Waste collection is temporarily changing in 4 areas of Peel
Peel Regional Council has approved four pilot projects in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon to test various waste collection options. The goal of the pilot projects is to provide information for consideration by Council on the type of collection service that will best meet the needs of Peel residents as the Region looks to implement a new Long-Term Waste Management Strategy.
Residents living within the specified geographical areas of the pilot projects are asked to participate in the year-long programs in order that staff can conduct a proper evaluation of each collection system.
The pilot projects test out bag limits, use of carts (for garbage, recycling and organics) and diversion rates for the recycling and organics programs
Rationale for Bi-weekly Garbage Collection
Bi-weekly garbage collection is becoming commonplace as municipalities including the City of Toronto and Durham Region have already implemented this practice. Other municipalities including Ottawa are looking to implement bi-weekly garbage collection while the City of Hamilton, similar to Peel Region is considering it.
Implementing a bi-weekly garbage collection program in the Region of Peel is expected to have four major impacts:
Reduction in Waste sent for Disposal = Increased Diversion
In 2011, Regional staff performed detailed waste composition studies on the garbage stream. These studies revealed that Blue Box, Green Bin and leaf and yard waste still comprise 59 per cent of the garbage stream.
Experience in other municipalities indicates that implementation of bi-weekly garbage collection (every other week garbage collection) will increase participation in the Blue Box and Green Bin recycling programs which in turn will increase diversion.
Durham Region experienced an increase in their diversion rate from 36 per cent in 2005 to 52 per cent in 2010. Ottawa expects their diversion rate to increase from 44 per cent to 54 per cent with the introduction of bi-weekly garbage collection in 2012.
Durham and Ottawa’s programs are not identical to Peel Region’s program so we cannot expect identical results. However, based on staff projections, Peel’s overall diversion is expected to increase by three to four percentage points.
Reduction in Collection Costs
Experience in other municipalities indicates that implementation of bi-weekly garbage collection will decrease collection costs. This outcome has been observed in other municipalities that have implemented bi-weekly garbage collection, such as the City of Toronto.
Based on feedback from our current contractors, a fully implemented bi-weekly garbage collection service in Peel Region is expected to result in a cost savings of approximately $1,000,000 per year based on existing contracts. Greater savings are expected once collection services are re-tendered for collection contracts starting in 2016.
Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
It is expected that the introduction of bi-weekly garbage collection will reduce vehicle usage with an associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
When the Green Bin program was introduced in Peel in 2007 a reduction in long haul vehicle usage was observed (773 less loads of garbage sent to disposal compared to 2006). The co-collection of Blue Box recycling and Green Bin organics and seasonal bi-weekly collection of yard waste are further examples of how the Region has reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved collection efficiency due to fewer collection vehicles.
Bi-weekly collection is one more opportunity for Peel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Reduction in Worker Injuries
Manual collection of waste and recyclables has resulted in a number of lower back and motion injuries among collection workers across the province. The Ministry of Labour (MOL) recently issued orders requiring an Ontario municipality to change the way it collects waste and recyclables based on an ergonomic assessment. These orders are an indication that the MOL may be taking a more active enforcement approach in the way it addresses ergonomic concerns. Although Peel does not collect its waste or recyclables in the same type of trucks as the municipality in question, reducing worker injury remains an important component of any service and the Region has a responsibility under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Section 25, to provide a safe work environment.
A bi-weekly pilot will allow Peel Region to gather information on the use of fully automated or semi automated cart collection, which would reduce ergonomic injures and potentially reduce Workplace Safety and Insurance Board premiums.
For more information, view the Council Report (PDF 26 pages - 580 KB) – following submission of the report, Council approved the following amendments:
The Tuesday Collection Area (Councillor Saito’s area) was removed as a proposed pilot project
The Wednesday Collection Area (Councillor Moore’s area) has been changed from a 2 bag bi-weekly limit to a 3 bag biweekly, and the portion of the map (the west side of Hansen Rd), has been removed from the pilot area due to communal collection points
The Friday Collection Area (Councillor Paterak’s area) has opted for smaller carts, equivalent to 2 bags bi-weekly and exemption periods have been added to the schedule.
Did You Know?
Recent audits have shown that the average residential bag of curbside garbage is made up of approximately:
40% garbage
45% organics (green bin material)
14% recycling (blue bin)
1% banned material (batteries, certain electronics etc.)
This means that over half of the material in the garbage should actually be placed elsewhere. Proper disposal of material provides both environmental and financial benefits!
Benefits of Green Bin/Cart Use
your green bin/cart will get collected every week
using your green bin/cart for food waste will keep animals out of your garbage
organics recycling converts your green bin/cart material into compost
