Dealing with the New City of Toronto Waste Levy

GTAA, September 24, 2008By Tim Reeve-Newson

Will cover:

•Equipment•Private vs. City hauling•Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Levy Calculator

•The calculator categorizes buildings into S, M, L, XL, and XL+ based on unit # and yardage/month

•400+ compactor rooms and calculator estimates:

•Majority in XL and zero in S

Hold-down bar- device used to lock lids closed

Hold-down bar▫The City Levy assumes you are compacting

at a ratio of 3:1▫After garbage has fallen down the chute, it

is pushed into the bin by the compactor▫Once bin is full:

If no hold-down bar - lids pop open, change bin

If has hold-down bar - continues to compact▫If no hold-down bar, no compaction

1 9<

Compactor Tuning•3:1 ratio what?•Waste audits have found a standard high-

rise resident’s garbage will compact at 3 bags to 1 under 1200psi

•Controlled by pressure switch•Compactor signals “full” and automatically

shutoffs at 1200psi•Various factory defaults and tension loss

over time•Tuning ensures your compactor is set at

1200psi•Oil replace/cleaning removes debris

824 psi pressure switch

560 psi extend

Time (s)

Example of compactor

tuning

1374 psi pressure switch

1375 psi extend

Time (s)

City vs. Private hauling•Which is cheaper?•A 22-floor 234-unit building expects to save

$300-$500 per month with a private hauler•City service estimated to cost $2,041 per

month – garbage, recycling, and durable goods collection

•Private hauling company estimated $1,458, per month, which includes a base fee of $1,258 for twice a week garbage and recycling collection, plus $200 for durable collection

Breakdown of private hauling fees•Waste 3-yard compacted bin

$35/lift•Recycling 3-yard bin $12/lift•Recycling 1.5-yard toter $15/lift•Recycling 95-gallon toter $9/lift•Durable goods collection $~200•Fuel surcharge(waived 1st year)

8.9%•Extra surcharges $?

Private hauling•Private hauling cost reduced by switching

from 95-gallon to 1.5-yard toters, provided free by the hauler

•Approx 3 times the capacity but only 1.6 times the cost

•30 day cancellation clause

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)•Reduce levy bill by separating household

hazardous waste •What is HHW?

Any materials carrying the following labels: corrosive, flammable, toxic, and explosive

HHW – what is it?

•Batteries, certain cleaning products & chemicals, glues, fluorescent light bulbs, paint, nail polish & polish remover, products with mercury and syringes

•Cement, pesticides, solvents, propane tanks, gasoline, motor oil and automotive products

HHW – what to do with it?• Have a centrally located depot where

residents can conveniently dispose of these items in a clearly labeled bin

• Once full, bring to a Reuse Centre (http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/depots.htm) or Community Environment Day (http://www.toronto.ca/environment_days/index.htm)

• For a free pickup (min of 10L, max of 50L) call Toxic Taxi at 416-392-4330

• Once collected these materials will either be reused, recycled or dismantled and disposed of properly

HHW – setting up a program• First consult the City’s Recycling Handbook

for Property Managers at http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/multi/pdf/recycling_handbook.pdf

• Designate and clearly label a bin (a 35 to 65-gallon size should suffice) in a convenient location (moving, common, recycling room)

• Sample of HHW bin label at http://www.wastesolutions.ca/news/

• Promote - elevators, bulletin boards, resident letters

HHW - savings

•Removing the free collection HHW from your levied garbage stream will volume thus levy

•If garbage or recycling container is contaminated with HHW, the City reserves the right to refuse collection, meaning you must hire a private hauler

Thank you

•Thank you for your time •Copy of presentation at:

http://www.wastesolutions.ca/news/

•By Tim Reeve-Newson Technical Sales Consultant