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Changes to Recycling Processing
Presented by: Kevin Cole, Director
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RECOMMENDATION:
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That the Governance, Priorities and Finance Committee receive the September 10, 2018 agenda report titled “Changes to the Recycling Processing” as information.
That the Governance, Priorities and Finance Committee recommend to Council that Bylaw 40/2018, Being Amendment 1 to the Residential Solid Waste Management Bylaw17/2018 provided as an attachment to the September 4, 2018 Agenda Report entitled “Changes to Recycling Processing," be given all three readings.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To advise Committee of changes coming to the Blue Bag Recycling Program and the corresponding modification to the Solid Waste Management Bylaw that will be required.
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ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITY
Strategic Priority #6: Environmental Stewardship: Explore innovative environmental and conservation opportunities. - Seek innovative practices to protect waterways and green spaces and reduce our environmental footprint, to ensure the vitality of our natural resources for future generations.
ALIGNMENT TO ADMINISTRATIVE PRIORITY
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
Environmental Strategy and Policy Development:
Reduction of solid waste generation - Targets are developed to reduce solid waste generation and increase recycling and composting for residents. Progress is reported to the community on an annual basis.
COUNCIL DIRECTION
On April 16, 2018 Council passed Bylaw 17/2018, Residential Solid Waste Bylaw.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The majority of recyclables from North America are sent overseas to be processed. At the beginning of 2018, global markets implemented new restrictions on the recycling materials they would take. Certain items that we once collected through the Blue Recycling Bag program now no longer have a market to be made into new products. For recyclables that are still accepted, items need to be clean and dry.
On May 28, 2018, our recycling collection and processing contractor GFL Inc. requested that changes be made to our Blue Recycling Bag program due to the evolving global markets. The City has been working with GFL and other municipalities around the Edmonton Region to determine how to best adjust their recycling programs, to ensure items collected can be made into new products. Strathcona County has already implemented program changes, while other municipalities are currently in the process.
In 2014, St. Albert City Council approved the updated Environmental Master Plan. One of the goals is focused on reducing solid waste generation, with two targets:
• Reduce solid waste generation to 105 kilograms or less per person per year by 2020
• Increase diversion rate to 75% by 2020
In 2017, solid waste generation was at 123 kilograms per person, and residential waste diversion is at 64%. These numbers will be impacted by the change to the Blue Bag Recycling program as more items will be entering the garbage stream and will no longer be diverted from the landfill.
Blue Recycling Bag - New Acceptable List
Below are the items that will be acceptable and not acceptable in the Blue Recycling Bag program as of Fall 2018.
Acceptable:
ü Plastic food and household bottles, lids and containers
o Lids must be bigger than the palm of a hand. Anything smaller, such as bottle caps are garbage
ü Aluminum and tin cans, pie plates and containers
ü Paper greeting cards and gift wrap
o No tissue paper, no foil, glitter or decorations
ü Office paper, envelopes, craft paper
ü Magazines, flyers, newspapers, catalogues
ü Books
o With hard and soft covers removed
ü Cardboard
o Flattened, maximum dimension of 3 feet by 3 feet
ü Boxboard such as cereal boxes, cracker and cookie boxes
Items must be clean and dry. No food residue or liquid can be in the bottles, lids and containers.
Items no longer acceptable, please place in the Brown Garbage Cart:
û Glass bottles and jars
û Plastic packaging from toys, food and household items
û Plastic clamshells from berries, salad, bakery items
û Single serve plastic cups from yogurt, pudding, sauces
û Single serve, “to-go” cups from coffee, fountain drinks, smoothies, Solo style cups
û Spiral wound containers from chip cans, paper coffee cans, frozen juices and ready to bake pastries
û Tetra Pak containers without a deposit from soup, broth, liquid eggs
The definition of “Recyclable” and "Organics" needs to be updated in the Residential Solid Waste Management Bylaw. A redlined version of the Bylaw is attached.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Preliminary Education and Outreach Campaigns
Since April, education and outreach campaigns have focused on common items that are incorrectly placed into the recycling. The “Oops! What Goes Where?” campaign has been sharing these common items (seen below) through social media, Citylights, Be Waste Wise App, and the City website.
In July and August, the Curbside Waste Education Team visited households to encourage on proper waste sorting and set out, focusing on the recycling program.
The inspections have shown the following items are commonly placed in the recycling, although not acceptable. These items should be placed in the garbage, unless stated for the organics.
û Bottle caps, pumps and small lids
û Coffee pods
û Plastic bags and wrappers such as grocery bags, food packaging, protective wraps about household products
û Plastic cutlery and straws
û Plastic toys and household items
û Plant containers, pots and trays
û Styrofoam blocks, cups, packing peanuts and trays
Items to be placed in the Green Organics Cart (not Blue Bag):
û Shredded paper
û Paper towels, napkins and tissues
With the new Blue Recycling Bag changes, Administration hopes the momentum from the Spring education and outreach campaign will help residents buy into the program changes. The topic of recycling and waste reduction has also been heavily in the local media. Residents are becoming aware of the challenges with recycling markets. They are taking personal action to reduce use of single use items, and to be more waste conscious.
Blue Bag Recycling Program Changes
The following key messages have been developed by Administration to deliver the program changes:
• The City of St. Albert works with a contractor, GFL Inc. to collect and sort the materials in the Blue Recycling Bag
• Recycling markets have implemented new rules and regulations to reduce contamination and garbage in the recycling stream
• Changes are being made to the Blue Recycling Bag program to ensure materials can be recycled and made into new items
• Food and beverage bottles, cans and containers should be clean and dry before placing into the Blue Recycling Bag. Residue may get other items dirty, making it difficult to recycle
• Instead of using single-use items such as plastic bags and coffee cups, use reusable to reduce the amount of waste entering our landfill
• Not sure where an item goes? Use the Be Waste Wise App for sorting tips
• For more information about the Blue Recycling Bag program, visit stalbert.ca/waste
Administration also recommends emphasizing waste minimization in the waste hierarchy. Many of the items that will no longer be accepted in the Blue Recycling Bag can be avoided through encouraging bringing your own bags or cup or through purchasing changes.
Executing the Blue Recycling Bag Changes
Administration recommends the following to execute the changes to the Blue Recycling Bag program:
• Once the Bylaw is amended, advertise that changes are coming effective November 1, 2018
• Update the lists on the City website, Be Waste Wise App - “What Goes Where?” tool and “What Goes Where?” brochure
• Advertise through:
o The City’s social media channels
o City website - stalbert.ca/waste
o Be Waste Wise App
o Citylights and colour ads in the Gazette
o Brochures and utility bill inserts
o Banners and posters around City facilities such as St. Albert Place and Servus Place
• Explore other advertising methods such as street signs/billboards, bus banners, etc.
• News release to inform residents and the local media about the changes.
• After November 1, bags will be rejected and tagged, asking residents to place incorrect items in the garbage or organics.
During Waste Reduction Week (October 15 to 21), emphasis on waste minimization will be the focus of the week’s campaign. For example, encourage using reusable bags, mugs, containers, etc. instead of single-use items.
Administration will also be working with municipalities around the Edmonton Region to share tactics and challenges on delivering the program changes.
2019 and Beyond
In the summer of 2019, Administration will continue the Curbside Waste Education Program focusing on the Blue Recycling Bag.
Administration will report back to Council about how the program changes are going and if any additional education and outreach will be required.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial: Our recycling contractor, GFL Inc. has requested a $35 per metric tonne additional processing fee even with the changes proposed. Administration has reviewed our options for recycling and believes this fee is warranted. Discussions at the regional level with other Municipalities have been had, and all have been asked to pay this additional fee. In 2017, the City sent 3,825 metric tonnes of material to be processed at the recycling facility. Moving forward, less materials should be going to GFL due to the program changes. The utility fee will be impacted due to this fee increase. It is estimated it will result in an increase of $0.55 per household, per month.
Legal / Risk: none at this time.
Program or Service: As discussed in the sections above the Blue Bag program would be amended to accept less recyclables than allowed in the current program.
Organizational: none
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Consideration was given to maintaining the current program, but this would require further increases to the costs of the program. This assumes that a contractor could be found that would provide the level of service, as currently there are limited options in the market. The waste program will already see significant increases to the cost of service in 2019, therefore further increases would not be well received by utility customers.
Report Date: September 10, 2018
Author(s): Kevin Cole and Olivia Kwok
Committee/Department: Environment
General Manager: Ian McKay
City Manager: Kevin Scoble