure overall system performance Triple Bottom Line evaluation…greater priority on environmental and social is driving change

Things to watch for in the Future  

   

EPR and privatization of services What if the Canada/USA border closes to shipment of waste? Advances in treatment technologies Changing role in Municipal Waste Management departments Recognition of “Recovery” Mixed Waste Processing, Dirty MRF’s and the Role of Alternative Fuels in Industry

Region of Durham 

Approximately 1000 sq. miles in area



Current population of 650,000 across eight local area municipalities forecasted to reach 1 million by 2031



The upper level of a two-tier government; Regional and Municipal



Responsible for residential waste collection for six municipalities.



Responsible for Blue Box collection and processing, waste disposal and composting for all eight area municipalities.

Durham Region

Region of Durham: Per Capita Generation Rates 1987 & 2010 450

kg/capita

400 350 300

403 kg/ capita

340 kg/ capita

250

(888 lbs)

(750 lbs)

200 1987

Year

2010

Region of Durham: Current Waste Diversion Programs

Weekly Green Bin Collection Bi-Weekly Garbage Collection

4 Bag Limit: Additional Bags Require User-Pay Tags

Weekly Blue Box Collection

Solid Waste Management Hierarchy

Reduce Reuse Recycle/Compost Focus of current diversion calculations

Recover Dispose

Current Diversion Calculation

100%

All of The Above

Region of Durham: 2010 Diversion Rate

Green Bin 12%

Garbage 48%

Diversion 52%

Blue Box 23%

Leaf & Yard Waste 10%

Composting & Reuse Programs/ Grasscycling 4% Special Events 3%

Solid Waste Management Hierarchy

Reduce Reuse Recycle/Compost Recovery Dispose

Glass Reduction in Region of Durham

25 oz glass bottle 1.5 lbs

2L PET plastic bottle

10 oz glass bottle

20 oz PET plastic bottle

0.11 lbs

0.93 lbs

0.07 lbs

Diversion impact = 3.5%

Newsprint Reduction in Region of Durham

1991 Subscriptions: 81,681 1991 Weight: 0.77 lbs

2010 Subscriptions: 62,902 2010 Weight: 0.40 lbs

Diversion impact = 5%

Additional Reductions

Advancing Technology

Solid Waste Management Hierarchy

Reduce Reuse Recycle/Compost Recovery Dispose

Reuse: Garage and Yard Sales

Diversion impact = 2%

Scavenging

Recycling: EPR Return-to-Retail Initiatives 

Household hazardous waste, electronics and tires



Plastic shopping bags



Plastic plant pots and trays



Mattresses



Pharmaceuticals



Appliances

Diversion impact = 1%

Silent Waste Diversion

% of Total Waste Generated

10

Silent Diversion 14.5% Reduce 8.5%

8 Newsprint Reduction

6

Reuse 4% Recycle 2%

Glass

4

2

Reduction

Garage/Yard Sales & Reuse Donations Websites Charity

Scrap

Metal

0 2010

Return-toRetailer Initiatives

Region of Durham: Per Capita Generation Rates 1987 & 2010 450

kg/capita

400 350 300

403 kg/ capita

340 kg/ capita

250

(888 lbs)

(750 lbs)

200 1987

Year

2010

Region of Durham: 2010 Actual Diversion Rate

90% 80%

Actual (?) Diversion

% of Total Waste Generated

70% 60%

WDO GAP Diversion

50% 40% 30%

52%

Silent Diversion

66.5%

20% 10% 0%

1

2

2010

Thank You 

Questions?



Jim McKay

E: [email protected] T: 289.695.4690



Craig Bartlett

E: [email protected] T: 905.668.4113 ext. 3561