TAMRMS#: B09
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Styrofoam Recycling at the Depot
Presented by: Kate Polkovsky, Director, Utilities & Environment Department
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
recommendation
That the Community Growth & Infrastructure Standing Committee recommend to Council:
That the polystyrene (Styrofoam) recycling program at the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot continue to operate as a permanent program funded for 2020 in the amount of $8,000 from the Stabilization reserve with consideration of funding in future years from utility rates for recycling.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To provide an update to Council regarding the Styrofoam recycling pilot at the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot that began on July 1, 2019.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITY
Strategic Priority #6: Environmental Stewardship: Explore innovative environmental and conservation opportunities.
ALIGNMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
This would be an additional item acceptable at the Recycling Depot “City of St. Albert Services and Service Levels Inventory”:
“The recycling depot is a staffed depot open 40 hours per week, 5 days/week.
The depot accepts recyclables (paper, cardboard and aluminum) as well as hazardous
chemicals, paint, oil, tires, electronics, batteries and scrap metal.”
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL (OR COMMITTEE) DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On February 25, 2019 Council passed the following motions:
(File ID B06 / AR-19-111)
1. That the February 25, 2019 Agenda Report titled “Styrofoam Recycling at the Depot” be received as information.
2. That the City of St. Albert implement a one-year pilot program for the recycling of expanded polystyrene at the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot with project funding of $12,000 from the Stabilization Fund and;
3. That Administration report the findings of the of the pilot back to Council by Q2 2020.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
On July 1, 2019 the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot began collecting expanded polystyrene (trademark named Styrofoam) as an acceptable item.
This pilot project follows St. Albert’s goals of being a green and environmentally responsible community. City Council has been studying best practices and potential ways of optimizing waste diversion and reduction with the goal of making our community greener and more environmentally responsible.
The following methods of communication to the public was done to advertise the new service: website and Be Waste Wise App updates, Citylights and social media posts, and updating signage at the Depot.
Residents were able to drop off clean Styrofoam blocks from electronics, appliances or furniture for recycling at the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot. Any items that were contaminated were placed in the garbage.
From July to December 2019, 337 totes (2 m cubes) of Styrofoam were collected and processed for recycling. This amount equates to approximately 3,370 kg of traditional Styrofoam that was diverted from the landfill.
Participation from residents was high at the initial launch of the program, collecting 180 bags/totes of Styrofoam from July to September, in comparison to the 157 bags/totes from October to December. Administration anticipates there will be high participation in January, following the holiday season. Resident feedback was positive, as they appreciated an alternative method to dispose of the Styrofoam.
Operationally, weather can pose a challenge as it can make the Styrofoam blocks wet and contaminated. During the pilot launch of the program, 2019 dollars were spent to purchase a sea container to store the Styrofoam.
The $12,000 approved by Council was used to support start-up costs (e.g. storage equipment, advertising, etc.) and contracted services for processing the Styrofoam.
Administration recommends that the City continues this program as an on-going service to the community. It will require $8,000 to fund this service annually to support the necessary processing. The 2020 costs will be covered by the Stabilization Fund as the rates have been previously approved. Future impacts to the recycling utility rate would be approximately $0.03 monthly ($0.36 annually) per household.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
N/A
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
There is no impact to 2020 utility rates as the $8,000 is funded from Stabilization reserve. The ongoing impact will be funded from utility rates.
Legal / Risk:
N/A
Program or Service:
N/A
Organizational:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1. End the pilot program. Styrofoam will be placed in the garbage stream moving forward. Existing infrastructure (e.g. sea container) can be repurposed and utilized for other storage purposes.
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Report Date: February 10, 2020
Author(s): Kate Polkovsky
Committee/Department: Utilities & Environment Department
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble