solid waste & recycling august/september 2009

Solid Waste& RecyclingSolid Waste& RecyclingCanada’s magazine on collection, hauling, processing and disposalAugust/September 2009 $10.00

CPMP No. 40069240 An EcoLog Group Publication

Composting Council of Canada conference program — pages 23-26

Durham’s Residual Waste Diversion Pilot Program — page 8

CLEAR BAGS

Landfill

Bioreactor Expansion

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C O N T E N T S

Solid Waste & RecyclingCanada’s magazine on collection, hauling, processing & disposal

August/September 2009Volume 14, Number 4

Landfi ll technology, pg. 18 Promotion & Education, pg. 21 Event Report, pg. 32

COVER STORY

On a Clear Day 8Some municipalities in search of higher diversion rates are asking residents to separate recyclables and organics, then put the remaining waste residue in clear bags. A recent pilot project in Durham Region, Ontario, points to possible results.by Guy Crittenden

DEPARTMENTSEditorial 4Up Front 6Event Report 32Waste Business 33Composting Matters 36Regulation Roundup 38Products 40Product Stewardship 41News 42Ad Index 45Blog 46

NEXT EDITIONOffi cial Show Issue: Canadian Waste & Recycling ExpoSingle stream recycling • Waste-to-energy • Landfi ll technology • Heavy equipment for MRFs and landfi lls • Collection bags & liners.Space closing: September 22; Artwork required: September 26. Advertisers, contact Publisher Brad O’Brien at 1-888-702-1111 ext. 2.

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FEATURES

COLLECTION: EVERY OTHER WEEKIncreased organics capture from EOW collection.by Rod Muir 14

LANDFILL TECHNOLOGY: BIOREACTORSRecent expansions at Lafl eche Environmental’s facility.by Guy Crittenden 18

PROMOTION & EDUCATION: CALENDARSMunicipal media to keep residents informed.by Julie Dossett 21

INFRASTRUCTURE: PROJECT APPROVALSOnline applications speed the approval process.by Pam Russell & Amy Burke 27

MULTI-REZ DIVERISON: CHUTESChute door technology solves problems.by Doug King 30

THE COMPOST COUNCIL OF CANADA — ANNUAL

CONFERENCEProgram details, pages 23-26

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“The OWMA suggests a $10 per tonne disposal levy be

put in place to send a ‘price signal’ in support of recycling

and waste elimination.”

by Guy CrittendenE D I T O R I A L

Zero Waste Innovation Trust

4 www.solidwastemag.com August/September 2009

Toronto’s recent garbage strike has focused the minds of residents there about how much waste they generate. (See item, page 42.)

Less visible is the industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) waste that’s estimated as being equal to (or as much as fi fty per cent larger) than the residential waste stream. Though it wasn’t sub-jected to Toronto’s strike, IC&I waste is being targeted by provincial governments across Canada — especially Ontario’s Ministry of the En-vironment — as an opportunity to reduce waste and related pollution and greenhouse gas outputs.

Recent developments should be of interest to any person whose com-pany (large or small) generates waste byproducts in its manufacturing process or whose products and packaging end up in the municipal sys-tem, or in any kind of landfi ll. The Ontario government sounds serious about bringing extended producer responsibility (EPR) to the province. EPR systems require producers to pay the full cost managing products and packaging at end-of-life. Specifi cally, the government is proposing that industry pay 100 per cent of the net cost (not just half) of the blue box. And it’s asking various stakeholders how to boost IC&I waste di-version rates to match targets set for the residential sector.

A policy paper from the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA) hints at what may be in the offi ng. The paper, published July 20, 2009, is entitled Driving to zero waste: A comprehensive program for changing behaviour and driving innovation towards zero waste in Ontario’s Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) sector. The association that chiefl y represents waste haulers, multi-material waste diversion service providers and disposal companies has consulted with a number of environmental groups to refi ne a vision that is progressive while still practical. The OWMA recognizes that while waste disposal will be an ongoing business activity, waste diversion in the context of progressive waste diversion policies, offers the largest opportunity for continued growth. Aware that Toronto will stop shipping garbage to Michigan next year and that many Ontario landfi lls are starting to fi ll up, The OWMA recognizes that Zero Waste-type initiatives offer opportun-ities both economic and environmental.

Driving to zero waste starts by defi ning IC&I waste, and notes that enforcement of existing IC&I regulations is limited to larger businesses. (For instance, the regs don’t apply to the commercial sector for facilities less than 10,000 m2.)The report acknowledges that the industrial sector has done a pretty good job reducing wastes because there’s a direct pay-back in many instances. Seventeen per cent of IC&I waste is construc-tion and demolition (C&D) waste. Excluding that, only about 12 per cent of IC&I waste is recycled; 88 per cent is sent for disposal. This is a lost opportunity, since most of the material could be recycled, at least in theory: a quarter of the material is paper, 15 per cent corrugated card-board, 11 per cent food, and the rest is single-digit percentage points of things like plastic, wood, metal and glass, etc.

The paper states that an investment in signifi cantly boosting the di-version rate for these materials would result in “signifi cant green invest-ment, innovation and economic development. The study authors note

there are 80,000 businesses in the province, and that 42 per cent of all IC&I waste is generated by businesses with less than 50 employees. High diversion rates will require participation from these smaller busi-nesses and the OWMA proposal proposes a portfolio of economic in-struments, prospective disposal bans and waste generator tools and pro-grams to increase diversion from small businesses. The objective is to reduce and divert more IC&I waste from small business while at-tempting to minimize costs to those businesses.

Specifi cally, Driving to zero waste puts forward a number of policy suggestions to eliminate waste in the IC&I sector. Among them is sup-port for preparation of waste reduction plans, audits and verifi cation of the results. This would be accompanied by a phased-in ban on recyc-lables from landfi ll and transfer stations. The authors call for accredit-ation and approval of all waste service providers, with increased waste tracking, reporting and oversight. (Waste counted as “recycled” really must be recycled.)

Most controversial is the paper’s suggestion that the price gap be closed between disposal and recycling, with the funds generated used to fi nance waste diversion tools. Currently, IC&I waste generators pay just $58 per tonne to dispose of waste, versus about $93 for recycling. The OWMA suggests a $10 per tonne disposal levy be put in place to send a “price signal” in support of recycling and waste elimination.

Most interesting is the proposed establishment of a Zero Waste In-novation Trust (ZWIT) governed by a multi-stakeholder board. Money collected from the $10 levy would be used to fund research and waste diversion activities (and not go into general revenues as happened with the former tire tax and the levy on non-refi llable beverage alcohol con-tainers). Funds from the trust would also be used to provide fi nancial assurance for the long-term closure, cleanup and perpetual care of any problematic waste diversion and disposal sites.

The paper provides calculations that suggest avoided disposal costs and waste reduction could see the typical IC&I waste generator paying just $250 in incremental costs under the program.

Across the IC&I sector reducing (16 per cent) and diverting (36 per cent more) waste would reduce CO

2-equivalent emissions by 4.47 mil-

lion tonnes with a carbon trading value of $224 million (at $50/tonne). Diversions of three tonnes of IC&I material would inject $225 million in revenues into the waste services sector, and create a couple of thousand jobs (since diversion is more labour intensive than disposal).

We think that Driving to zero waste provides an excellent framework to create a sustainable economy and a thriving local waste diversion in-dustry. We suggest that the government embrace it, and that other prov-inces follow suit.NOTE: Driving to zero waste can be downloaded under Posted Docu-ments at www.solidwastemag.com

Guy Crittenden is editor of this magazine. Contact Guy at [email protected]




Insight. Ideas. Innovations.

INSIGHT. IDEAS. INNOVATIONS.Just What Most Of Us Need In These Economic Times!

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INSIGHT. New legislation, policy changes, environmental updates and more...Our Industry Partner Associations will be hosting timely topical educational seminar and special networking events.

IDEAS. Whether it is in the seminar program or on the trade floor, the show will be buzzing with new ideas on how to increase efficiency for your business.

INNOVATIONS. Faster, smarter, easier - from software updates and GPS systems to the latest technological advances in waste treatments, balers, refuse trucks and landfill operations, this is the show to find the products and services you seek.

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Waste Management acquirescollection business


Guy Crittenden [email protected]

Brad O’Brien [email protected]

Jamie Ross Account [email protected]

Sheila Wilson Art DirectorKim Collins Market ProductionSelina Rahaman Circulation ManagerCarol Bell-Lenoury Mgr EcoLog GroupBruce Creighton President

Business Information GroupContributing Editors

Michael Cant, Rosalind Cooper, Maria Kelleher, Clarissa Morawski, Usman Valiante, Paul van der Werf

Award-winning magazine

Solid Waste & Recycling magazine is published six times a year by EcoLog Information Resources Group, a divi-sion of BIG Magazines L.P., a leading Canadian busi-ness-to-business information services company that also publishes HazMat Management magazine and other infor-mation products. The magazine is printed in Canada.

Solid Waste & Recycling provides strategic informa-tion and perspectives on all aspects of Canadian solid waste collection, hauling, processing and disposal to waste managers, haulers, recycling coordinators, landfi ll and compost facility operators and other waste industry professionals.

Canadian Publications Mail ProductSales Agreement No. 40069240

Information contained in this publication has been com-piled from sources believed to be reliable, thus Solid Waste & Recycling cannot be responsible for the absolute correctness or suffi ciency of articles or editorial contained herein. Articles in this magazine are intended to convey information rather than give legal or other professional ad-vice. Reprint and list rental services are arranged through the Publisher at (416) 510-6798.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:Circulation Department, Solid Waste & Recycling12 Concorde Pl, Ste 800, Toronto, ON M3C 4J2Call: (416) 442-5600 Fax: (416) 510-5148E-mail: [email protected]

From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods:Phone: 1-800-268-7742 Fax: 416-510-5148E-Mail: [email protected] to: Privacy Offi cer Business Information Group 12 Concorde Pl, Ste 800 Toronto, ON Canada M3C 4J2

Solid Waste & Recycling, USPS 018-886 is published bimonthly by Business Information Group. US offi ce of publication: 2424 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304-0357. Periodicals Postage Paid at Niagara Falls, NY. US postmaster: Send address changes to Solid Waste & Recycling, PO Box 1118, Niagara Falls, NY 14304.

We acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program towards our mailing costs.

© 2009 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without priorconsent. ISSN-1483-7714

PAP Registration No. 10991

Solid Waste & RecyclingSolid Waste & Recycling Canada’s magazine on collection, hauling, processing & disposal

Molok North America Ltd., the North American distributor for the Fin-nish based MOLOK Deep Collec-

tion systems, would like to clarify that Waste Management has acquired the business of emptying the MOLOK Deep Collection con-tainers from Deep Clean Waste Services Inc. Furthermore, Waste Management has also entered into an agreement with Molok North America Ltd. that gives Waste Management the right to sell MOLOK containers in Can-

ada and United States in conjunction with the emptying services. Molok North America Ltd. continues to be the sole manufacturer and the main distributor of the MOLOK con-tainers in North America, with Marja Hillis as the General Manager, while Mark Hillis has joined the Waste Management team as a Manager of Business Development.For more information contact Molok North America Ltd. at 519-323-9909.

New program on environmentindustry opportunities

“Going Green for Green” — a new program about money-making opportunities for companies in the environmental protection and waste management industries —

has made its debut.The new show takes viewers inside the business of the environment and should be

of interest to people in the environmental services and waste management industries, as well as other people such as professionals in the investment community interested in op-portunities for profi t in these fast-growing sectors.

The show is the brainchild of host Michael Lavelle and is a joint venture between Lavelle’s company Going Green for Green TV and HazMat Management magazine and Solid Waste & Recycling magazine. Brad O’Brien — publisher of the two magazines — is Executive Producer; each episode is shot by Director Brad Ling, with research and writing support from editor and award-winning business journalist Guy Crittenden and various contributing editors and writers from the magazines.

Each episode focuses on a theme from within the environmental services and waste management industries. Themes thus far have included organic waste collection and processing, construction and demolition waste, and brownfi eld remediation. View the episode on opportunities in brownfi eld remediation by visiting www.hazmatmag.com) or by following the link:www.hazmatmag.com/video/green4green.asp

After 30 years in the consulting in-dustry Dave Merriman is moving to Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO)

as Director of Waste Diversion Programs. In this new position he will assist WDO Executive Director Glenda Gies in advan-cing Ontario’s waste reduction and diver-sion goals.

Merriman began his consulting ca-reer with James F. MacLaren Limited. In 1989 he joined a number of associates in founding MacViro Consultants Inc. which recently was acquired by GENIVAR On-tario Inc.

Over the years Merriman has assisted many municipalities in developing waste management plans, programs and facili-ties. Highlights of his career include as-sisting in developing: the Toronto Dufferin

Organics Processing Facility; several large single stream MRFs; the Peel Energy-from-Waste Facility, presently owned by Algonquin Power; and, Toronto’s con-tracts to export waste to Michigan.Contact David Merriman, WDO at416-226-5113 x295

DAVE MERRIMAN MOVES TO WDO

Organics Processing Facility; several large







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OUR TOP LETTERSDear Editor:RE: “Meet the Spartans” (Editorial, June/July 2009 edition)We are legal counsel for Atlantic Paper Products. Atlantic has regretfully come to the conclusion that your June/July editorial concerning paper fibre biosolids was misleading and contained significant inaccuracies, including the following:

1. Atlantic had nothing to do with the Pelham site referred to in your editorial. The paper fibre biosolids used in that site were significantly different from those generated by Atlantic.

2. The statement “In several locations, contaminated leachate from the berms has forced the ministry to order the excava-tion and removal of material, at great expense” is untrue. While there are two locations where berms containing Atlantic PFBs were redesigned, within the same site, this was due to Conservation Authority rules against all kinds of fill in a floodplain and not to evidence of “contaminated leachate.” The SoundSorb was originally placed as directed by the respective property owners; in one case, it replaced an existing 40-year-old berm that predated conservation Authority rules.

3. Atlantic was not using landfill as a method to deal with PFBs when the SoundSorb berm program was developed, and does not intend to use it now. The berm program is a beneficial use program that is not a low-cost option.

4. Atlantic and the ministry signed a binding Agreement, not merely a Memorandum of Understanding. This Agreement is a legally enforceable control instrument which provides equal or better protection for human health and the environment, as recommended by the Experts Panel. In particular, it provides for careful selection of all berm sites, and regular monitoring of potential impacts.

5. The province has substantially implemented the Expert Panel’s other recommendations. In particular, surface and groundwater near existing berms at gun clubs are monitored regularly. In no case have contaminants in excess of the Ontario drinking water quality standards been found in groundwater leaving a site, nor have significant risks to human or environ-mental health been caused by any berm containing Atlantic PFBs.

6. Your editorial suggests that the ministry is negligent in failing to require Atlantic to compost its PFBs. The Agreement does not require composting of Atlantic’s PFBs, because scientific evidence suggests that this may do more harm than good. Composting could potentially destroy harmful bacteria, if the specific types of e.coli and other bacteria found in Atlantic’s PFBs were harmful to human health or the natural environment. To date, this has not occurred. On the other hand, composting increases the bioavailability of metals, such as copper, as confirmed in a recent English study. Whether composting is desir-able depends upon the particular characteristics of the PFBs from each mill.

7. The “recent” call from ALPHA was issued in 2005, before the signing of the Agreement which implemented the Expert Panel recommendations.

8. PFBs contain extremely low levels of lead until they are placed at a gun club. To the best of Atlantics knowledge, all ministry “evidence” that SoundSorb contains elevated levels of lead is based on samples taken after the SoundSorb was con-taminated with lead from bullets and other gun club sources.

The beneficial use of paper fibre biosolids is an indispensable element of paper recycling in this province. SoundSorb berms, in particular, provide substantial public benefits. They protect gun club members and neighboring residents against gun club noise as well as against stray bullets. SoundSorb berms are softer, quieter, more uniform and safer than equivalent earth berms, which may contain stones that deflect bullet fragments in unpredictable ways. Public safety officers, such as police, are major users of gun club sites equipped with SoundSorb berms, and access to such facilities allows them to improve their firearms skills, maintain their qualifications, and thus serve and protect all of us.

Atlantic recognizes that the use of SoundSorb remains a legitimate subject of public debate. However, such debate is badly served by inaccurate media, such as your June/July editorial. Thank you for agreeing to publish an appropriate correc-tion in your next issue.Yours very truly,

Dianne SaxeBarrister and Solicitor, Ph.D. in LawToronto, Ontario

Dear Editor:RE: “Waste Pellets for Energy” (April/May 2009)I read with interest your article on Dongara. I noted that the article was silent, however, on end usage issues of the Dongara pellets.

In contrast to the article preceding yours (in which Mr. Zafar identifies cement kilns as one of the more important applica-tions of RDF pellets -- from the India perspective) Ontario-based cement manufacturers face considerable challenges in utilizing the Dongara pellets within their own operations. The issues are not technical, but relate more to Ontario waste and air poli-cies, standards and approvals issues.

I wonder if this is an aspect you might consider exploring in a future article on the Dongara pellets. If so, you may wish to gain information from an interview with Martin Vroegh of St Marys Cement.Regards,

Bob Masterson, Director of PolicyCement Association of CanadaOttawa, [email protected]



“The micro household audits indicated that with a

reduction in overall waste generation, the relative

diversion rates could increase by up to

7.7 per cent.”

by Guy Crittenden

Durham Region’s clear bag pilot program

On June 18, 2008, Council for the Region of Durham (just east of Toronto, Ontario) passed a resolution authorizing staff, in conjunction with area municipalities, to proceed with a three-month pilot program in which residents were asked to set out residual garbage (i.e., non-recyclable or

non-compostable materials) for collection in clear plastic bags. One collection route was designated in each of the City of Pickering and the Municipality of Clarington. Durham is an upper tier municipal gov-ernment in a region of 621,000 residents who live within eight local municipalities.

In 1999, Regional Council approved the Long Term Waste Manage-ment Strategy Plan: 2002 to 2020, with a goal of diverting at least 50 per cent of the residential waste from disposal by 2007, or earlier. This goal was reached in 2007. The region intends to increase waste diversion from landfi ll to 70 per cent by the end of 2010.

Across North America, over 75 clear bag collection programs have

C O V E R S T O R Y


been launched in cities in-cluding Guelph, Ontario, the entire Province

of Prince Edward Island, numerous (33) municipalities across Nova Scotia, Saint John, New Brunswick and Omaha, Nebraska (among others). A 2008 study funded by Stewardship Ontario, entitled The Use of Clear Bags for Garbage as a Waste Diversion Strategy: Background Research on Clear Bag Programs across North America (E&E Project #177) provides an excellent overview of such programs.

The Durham pilot project had two specifi c objectives: to assess whether the use of clear bags increases (a) diversion and (b) participa-tion in recycling and composting programs.

The pilot project was divided into three specifi c phases or time per-iods to enable staff to collect and segregate data under differing en-forcement level scenarios, as follows:Phase One — Voluntary: Residential participation was voluntary

with no additional direct interaction or correspondence beyond an in-itial launch package provided to individual residents.Phase Two — Voluntary with encouragement: Participation re-mained voluntary; however, non-participating residences were ap-proached by regional staff and provided with supplementary promo-tional material such as door hangers to encourage participation.Phase Three — Mandatory with enforcement: Non-compliant bags were left behind and tagged with information that all garbage must be placed in clear bags.

Three levels of data were collected during the pilot: macro route tonnages, micro household audits and control household audits. The macro data was the most statistic-ally signifi cant and the most appro-priate for extrapolation region-wide.

The micro household audits provided insight into the specifi c

effects on each waste stream. The control audits assisted in explaining potential unforeseen variability.

Within Clarington, a single collection route comprised of 774 single family dwellings was selected; monitoring and waste collection was undertaken over an 11 week period (January 14 to March 25, 2009). Similarly, within Pickering, a single collection route comprised of 607 single family dwellings was selected and comparative monitoring was undertaken over a 13 week period (January 15 to April 9, 2009). Due to the difference in service-levels between the Pickering and Clarington pi-lot areas, the Pickering data was used to extrapolate region-wide results.

ResultsBased on a comparison to the 2008 waste tonnage data, a clear bag pro-gram for garbage could increase waste diversion within the region by three per cent (or about 4,668 tonnes) of recyclable materials and organics. It has the potential to cost an additional $61,000 per year in processing and

non-compostable materials) for collection in clear plastic bags. One collection route was designated in each of the City of Pickering and the Municipality of Clarington. Durham is an upper tier municipal gov-ernment in a region of 621,000 residents who live within eight local municipalities.

In 1999, Regional Council approved the Long Term Waste Manage-ment Strategy Plan: 2002 to 2020, with a goal of diverting at least 50 per cent of the residential waste from disposal by 2007, or earlier. This goal was reached in 2007. The region intends to increase waste diversion from landfi ll to 70 per cent by the end of 2010.

Across North America, over 75 clear bag collection programs have

been launched in cities in-

tional material such as door hangers to encourage participation.Phase Three — Mandatory with enforcement: Non-compliant bags were left behind and tagged with information that all garbage must be placed in clear bags.

Three levels of data were collected during the pilot: macro route tonnages, micro household audits and control household audits. The macro data was the most statistic-ally signifi cant and the most appro-priate for extrapolation region-wide.

The micro household audits provided insight into the specifi c

effects on each waste stream. The control audits assisted in explaining potential unforeseen variability.On a Clear Day


On a Clear DayOn a Clear DayOn a Clear Day

c o l -lection fees. The

micro household audits indicated that with a reduction in overall waste generation, the relative di-

version rates could increase by up to 7.7 per cent.The use of clear bags did not infl uence the level of participation in

the recycling program but did increase participation in the organics pro-gram by an average 14 per cent when compared to seasonal variations. Clear bags could therefore be a useful tool to further enhance participa-tion in the region’s organics program.

SurveysA total of 1,381 surveys were circulated to all households within both pilot areas. Approximately 540 surveys were completed (a 39 per cent response rate). The majority (53 per cent) expressed support for clear bags as well as a decrease in the garbage bag limit, if it helped to in-crease waste diversion. The majority believed they’d recycle more as a result of their participation in the clear bag project.

Although privacy concerns were raised, the majority of respondents were satisfi ed with the option of being able to place a smaller opaque bag within a larger clear bag. Some worried about clear bags possibly costing more, but this fear was neutralized by the comparable price of clear and opaque bags sold in local retail outlets.

Other survey results included:

• 72 per cent support the use of a smaller clear bag for in-house use (i.e., as a kitchen catcher);

• 78 per cent did not notice an increase in illegal dumping;• 88 per cent did not support the use of a full “bag tag” program to

stimulate waste diversion;• 70 per cent responded that the information package delivered to

their home was the best way to receive their information; and• 69 per cent of residents agreed that a two month phase-in period

was suffi cient to enable them to get used to the program, prior to the mandatory phase.An extensive public education and promotional strategy was imple-mented by regional staff to ensure that all pilot area households were well informed of the intent of the project and the specifi c parameters of participation. The separation of increased diversion or participation that resulted from the intensive promotion and education was not pos-sible. Therefore, comparable results of a region-wide clear bag program would only be possible if a signifi cant promotion and education pro-gram was undertaken at a cost of $35 per household.

The effects of the voluntary or mandatory phases produced mixed results. If the clear bags program is approved for region-wide imple-mentation, it’s recommended that it be launched as a voluntary program, with a mandatory dimension investigated for potential future use.

Other considerationsDue to the economic downturn, overall waste generation rates have


C O V E R S T O R Y

An extensive public education and promotional strategy was developed by regional staff to ensure that all pilot-area households were well informed of the intent of the pilot study and how to participate. The

extensive campaign cost $35 per household, for a total of $36,822 during the pilot project (excluding the supply of the complimentary GLAD clear bags valued at $12,000).Advertising: A pre-pilot study was conducted from November to January. An article appeared in the Durham Works newsletter. Durham Region and local municipalities’ websites had links to a main Clear Bag Pilot Study page. Public service announcements ran in local newspapers and radio. (PSAs also ran prior to the enforcement phase and after the pilot was complete.) Television appearances were made by regional staff in March and June.Introduction Letter: The introduction letter was hand delivered by regional staff technicians in three phases, to attempt a face-to-face discussion with all residents and answer their questions. The fi rst attempt was done during daytime business hours, the second in the evenings, and the third was done on the weekends. The introduction letter contained a map of the pilot study area, FAQ (frequently asked questions), and the phases of enforcement.Public Presentations: Presentations on “best practices” were given to the students in the schools located in the pilot areas. Handouts were given to students to take home to their parents. Two information sessions were held in each pilot area from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at local schools. Two technicians and one manager attended each session. The sessions were held at the schools located inside of the pilot areas. A total of 18 residents came to the Pickering sessions and 24 in Clarington.Promo Materials: Door hangers with reminders for three weeks prior to pilot start, and one week prior to start were hand delivered by a delivery company. A two week reminder was planned but since it was during the holiday season, the delivery companies were closed. A study kit was hand delivered by regional staff technicians to resident’s doors that included instructions, FAQ and a fridge magnet. A supply of complementary clear bags was supplied

for the duration of the pilot by Clorox (GLAD). Road signs were placed at the entrances to the pilot areas as an additional reminder for residents.“Thanks for Sorting” door hangers were left for residents who did a good job in setting out the proper materials in the correct manner. A handful of homes were randomly chosen each week.Focus Families: A focus family was chosen in each pilot area; the families were interviewed prior to the start of the pilot and after it fi nished. Their participation was also tracked throughout the pilot. After the pilot project, both families expressed that as a result of the pilot study they’d use both the recycling and composting waste diversion programs offered by the Region (whereas, this was not the case prior to the study for one of the families). There was an overall community acceptance of the program based on conversations with neighbours and walks through their neighbourhoods.Most of their residual garbage was plastic: they stated that more consideration should be given to making producers more responsible for their packaging. They said they were likely to carry on setting out their residual garbage in clear bags — one family as an educational tool for their children; the other based on the fact that they had to purchase garbage bags anyway, whether clear, opaque or coloured. Overall, both families found the study useful to educate, inform, structure and create community awareness of waste.Standard Operating Procedures: A list of operating procedures was given to the contractors prior to enforcement phase. Stickers were given to the waste collectors to leave on any non-compliant garbage bags. Once the enforcement period began, staff allowed the residents and the waste collectors to make their own judgment. Staff monitored the pilot areas prior to and after collection to see what decisions were made.Satisfaction Survey: Residents in the pilot areas were mailed a survey package that included a survey and a postage paid envelope to return the survey, or they had the option to fi ll out the survey online on a dedicated webpage. A draw prize was given as an incentive for participation. Notice of the end of pilot study was included with the survey.

Public Education and Communication

80

84

88

92

96

100

82

86

90

94

98

Pickering Pilot AreaSet-Out Rates — Clear Bag Usage (%)

One Three Five Seven Nine ElevenPerc

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tended to decrease. Revenues received from recyclable materials are much lower than 2007 and 2008 fi gures. Because of this, tonnage and diversion rate results from this pilot could have been affected.

A number of additional considerations must be addressed prior to the launch of a region-wide clear bag program, including:

• Lead time of one to two years to notify all stakeholders prior to the program launch;

• Retail supply and availability of clear plastic bags of different sizes;

• Residents having adequate time to use stockpile of opaque plastic bags;

®

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C O V E R S T O R Y


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Pickering Pilot AreaSet-Out Rates — Green Bin Usage (%)

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Collection Period (week)


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• Medical waste and diaper exemptions;• Waste Call Centre requirements; and• Provision of additional blue boxes and

green bins.“Clear bags for regular garbage collection

provide municipalities with an extremely easy, user friendly and cost effective ‘soft approach’ to increase the diversion of recyclable and or-ganic material within existing waste diversion strategies,” says Dave Douglas, President of VisionQuest Environmental Strategies Corp.,

speaking in general terms and not specifi cally about the Durham Region project. “Depending on the maturity and extent of existing diversion strategies, it’s conceivable for a municipality to increase diversion by an incremental 20 points above existing rates, simply by switching to a clear bag for refuse (garbage) collection.”


C O V E R S T O R Y

A list of operating procedures was

given to the contractors prior to en-

forcement phase. Stickers were given

to the waste collectors to leave on

any non-compliant garbage bags.

“Approximately540 surveys were

completed (a 39 per cent response rate).”

August/September 2009

A list of operating procedures was

given to the contractors prior to en-

forcement phase. Stickers were given

to the waste collectors to leave on

any non-compliant garbage bags.




Increases in capture of (foodscrap) recyclable materials — (especially organic waste) of between 40 and 60 per cent — appear to be possible by introducing Every Other Week (EOW) residual waste collection.EOW collection is a strategy that holds interest as a means to both

increase participation in foodscrap collection programs, as well as to lower overall collection costs.

An increase in participation is believed to occur as a result of resi-dents realizing that this portion of the waste stream, which is most likely to produce odours, can either go out weekly on the foodscrap collec-tion program or every other week with residual collection. They tend to choose the former.

Cost savings from EOW residual collection come about as a result of being able to co-collect materials from different streams (foodscraps, recycling and residuals) onto the same truck. This is especially true when recyclables are co-mingled in a single-stream recycling system.

For example, at my home in Toronto I normally get only one collec-tion pass a week. One week foodscraps and co-mingled recyclables are collected. The next week it’s foodscraps and residual waste.

What’s the potential to increase participation?

The seven municipalities in what I’ll call the Greater Greater Toronto area (GGTA), provide an excellent case study on the effect of EOW re-sidual collection on foodscrap capture. See the list of municipalities in Table 1 and their location on Map 1.

These municipalities are in close proximity to each other, all being within a radius of 50 miles. As a result, all have similar demographic profi les.

All collect foodscraps weekly and six of the seven municipalities use the same bin (the small Norseman). Only Hamilton has chosen a larger 120 litre cart. There are some differences, particularly in regard to the use of liner bags and bag limits.

The performance of the seven programs is detailed in Table 2.At the lower end is the City of Barrie, which captured just 210 lbs

per household in 2006 and 160 lbs in 2007, despite having just a one-bag limit on residual waste (with a $2 tag fee for additional residual set-out).

Next is Hamilton where it’s believed the average capture of food-scraps was 480 lbs per household per year in 2008. It’s important to account for what I believe to be the effect of the use of a larger curb-side cart in Hamilton. By giving residents a 120-litre cart, it may be that

Every Other Week CollectionIncreased foodscrap diversion at a reasonable cost

C O L L E C T I O N

Table 1Study Municipalities

# Households

Weekly Residual Collection

City of Barrie 38 K

City of Hamilton 155 K

Region of Peel 285 K

Every Other Week (EOW) Residual Collection

City of Toronto 525 K

Halton Region 135 K

York Region 235K

Switched from Weekly to EOW

Durham Region 180 K

“Increases in foodscrap capture ranging from 40

per cent to 60 per cent (or even 130 per cent) are

possible with EOW resid-ual waste collection.”

by Rod Muir



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(say) roughly half of the 480 lbs is leaf-and-yard material. The other municipalities use the small Norseman container, so this leaf-and-yard waste is not being captured and counted in their foodscrap program to the same extent.

Table 3 details the tonnage per month de-posited into the cart in 2008. You can see dur-ing the heavy leaf-and-yard months (April to November) the capture rate is 600 lbs year. But during the December thru March period, capture is only 260 lbs/year, falling to a low of 195 lbs per year in January and February. It may be that something like 260 lbs per year is closer to the actual amount of foodscrap ma-terial collected.

Finally, among those municipalities col-lecting residual weekly, is Peel Region. Here, after an April 2007 start, foodscrap capture

Table 2Foodscrap capture rate – lbs/household/year

With weekly residual collection

06 07 08 Note

Barrie 1.)210 160 n/a 1 bag limit, $2 bag tag, paper bag liner onlyHamilton 350 410 480 2 bag limit, one must be clear, paper bag liner only 4.)

Adjusted 260 To adjust for use of larger 32 Gal. cartPeel Region 2.)290 280 BPI certified or paper bag lilner, 2 bg limitEstimated average 260With EOW residual collectionHalton 3.)400 BPI certified or paper bag liner, 6 bag limit bi-weeklyToronto 475 450 395 Any type of liner alowed, residual is cart/volume basedYork Region 800 Any type of liner allowed, bag limits vary 2-4 bag EOWEstimated average 390

06 07

Average for all 18programs in Ontario 343 327Switched from weekly to EOW

05 08

Durham Region 123 315 BPI certified or paper bag liner, 4 bag limit EOW

1. Barrie started May 06 pro-rated 2. Peel Region started April 07 pro-rated

3. Halton started April 08 pro-rated 4. Hamilton switched to also allowing BPI certified bags, April 08


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was 290 lbs/household/yr. in 2007 (pro-rated) and 280 lbs year in 2008.

For the three municipalities that collect residual material weekly, I’ve estimated an average foodscrap capture rate of 250 lbs per year. Among those municipalities collecting residual waste EOW, first (in Table 2) is Halton Region, which (after an April 2008 start), col-lected, on a pro-rated basis, 400 lbs per house-hold in 2008.

The City of Toronto and York Region col-lected 450 lbs and 800 lbs respectively in 2008.

Liners may or may not play a role. Both York and Toronto, the two areas with the high-est foodscrap capture rate, allow the in-home container to be lined with any type of plastic

Table 3Hamilton 2008 Monthly Tonnages

Apr 3195May 3424Jun 3572Jul 3649Aug 3742 Avg Apr-Nov (8 months)Sep 3666 50 lbs = 600 lbs yearOct 3495Nov 3062

Dec 1762Jan 1724 Avg Dec-Mar (4 months)Feb 1130 21 lbs week = 260 lbs year Avg Feb-March (2 months)Mar 1374 16 lbs week = 195 lbs year

TOTAL 33,795


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thereafter the entire Region switched to EOW residual collection. The effect? With 180,000 households, all on EOW residual collection, 315 lbs per year was collected — an increase of 180 lbs per year or 130 per cent!

In conclusion, it appears that increases in foodscrap capture ranging from 40 per cent to 60 per cent or (even 130 per cent) are possible with EOW residual waste collection.

Rod Muir is Waste Diversion Campaigner for Sierra Club Canada and founder of Waste Diversion Toronto in Toronto, Ontario. Contact Rod at [email protected]

C O L L E C T I O N

bag. In most cases this is a PE grocery bag usu-ally acquired at no cost. This no doubt drives participation and capture.

Regardless, those three municipalities that collect residual waste EOW have an estimated average capture rate of at least 400 lbs per year. That’s 150 lbs more (or 60 per cent) than the municipalities that collect residual weekly.

Let’s look closer at Peel and Halton Re-gions. As you can see from Map 1, these two municipalities are next door to one another; they introduced foodscrap collection within a year of each other. As a reminder, both use the small Norseman bin but (most importantly) both have the same policy regarding liners: you can use them, but BPI-certifi ed only. There are

two differences between Peel and Halton. Peel collects residual every week; Halton EOW. With capture rates of 290 lbs per year for Peel and 400 lbs per year for Halton, the difference is 110 lbs or nearly 40 per cent. (Another dif-ference is that Halton has the higher bag lim-it(!) of six bags every two weeks vs. Peel’s two bags every week.)

Another useful sub-study is Durham Re-gion. In 2003 the four smaller municipalities in the Region, totaling roughly 45,000 house-holds, introduced foodscrap with weekly re-sidual collection. The capture rate in 2005 was 135 lbs year. In 2006 the remaining four lar-ger member municipalities (totaling 135,000 households) introduced foodscrap and shortly

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L A N D F I L L T E C H N O L O G Y

BioReactorLafl èche Environmental’s expanding facility in Eastern Ontario

Lafl èche Environmental Inc. is a waste management company that serves Eastern Ontario. The company is investing in innovative tech-nology to augment its landfi ll site — that it calls the Lafl èche En-

vironmental BioReactor — most recently a new compost facility.In 2007 Lafl èche constructed an onsite wastewater treatment facility

for leachate. The next year, the company began to extract methane gas from the landfi ll, with a view toward supplying green power into the Ontario grid via a 3 MW electric power generator. (Phase Two of the generator could see the plant generate 10 MW of power annually.)

In May of this year, the company opened a 40,000 tonnes per year (tpy) onsite com-post facility, for which construction started in the summer of 2008. The compost facil-ity consists of six channels in an enclosed building. (See opposite page.)

The BioReactor and related facilities is the vision of André Lafl èche who undertook a number of environmental impact stud-ies with then-partner BFI in selecting the current Moose Creek site and fulfi lling the requirements of Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act. This included an extensive public consultation and iden-tifi cation of the adjascent community as a “willing host.” The company was incorporated in 1997 and has been open to the public since 2001.

The site has the advantage of natural containment properties from clay. When waste arrives at Lafl èche Environmental, it’s laid inside of an impermeable, natural clay bowl that’s lined with high-tech fabric and drainage stone. Leachate is separated into two streams; one that’s re-circulated into the waste bed (to enhance bioreaction) and another that’s pumped for treatment.

Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC) form the anaerobic system used in the wastewater treatment facility. RBC treatment consists of circular plastic discs mounted on a horizontal shaft. The rotating discs, which are partially submerged in wastewater, are covered with naturally cultivated microorganisms that metabolize the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) into carbon dioxide. Approximately 70 per cent of the organic carbon con-verts to carbon dioxide, with the remainder becoming sludge.

Re-circulating the leachate encourages anaerobic reaction within the waste, accelerating waste decomposition by as much as 15 to 20 years. Waste can break down nearly three times as quickly in the BioReactor as in a traditional landfi ll (where decomposition takes an average of 50 years).

Benefi tsOnce a cell, or section, of the BioReactor is fi lled with waste, it’s cov-ered with a soil cap and methane gas is captured and used to gener-ate electricity. Over its lifetime, the company believes the BioReactor will produce enough methane to power at least 1,000 homes for more

than 50 years. Heat and carbon dioxide, the two byproducts of methane production, will be used to warm onsite greenhouses and to provide an enriched carbon dioxide atmosphere (to enhance plant growth). Plans for the greenhouses include a polyculture project that would produce fi sh and vegetables. The company is also considering the viability of an algae farm to produce bio-diesel.

Once the anaerobic cycle is complete, it may also be possible to re-cover soil and recyclables. This will empty out the cells, leaving them available to take in fresh waste. Managed in this way, the landfi ll could

continue the cycle of putting waste to work for many decades — perhaps 100 years.

Additionally, Lafl èche has conducted research with two universities and received approval to used tire shreds to replace stones in the drainage layer. The Certifi cate of Approval allows the company to process 3.5 million tires per year (more than a quar-ter of all scrap tires generated annually in the province, making Lafl èche the largest tire processing facility in Ontario). This project allows the facility to avoid using ap-

proximately 15,000 tpy of stone.In addition to the BioReactor landfi ll, wastewater treatment and tire

processing operations, Lafl èche recycles hydrocarbon-impacted soil, re-cycles electronic waste and (most recently) composts organic materials.

Lafl èche Leblanc Soil Recycling Inc. (LLSR) specializes in the bio-logical treatment of petroleum hydrocarbon impacted soils. Through a biological treatment process, hydrocarbon contaminants are eliminated and 150,000 tonnes of clean, nutrient-rich soil is generated for reuse on agricultural, residential and industrial properties.

Lafl èche Environmental is currently fi nancing studies and working with four separate Canadian universities. The most important partnership to date is the one with the University of Ottawa. With this partnership, the students have an opportunity to experiment in real life conditions to implement their research. The major projects include algae analysis and strategy for bio-fuel, feedstock analysis and bulking agents for compost, and bioremediation of contaminated soils. Research on the BioReactor includes leachate characteristics modeling and analysis, optimized leach-ate recirculation, and methane oxidation in landfi ll cover.

The company contributes $1 per tonne of waste accepted at its site to the Township of North Stormont, to be spent at the town’s discretion. The Lafl èche Environmental Trust Fund, with a planned $1.5 million, will be a key contributor to the acquisition for conservation of wetlands, such as the Alfred Bog, a high-quality bog ecosystem in southern Ontario.


“The BioReactor will produce enough methane to power at least 1,000 homes for more

than 50 years.”

by Guy Crittenden

continue the cycle of putting waste to work for many decades — perhaps 100 years.

research with two universities and received approval to used tire shreds to replace stones in the drainage layer. The Certifi cate of Approval allows the company to process 3.5 million tires per year (more than a quar-ter of all scrap tires generated annually in the province, making Lafl èche the largest tire processing facility in Ontario). This project allows the facility to avoid using ap-





Lafl eche Environmental held the opening ceremony for its new compost facility on May 22, 2009. The facility is able

to receive a range of different non-hazard-ous organic materials such as food scraps, food processing waste, biosolids, paper/cardboard, leaf-and-yard waste, and other organic materials.

The compost process uses an aerated and agitated channel arrangement con-tained within a primary enclosure for en-vironmental control of moisture, air and odor. All handling areas, including chan-nels with primary containment, are further

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The Compost FacilityRibbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility (left to right): Jean Marc Lalonde, MPP Glengarry, Prescott Russell; Daniel Chevier, Director of Finance Services Matrec, Inc. and Lafl eche Board member; Marc Fox, President of Matrec inc. and Lafl eche Board member; Hon. John Gerretsen, Ontario Minister of the Environment; Jean Marie LaFleche, CFO and Lafl eche Board member; Brian King, President of Lafl eche Environmental Inc.; Jim Brownell, MPP Stormont, Dundas, South Gengarry; Andre LaFleche, Past President, Chairman of Lafl eche Board.



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contained within a secondary structure for protection against the elements (wind, rain, snow), containment of materials and supple-mentary control of air and odors.

The compost facility is constructed on a 52,000 square ft reinforced poured concrete slab and enclosed completely by a Mega Dome fabric shelter building. This structure is segregated into three sections: receiving and channel loading area; com-

Inside the new compost facility.

posting channels; and output area. Air is maintained throughout the facility under negative pressure and directed to an exterior biofi lter system.

The process uses an agitated tunnel with forced aeration. After materials arrive at the facility and are unloaded on the tipping fl oor, a visual inspection is conducted. The different organic ma-terials are then mixed in an industrial grade mixer in order to achieve a homogeneous blend with a proper Carbon to Nitrogen ratio and moisture content. The mixed materials are conveyed to the active composting area. After spending between 21 and 28 days in the composting process, the material is cured prior to use as fi nished compost.

Artists’ rendering of the new facility.


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“Seasonal information is presented in a timely way,

and there is even space for waste reduction tips.”

by Julie Dossett

What Goes Where, 2.0Cost-effective recycling and waste communications

Research shows that residents want clear, pertinent information about municipal waste and recycling programs. And while most municipal waste managers know that providing information can

increase household participation in local programs, the costs and com-plexity of designing effective communications can be overwhelming — especially when budgets are tight.

In recent years, several surveys have confi rmed what most municipal waste managers know intuitively: that a signifi cant barrier to participation in local waste and recycling programs is the absence of clear information for residents. In a 2007 Harris poll of nearly 2,400 adults, respondents cited such reasons as “not sure what is recyclable,” “confusion or lack of information” and “not sure it makes a difference” as obstacles. A Gallup

survey conducted the same year confi rmed that residents want to conserve more, recycle more and waste less, but that they don’t always know what they are supposed to do with their waste and recyclables.

Municipalities have struggled to balance the need to communicate program details to residents against static budgets, and the suspicion that newspaper ads, fl yers or similar information pieces end up unread and discarded in the recycling bin — or worse, garbage can.

A growing number of jurisdictions are discovering that by combin-ing separate promotional efforts for each aspect of their waste programs into one attractive comprehensive calendar format, they can leverage their investment to create a detailed program guide that residents ac-tually want to use all year long.

P R O M O T I O N & E D U C A T I O N




Calendar format popularThe calendar format offers multiple benefi ts to both municipal offi cials and residents. It displays collection and depot information in an easy-to-follow format; provides details on special items such as household hazardous waste, organics or metal; and allows munici-palities to address common issues like missed collections or recycling do’s and don’ts. Sea-sonal information — such as yard waste, water restrictions or Christmas tree collection — is presented in a timely way, and there is even space for waste reduction tips.

“It answers all my questions of how to dis-pose of waste — when, where & how.” “One easy-to-read resource for recycling questions.” “Keeps our household on track.” These are just some of the responses in surveys that evaluat-ed residents’ responses to their local calendars. The research, conducted in 2006, revealed that residents overwhelmingly endorse the for-mat, with 95 per cent of respondents indicat-ing that they use the calendar throughout the year to check dates and program details, and 90 per cent rating the calendar as “excellent” or “good.”

Meanwhile, waste managers point to posi-tive impact on collection programs.

“Our customer responses to these calen-dars have been overwhelmingly positive,” says Robert Costanzo, manager of Contracts and Waste Management for the City of Surrey. “Best of all, we’re already noticing a marked reduction in the number of specifi c inquiry calls to our garbage and recycling call centre.”

The primary innovator behind the trend to adopt waste and recycling calendars is Municipal Media Inc. In 2001, founder Creigh ton Hooper identifi ed an emerging gap between the amount of detailed information municipalities needed to communicate about their waste management programs, and the existing tools for doing so.

“It was apparent from the start that muni-cipal waste departments are strapped for both time and money, yet they need to get this im-portant information to residents,” says Hooper, whose team created calendars for more than 125 Canadian municipalities in 2009. “We have the expertise that turns a complex pro-ject into a simple, affordable process for man-agers.”

P R O M O T I O N & E D U C A T I O N

Web tool cuts costsThis year, Municipal Media launched a break-through web-based solution that enables of-fi cials to reduce the cost of their calendars even more by simplifying the design process. The www.CustomBuiltCalendars.com website walks users through a series of step-by-step do-it-yourself online tools, saving thousands in design costs for municipalities.

“We wanted to give our clients total con-trol over every aspect of their calendars, while keeping costs low — and of course, ensur-ing professional results,” explains Hooper. “Whether they use our ready-to-use features

on popular topics, or create their own content, our clients can produce an attractive, ultra-cost-effective calendar with no special soft-ware or computer knowledge. Completed cal-endars from different municipalities are then printed together, resulting in even more sav-ings.” He adds that while the system is simple and secure, his company will be on hand to answer any questions along the way.

Julie Dossett works as Project Manageron various Municipal Media projectsin Toronto, Ontario. Contact Julieat [email protected]


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“The ministry is in the process of converting all of its application

forms into electronic smart save-enabled PDF format.”

by Pamela Russell P.Eng & Amy Burke

Cutting the Red TapeOnline resources promote faster environmental approvals in Ontario

For several years, environmental approval applications have been pil-ing up at Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment offi ce faster than they could be processed. From the project proponents’ point of view, this

meant a lengthy permitting process, with permits taking from six months to a year or more to be issued. This is particularly challenging for the waste sector, given the limited capacity remaining in most landfi ll sites and the urgent need for the development of more waste management facilities.

The ministry recognized that the approval timelines were frustrat-ing for proponents seeking approvals, but point out that there were rea-sons for the delays. Many proponents provided the ministry only the bare minimum of information, and this was often not enough to answer regulators’ concerns. Differing formats of documentation submitted to support an application meant that staff needed to spend additional time hunting through each application for information. In too many cases, the

ministry was obliged to return the application to the proponent for cor-rections, clarifi cations or additions of further technical detail, which had the effect of delaying the eventual decision.

The time to process an application is extremely dependant on the quality of the application that is being submitted. A poorly prepared application can easily add three to six months or more to the amount of time it takes to obtain an approval. Even for well-prepared, complete proposals, the process was slow in part due to those that needed extra time from ministry staff to deal with incomplete and poorly prepared application packages.

The ministry’s response has been to implement a number of initiatives to improve the application process. The key focus of the work that has been completed is to establish an expectation of documentation require-ments for various application types, improve the overall quality of the

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groundworks/MC7564/SWR 12/5/08 10:23 AM Page 1

applications being received and to reduce the length of time that it takes to obtain an approval.

Online resources provide guidanceThe ministry is in the process of converting all of its application forms for air, waste and wastewater Certificates of Approval into elec-tronic smart save-enabled PDF format. The application forms will identify the information required, based on the specific details of the application that is being submitted. The form will indicate the application status as being in-complete if an applicant does not fill out all required fields or identify that all supporting documentation is included. The expectation is that the new forms will compel applicants to ensure that that the submissions are complete prior to submission.

The ministry has also updated the “guide” to applying for Certificates of Approval to more clearly reflect what is required in an application, including checklists of required

documentation and detailed guidance docu-ments that outline the technical requirements of the application.

Another development has to do with the ministry’s need to have information in a consistent format. With support from Golder Associates, the ministry has developed a ser-ies of sample applications for a hypothetical project proponent. These “ACME” examples are available for several typical waste manage-ment operations, including an expansion of a municipal landfill, a new waste-transfer site and a new composting operation.

Members of the ministry have indicated that applications now being received are fol-lowing the updated guidance materials and are using the electronic application form. The waste industry has been very supportive of the various initiatives of the ministry to clarify the environmental approval process, and to provide more flexibility to make chan-ges to waste operations with a Comprehensive

Certificate of Approval (the subject of a further article in the next edition of this magazine). The Environmental Assessment and Approval Branch was recently recognized by MWIN with the first ever Innovative Regulatory Reform Award for these initiatives.

Providing government the information it needsDiscussions with the ministry indicate several success factors in preparing applications that move through the process smoothly:• Before preparing an application, study the guidelines and the ACME examples together; this will make it easier to put together a mental picture of what the ministry wants to see.• Be realistic about how the planned facility will operate. Even if you think that odour will not be an issue, for example, indicate the steps you will take to deal with any such problems, such as utilizing odour suppressant systems. Consider other potential problem areas as



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EMF a 12/12/08 10:48 AM Page 1well, such as blowing litter and noise.• Demonstrate that you have planned for con-tingencies, such as a recycling operation hav-ing a “Plan B” if it comes a time that there is no viable market for the output, or the facility is not able to produce output to meet market requirements.• Show that you have planned your operations ahead of time. For example, will the loading/unloading areas of the facility be large enough for the turning radius of the vehicles that will be using it?It’s not just going through the motions

Some proponents seem to approach the environmental approvals process largely as a hurdle to jump.

The ministry wants to see not only that the required studies have been done and that the in-formation has been presented correctly. It wants to be assured, through the approval application process, that unwanted effects of the proposed or altered facility will be managed effectively.

The ministry has had experience with complaints from environmental groups, neigh-bourhood groups, municipal politicians and others about waste management facilities that caused problems such as odour, litter, noise, surface and groundwater contamination. Some of these sites have had to be closed down.

Accordingly, the ministry wants to be as-sured through the environmental permitting process that project proponents have planned wisely so that the interests of stakeholders including neighbours have been met, and that environmental issues are being managed ap-propriately. A complete, technically sound application will not only assist the ministry in making the appropriate decision, it will help make the process more efficient for all appli-cants for waste management facilities.

The application packages are available at the ministry website at www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/business/cofa/sample.php

Pam Russell, P.Eng. ([email protected]), is a Senior Waste Engineer; Amy Burke, B.Sc. (Environmental Science), ([email protected]) is a Waste Management Specialist in the Whitby, Ontario office of Golder Associates Ltd. The authors wish to acknowledge assistance in the preparation of this article from Tim Edwards, Special Projects Engineer, Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment.


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M U LT I - R E Z D I V E R S I O N

Chute!Single vs. multi-stream chutes for multi-level buildings

Building development specifi cations traditionally required a “gar-bage chute” to meet fi re code; it usually included a trash com-pactor. Today a recycling sorter system and bins are the norm. To

improve waste diversion, establishing a thoughtfully designed infra-structure (beginning in each suite and supported by effective promotion and education) will produce results.

Garbage chute designGarbage chutes include a baffl e (fl ap) behind each chute door. This cre-ates a “trap zone” for materials placed there by residents. A resident’s source-separation efforts will be compromised by “trapping” (diagram two) as subsequent users discharge these materials into the wrong bin below — cross contaminating.

When a multiple-material chute/sorter system is installed, a “fl apless fi re-rated chute door” solves this trapping design fl aw.

Toronto’s Green Development Standard proposes the use of separate chutes to address the issue. Developers tend to prefer sorters as they save space and revenue on all fl oors.

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Safe functional system designGarbage chutes converted for multiple material use instruct users to “push the fl ap” as a remedy; however a safety issue exists as descending materials from fl oors above may cause injury. A chute designed with a “sloped throat” alleviates the trapping phenomenon.

Historically, compactor bins positioned the operator away from ma-terials coming down the chute during container exchanges. However, with a tri-sorter, operator proximity to the chute is closer, increasing risk. The solution is “lockable chute intake doors” with programmed and manual override controls. During container exchange the operator renders the system inaccessible to users.

Lockable door program system benefi tsA lockable door system and fl exible “Intelli-Gen PLC Program” incor-porates many benefi ts:

• Hours of use are integrated — eliminating nighttime noise.• System blockage and damage are reduced by a brief “lockout ac-

cess delay,” during the “defl ector plate transition” period.• The control panel modem “auto lockdown system” indentifi es and

remotely notifi es staff of all maintenance issues, limiting downtime.• Multiple fl oor simultaneous access is available for the “engaged

stream” (lit button) selection, with “programmed lockout” for other streams — controlling contamination.

Basic “Staff Managed” Defl ector SystemsAlternatively, a simple staff-managed operational protocol can offer buildings an inexpensive successful diversion program. This concept integrates separate stream storage containers on each fl oor and a time-table when staff uses the chute.

Staff engages a defl ector plate above the compactor, depositing di-verted materials down the chute into the correct bin, on a timetable. An interface between building management, staff and residents is thus cre-ated (similar to curbside single-family collections).

This cost-effective option has widespread retrofi t potential.

Information supplied by Doug King, Director of Business Development with Metro Compactor Group in Toronto, Ontario. Contact Doug at [email protected]

Left image: Material is “trapped” in a conventional chute opening,

which leads to cross-contamination.

Right image: A lockable “fl apless” door does not trap material.

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E V E N T R E P O R T

At the annual conference of the Municipal Waste Integration Net-work (MWIN) — held at the Ajax Convention Centre in Durham Region, Ontario, June 22-23 — an announcement was made that

MWIN is merging with the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA). The merger will allow the OWMA to expand its coverage of waste-related issues into the municipal side, part of a strategic vision recently established by the board of directors to create the OWMA as a complete waste industry association.

According to Angelos Bacopoulos, a founder and past-president of MWIN, the idea of amalgamation started many years ago. MWIN was founded by members of the Ontario Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) who felt a locally-based as-sociation could provide added value to members. Bacopoulos met about 12 years ago with John Hanson — the former Executive Director of the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) — but the new association quickly fell apart. MWIN was formed a few years later with Bacopoulos as president.

Recently, MWIN conducted research and held strategic meetings about its direction and services. The recent economic downturn under-scored the diffi culty of trying to maintain many waste management as-sociations; municipal staff cannot afford to donate their time and pay dues to numerous associations. OWMA also thought strategically about creating an amalgamated waste association. MWIN went back to its members and conducted a poll. The majority supported an OWMA re-lationship.

Jim Graham, OWMA Chair, said that the new association will pro-

vide one unifi ed voice via which the industry can talk to regulators. OWMA Executive Director Rob Cook reminded the audience that there are opportunities for committee membership and committee chairs.

“We seek board membership from organizations both big and small,” said Cook.

Blair McArthur, Past Chair, described the new organizational struc-ture that will include private, public and associate members. There will be three councils beneath a Caucus Council that reports to the board. Each council is chaired by two council chairs (who are board members). Caucus council is ad hoc, with six members, to resolve policy differ-ences between the councils.For more information, visit www.owma.org

MWIN/OWMA merge

MWIN Executive Director Maryanne Hill (centre) was thanked for her years of service and given fl owers by MWIN board members Peter Veiga (left) and Angelos Bacopoulos (right). Hill has been offered a position with the newly amalgamated

OWMA organization.


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Wednesday October 28th, 2009MOrNING SESSIONS: 9:30 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. S1: Compost: From Start to a Winning Finish S2: Hazardous Waste Compliance Improvement Project

S3: GHG from A to Zee – An Update

S4: Chemical Management Plan and PCB Regulations – the New Federal Guidelines

MOrNING SESSIONS: 10:45 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. Plenary Session: FREE to CWRE Attendees Getting to 50% Diversion: Success Stories from Canadian Municipalities

AfTErNOON SESSIONS: 2:15 p.M. - 3:00 p.M. S5: Contracts - How are Yours in These Times of Crises?

S6: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) – The New Tool in Waste Management Planning

S7: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – Shifting Waste Diversion from Local Government to Industry

S8: Automated Waste Collection in the Central Okanagan: Lessons Learned

AfTErNOON SESSIONS: 3:30 p.M. - 4:15 p.M. S9: Trash Smart –Recycling Energy from Our Waste

S10: Winning Nature’s Gold: Compost Markets & Their Development

S11: Vancouver’s Decision to Export to the US – The Rationale

S12: International Case Study: United Kingdom

Thursday October 29th, 2009MOrNING SESSIONS: 9:30 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. S13: Markets - Driven by demand or driven by regulation? -The Electronic Stewardship Model

S14: Hazardous Wastes & You: New Training Materials for Employees, Employers & Decision Makers

S15: Organics - Is the Time Ripe to Incorporate Them in Your Programme?

S16: Disposal Trends from Coast to Coast

MOrNING SESSIONS: 10:45 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. S17: Transfer Stations - Remodeling for the Teen Years

S18: Commodities in the Recycling Market and the Impact on the Waste Industry

S19: Cement Based Solidification/Stabilization for Hazardous Wastes and Contaminated Soils – Extended Application and Efficient Regulation as a Presumptive Remedy in BC

S20: WTE or EFW: Waste to Energy or Energy from Waste? Which is it? Where Is the Horse and Where is the Cart?

Waste Disposal & recycling facility Tour TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27: 8:30 A.M. — 5:00 P.M.

Association Sponsored EventsWednesday October 28: 12:00 p.m. — 1:30 p.m.Canadian Waste & recycling LuncheonSponsored by British Columbia Environment Industry AssociationGuest Speakers: Natalie Seaba, Specialist, Snow Removal, Cleaning, & Waste | VANOCNeil Turner, Director, Environmental Approvals & Management | VANOC

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Thursday October 29th: 12:00 p.m.— 1:30 p.m.Canadian Waste Sector LuncheonSponsored by: Ontario Waste Management AssociationGuest Speaker: Honourable Jim Prentice, Federal Minister of the Environment – Invited

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Watson Brown HSM Ltd., an England-based fi rm formed in 1997, has a patented rubber regeneration technology based on the principles of mechanochemistry. Through the use of a high shear mixing (HSM) ma-chine, scrap rubber can be regenerated back to its un-vulcanized form. An HSM machine applies just the right about of mechanical stress on scrap rubber to reverse the crosslinking (once considered irreversible).

For a rubber product manufacturer, signing an agreement with Watson Brown will mean that scrap rubber is sent off-site for mechanical processing. There is no addition of chemicals, so the rubber compound is returned as if it were virgin material. This relationship with Watson Brown means a rubber product manufacturer reduces costs through the reduction of raw materials and elimination of waste disposal.

The commercially-proven process operates at low temperature to main-tain the original polymer properties of the rubber. There are no air or waste-water emissions from the process. Regenerated rubber is returned to the generator for re-use and replaces the need for virgin feedstock.

Watson Brown is proposing to build its fi rst North American facil-ity in Mississauga. Depending on regulatory requirements, the plant will begin operation in the Fall of 2009. When in full production, the


“By maintaining the status quo, government is stifl ing

the commercialization of innovative technologies that

require ‘waste’ as feedstock.”

by John Nicholson, M.Sc.,P.Eng.

Rubber RevitalizationTechnological innovation outstrips waste regulation

W A S T E B U S I N E S S

Recently I heard of a patent awarded to Chevron U.S.A. Inc. for an oil processing system, a patent application fi led by BP Corp. for a chemical process for creating aromatic carboxylic acid, and a

Taiwanese inventor receiving a patent for a method of producing a new type of foaming material. The common denominator among the three technologies is that “waste” is the primary ingredient each process.

The Chevron oil processing system uses plastic as the feedstock; BP Corp. needs post-consumer PET; and inventor Kun-Huang Chang from Taiwan requires polyurethane foam in order to manufacture his new material.

The patent work by these three companies represents the growing global focus on the utilization of “waste” into new products. One aspect of the green jobs revolution is the utilization of these types of technologies.

Revitalizing rubberThe rubber products industry generates more than 10 million tonnes of scrap rubber each year. Although 60 per cent of the scrap rubber comes from tires, there’s a vast amount of in-house trim and excess vulcanized rubber wasted during the punching of rubber parts and products.

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Mississauga facility will be capable of processing 7,200 tonnes of rubber per year and employ 46 “green collar” staff. Watson Brown estimates that up to 20,000 tonnes of excess rubber is gener-ated in Ontario alone. There is potential for up to fi ve more HSM facilities in Ontario which would provide 200 direct jobs.

RegulationA major challenge facing companies that util-ize waste in their feedstock is environmental regulation. Designed to prevent the misplace-ment of waste, the regulations in many Can-adian jurisdictions require new technology companies to obtain permits for waste manage-ment, handling, and disposal.

For a cautious regulator, burned in the past by fraudsters who fi lled up leased warehouses

with tires and promptly fl ed, the easy way is to continue with the status quo defi nition of “waste” and requirements for special approv-als to handle and process it.

By maintaining the status quo, govern-ment is stifl ing the commercialization of in-novative technologies that require “waste” as feedstock.

With global competition for high-end manu facturing jobs, the ability of companies like Watson Brown that can close the recycling loop and save manufacturers money should be welcomed. Imposing regulatory requirements on these high-technology companies that were meant for transfer stations and landfi lls is not

the way for a jurisdiction to attract “green jobs.”

The added cost and time associated with obtaining an environmental permit, in some cases, may result in a company

not securing fi nancing for a project.In the case of Watson Brown, the company

is currently in discussions with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment about its technol-ogy and the planned facility. Due to the fact that the there are no air and water emissions from the process, the company already has cli-ents lined up eager to save money and elimin-ate waste in rubber product production.

John Nicholson, M.Sc., P.Eng., is aconsultant based in Toronto, Ontario.Contact John [email protected]

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36 www.solidwastemag.com August/September 200936 www.solidwastemag.com August/September 2009

Recently after spending a long week in Kananaksis, Country Alberta helping with the development of a new region-wide recycling sys-tem I found myself back in London at our annual Sunfest musical

festival. At the behest of my wife I volunteered on behalf of TD Friends of the Environment at an Ecostation and spent the evening basically do-ing what I do all week — making sure people put the right thing in the right garbage can.

It was pretty impressive to see how far festivals have come. From the gory days of the polystyrene container black hole to compost-friendly

“If salt content is the best they can come up with, in a reliable fashion

or otherwise, they haven’t found very much.”

by Paul van der Werf

The Green Bin ControversyNot a wasted effort

paper plates and food containers and cutlery made out of compostable plastics. Festival goers were for the most part pretty impressed. It’s heartening to see fi rsthand that the diversion of organic waste has made such inroads. It feeds into what many people want to do — which is the “right thing.”

Despite people’s goodwill, we’re running the risk of turning people against composting. A recent series of Toronto Star articles (“Green Bins: A Wasted Effort,” July 4, 2009) on Toronto’s green bin program have certainly brought the issue to a head in that city. The timing, to coincide in the middle of a strike that has seen garbage collection halted, is no coincidence.

The Star articles present a muddled and distorted assessment of the city’s green bin program, suggesting that green bin wastes are either landfi lled, incinerated or killing plants. That’s certainly how the average person would read it, so cloistered are these articles in their negativity. It creates the story that green bin wastes are not composted. It’s the kind of urban myth that can take on a life of its own and spread very quickly and far beyond Toronto. It creates an unnecessary cynicism in a population that doesn’t want to be cynical about these things.

Canada’s largest city, admired but mostly disparaged in the rest of the country, launched its green bin program in 2002. It’s easily Canada’s largest such program with over 500,000 households serviced with an-other 500,000 multi-residential households on deck. The service caters to a fairly broad defi nition of organic wastes, including such items as diapers and pet wastes. For ease, it allows its residents to use non-de-gradable plastic bags in kitchen containers and green bins.

In terms of allowing plastic bags, Toronto’s approach is similar to that of Edmonton. Edmonton has a dedicated waste stream that it sends to its composting facility and whose system includes signifi cant up front processing to remove non-compostable waste. It’s also not dissimilar to Moncton’s composting program, where residents sort organic wastes into a “wet” stream they put in a plastic bag before placement at the curb. Toronto has a narrower set of allowable feedstocks that are, save for the plastic bags, entirely (or at the very least partially) compostable.

The key challenge Toronto has faced has nothing to do with plastic bags, diapers, kitty litter, salt or unpromulgated composting guidelines. No, Toronto’s biggest challenge has been to match the success of its col-lection program with its processing capacity. Aspects of this have been discussed in a previous column (“The Capacity to Succeed,” February/March 2007 edition) and more recently in an article entitled “The State of Composting in Ontario” (visit www.2cg.ca/articles.html).

Toronto has been searching for processing capacity and trying to develop enough. Every composting facility has what I like to call a “carrying capacity” — this is the tonnage of organic waste it can receive and compost in a “nuisance free” manner. What has happened in some cases is that compost facilities were ill equipped to handle and process the amount of this type of waste they received. Although this is cold

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comfort for residents impacted by composting facilities, Toronto has plans underway to con-struct two large facilities of its own, patterned after an updated version of their successful Dufferin Organics Processing Facility. It will be designed to handle two-thirds of Toronto’s green bin waste. The fi rst of these two facili-ties is set to open in the spring of 2011.

The Star articles imply that compost de-rived from green bin is toxic to plants. A high and incorrectly reported sodium content was the biggest criticism of Toronto’s green bin compost. Quite frankly, if salt content is the best they can come up with, in a reliable fashion or otherwise, they haven’t found very

C O M P O S T I N G M A T T E R S

much. Sodium is not a regulated parameter and it’s established industry practice to in-form users to dilute their composts liberally. Parameters such as metals, maturity and pathogens are far more important indicators of compost quality. The “garbage” that goes into the composting process ends up coming out as compost.

The mainstream media, including the newspapers many of us read avidly, will from time to time build a story by shining the dark-est light they can fi nd on disparate events and occurrences and knitting them together to form some gloomy critical mass that’s then used to try and defi ne an issue. There’s a real

danger in this, particularly when our own in-dustry’s words are taken and twisted into the story so we essentially end up condemning ourselves.

As I fi nish this column I fi nd myself in Kananaskis Country once again, on my way to Highwood/Cataract, passing by Lemon Mine in a Travels with Charley kind of reverie. It oc-curs to me that we need to write the proper and true story ourselves — before someone again writes it for us.

Paul van der Werf is president of 2cg Inc. in London, Ontario. Contact Paul at www.2cg.ca


ENVIRONMENTALCOMPLIANCECONFERENCEThursday, November 5, 2009Lambton Golf and Country Club, Toronto, ON(10 minutes from Pearson Airport)

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The conference will focus on twoenvironmental issues in Ontario: theproposed amendments to OntarioBrownfield Regulation 153/04; andExtended Producer Responsibility andZero Waste initiatives under Ontario’sWaste Diversion Act. There will also bea round table on the Green Energy Actand its application to waste facilities and brownfield sites.

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“On May 20, 2009, Éco Enterprises Québec created

an online reporting and payment system for

container and packaging fees.”

by Rosalind Cooper, LL.BR E G U L A T I O N R O U N D U P

Waste Initiatives across CanadaAlberta’s Paint and Paint Container programThe Paint Stewardship Program was introduced in Alberta in April of 2008. At the time, there were approximately 100 collection sites for paint and paint containers. Since that time, the program has expanded consider-ably and there are currently 209 collection sites in 94 municipalities.

Due to this expansion, a decision was made to increase the environ-mental fees associated with the sale of containers as of August 1, 2009. The fees were initially established on the basis that 1.5 million litres of paint would be collected in the fi rst year of the program; however, almost two million litres of paint were collected.

The environmental fees collected at the point of sale will increase for two of fi ve paint categories. An increase of 25 cents for all containers over one litre and up to fi ve litres will be implemented so as to raise the fee to 75 cents for containers in this category, and an increase of $1 for all containers over fi ve litres and up to 23 litres will be implemented so as to raise the environmental fee to $2.

Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Program PlanMulti-Material Stewardship Manitoba has released a revised Packaging and Printed Paper Program Plan for public comment. The plan was developed in response to the Packaging and Printed Paper Regulation 195/2008, enacted

in December, 2008 under the Waste Reduction and Prevention (WRAP) Act, and establishes requirements for a stewardship program for packaging and printed paper materials sold for use in Manitoba.

For the plan to be approved, fi ve program components must be in place. First, the plan must include a formula for service providers that refl ects the range of program conditions across the province and pro-motes recycling program effectiveness and effi ciency. Second, where community-based collection and recycling services form part of a proposed stewardship program plan for packaging and printed paper, the program operator must fund 80 per cent of the cost of managing designated materials through municipal residential diversion programs. Third, there must be program support for schools, post-secondary edu-cation institutions, public space, and public event recycling designed to minimize waste from packaging and printed paper. Fourth, there must be program support for a comprehensive litter abatement program. Lastly, there must be accurate monitoring and reporting on beverage container sale, recovery and recycling rates.

The plan is expected to commence next year and the focus ison beverage containers, plastic bags and litter. The plan includes $250,000 for a school education program and $50,000 to encourage waste audits.

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owner of the brand has no place of business in Quebec, the fi rst supplier may be required to pay the dues. Containers and packaging that are added to a product in a retail outlet are ex-empt from dues unless that outlet is operated under franchise from the brand owner or pur-suant to a similar arrangement. Containers and packaging generally include materials used to contain, protect, wrap or present a product at any point in the supply chain.

There are three important exceptions to the requirement to pay dues. First, where consign-ment systems or recycling programs are already in place, participating companies are exempt. Second, companies that have only one retail outlet or have revenues under $1 million are ex-empt. Third, companies producing less than one tonne of covered materials are exempt.

Rosalind Cooper, LL.B., is a partner with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, with offi ces across Canada. Ms. Cooper is based in Toronto, Ontario. Contact Rosalind at [email protected]

Federal EPR for ODSEnvironment Canada has published notice of its intent to implement Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations to manage the end-of-life of ozone depleting substances and their halocarbons alternatives. The proposed regulations will cover chloro fl uorocarbons and hydrochlorofl uorocarbons, as well as their halocarbon alternatives (hydrofl uorocarbons and perfl uorocar bons) used in stationary and mobile industrial and commercial air condi-tioning and refrigeration applications.

Quebec packaging payments onlineOn May 20, 2009, Éco Enterprises Québec cre-ated an online reporting and payment system for container and packaging fees. The Environment Quality Act in Quebec provides that companies may be required to pay a portion of the costs of recycling containers, packaging and printed matter that are used to mark their products.

Industry associations such as Éco Enter-prises Quebec are responsible for establishing fee schedules that are subject to government

approval, and then collecting fees from member companies pursuant to Quebec’s extended pro-ducer responsibility program. There are interest charges that apply for late reporting, and a sched-ule of contributions sets the dates after which penalties will be imposed. Penalties are 10 per cent of the contribution owed, and can increase to 20 per cent if Éco Enterprises Québec has to pursue legal action to collect the dues.

Éco Enterprises Québec submits the col-lected fees to Recyc-Quebec, which provides the funds to municipalities to assist in paying for up to 50 per cent of the costs of curbside recycling programs. With respect to written media (which is distinguished from printed matter in delivering news, opinion or com-ments at fi xed intervals), a different industry association, ReycleMédias, collects dues.

The owner of a brand, name or distinguish-ing guise is required to pay dues in relation to containers and packaging used for marketing a product under its brand in Quebec; contain-ers and packaging identifi ed by its brand; and printed materials identifi ed by its brand. If the

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Industrial mat with recycled contentNew Pig Corporation has re-introduced their original PIG® Universal Mat for effective clean up and absorption of leaks, spills and drips — now with 50 per cent recycled poly-propylene content to help reduce environment-al impact.

The eco-friendly PIG® Universal Mat still retains all of the features that have made it the most popular mat on the market. Ideal for both small cleanup tasks and larger spills, the mat is available in size, weight and packaging options for virtually any application. For more informa-tion on other PIG® products with recycled con-tent, or to find out what mat is best for specific applications, a selection guide is available.

In 1985, New Pig invented the first con-tained absorbent, the Original PIG® Absorbent Sock, changing leak and spill management for-

ever. Built around its award-winning Pigalog® catalogue, innovative product line, and legend-ary service, the company has thrived. Now a multi-channel, multi-brand supplier of in-novative liquid management solutions and industrial maintenance products to industrial, institutional, and government facilities in over 70 countries, PIG® products, services, and technical expertise help workplaces stay safe, clean, and save time and money.Visit newpig.com

Little loader packs a tonThe PUP side loader from Wayne Engineering packs a ton and fits on a conventional one-ton truck. It specializes in routes where larger load-ers can’t go or aren’t practical, such as parks and recs, beaches and resorts, campuses, zoos and mobile home parks. An optional barrel dumper

speeds and simplifies collections while reducing the risk of injury inherent in lifting heavy loads. Fulleject unloading removes packed waste from the PUP without body tipping. Standard body size is 6 cu. yds. The PUP is available in truck-mounted or trailer mounted models.

Wayne Engineering has been a leading manufacturer of refuse trucks for nearly 50 years. Their product line includes a range of CDL and FET exempt trucks and lightweight units perfect for rural routes, low clearance areas, gated communities, and anywhere big-ger, heavier trucks can’t maneuver. Today, Wayne Engineering’s trucks are found in al-most every U.S. city and are sold worldwide. Sister company Wayne Sweepers manufac-tures a full line of mechanical and PM-10 cer-tified street sweepers.Visit www.wayneusa.com


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Ring Ring!New organization recycles cell phones

The collapse of scrap metal commodity pricing in late 2008 forced Patrick Hebert to discontinue the operation of Thriftopia.com in Barrie, an organization that provided free computer and electronic

recycling services to the public and that employed people with special needs. The added complexity of working within the Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) program and challenges in obtaining information from downstream partners contributed to his decision to “pull the plug.”

Following the company’s closure, Hebert was retained by MaSeR Canada to compile that company’s documentation for the OES until MaSeR’s bankruptcy and sale in April, 2009. Having had no success in obtaining gainful employment in the electronic recycling field, Hebert decided to try his luck once again as an entrepreneur by offering cell phone reuse and recycling services to the Barrie and Orillia commun-ities (with the goal of eventually extending collection to other regions).

With a low 12 per cent diversion rate, nearly one million cell phones are estimated to be retired each month in Canada by the country’s nearly 21,000,000 wireless subscribers. The upcoming switchover by Bell and Telus from CDMA to GSM technology and the introduction of hands-free laws in many Canadian jurisdictions may increase the rate of ob-solescence.

Hebert saw this as an opportunity and so he founded CellCycle.caWhile many other cell phone recycling options are available in

Canada, most are not forthcoming with details about where the phones ultimately end up. Hebert is concerned that some may in fact be pro-cessed in developing nations to the detriment of their population. Prior to launch Hebert established relationships with companies that are rec-ognized by the Basel Action Network as reputable processors.

“I can say for certain,” says Hebert, “that all phones collected through CellCycle.ca are processed only in OECD countries.”

Phones that are identified as reusable or that contain reusable components are refurbished for reuse in the USA and sold to users in Central and South America, while non-reusable phones are processed in Sweden.

To offset the carbon generated by the manufacturing and recycling of each cell phone, CellCycle.ca uses a portion of the money earned

P R O D U C T S T E W A R D S H I P

from each cell phone collected to fund the planting of a tree seedling on public land. To date, many trees have been planted with a target of planting an additional 1,000 trees by fall.

With collection bins located at both Barrie Canadian Tire stores, the Barrie and Orillia campuses of Georgian College, and at three of the four Zehrs Markets stores in Barrie, CellCycle.ca has now diverted several hundred cell phones from landfill while preventing non-OECD country processing. Discussions with a national electronics retailer, Canada’s largest grocery chain, and a national bank are ongoing to establish a comprehensive, accessible and convenient network of locations where the public can dispose of cell phones on routine shopping trips rather than having to make special trips to recycle.

CellCycle.ca is seeking additional sites to host collection bins, offers custom-branded solutions and will support any cause of choice with a portion of proceeds generated. Ideal hosts include multi-tenant office complexes, multi-tenant residential buildings, fast-food outlets, post-secondary institutions, and mass merchants.For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.cellcycle.ca

Pub−2009−E.jpg

Debra Hebert (Patrick Hebert’s mother) at the first tree planting when 50 trees were put in the ground.



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Glad campaign during Toronto strikeClorox gave away free garbage bags to help Torontonians through the city-wide garbage strike that occurred this summer. The city had asked residents to double bag their garbage and collect recycling in clear plastic bags, so Glad donated 25,000 Easy-Tie garbage bags and clear recycling bags.

Two Toronto union groups representing more than 26,000 workers, including garbage collectors and offi ce staff, went on strike 26 days ago to protest proposed cuts in benefi ts and sick pay. As a result, Toronto residents had to store their waste at home or take it to tem-porary dump sites in parks and hockey arena parking lots.

The Clorox Company of Canada Ltd. also created a “Clean-up Crew” to distrib-ute the bags to Torontonians at various loca-tions, with a list of times and locations at GladToTheRescue.com, which also housed links to news updates, garbage tips and maps of dumpsites. Glad also handed out informa-tion pamphlets with tips on how to manage

Glad Clean-up Crew distributes bags and literature

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Project1 11/13/06 10:28 AM Page 1

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garbage during the strike and a coupon to save $1 off any Glad trash product.

Full-page ads in local papers promoted the giveaways and directed people to the website. The ad featured a parachute attached to a box of Glad garbage bags against the Toronto city-scape. DDB Canada handled the creative, PR and website for the initiative

New CEO named to Veolia solid waste divisionVeolia ES Solid Waste, Inc. has appointed Jim Long to the position of president and CEO of that organization. He replaces former CEO Richard Burke, who was recently promoted to president and CEO of Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp. (VESNA). Long is responsible for the management of one of the largest waste services companies in North America. Long was president and CEO of ATC Transportation, which was sold to Veolia Transportation North America in 2005. He also served in various finance and operational leadership roles during his 13 years with Waste Management in Europe and the US. Most recently he was a partner with Pebble Creek Partners, focused on improving

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customers are willing to change their shop-ping habits. The company aims to reduce the distribution of single-use grocery bags by 50 per cent by the end of 2010. In Ontario, 4.2 billion bags are distributed every year, accord-ing to estimates by the Recycling Council of Ontario.Visit www.metro.ca(This news item fi rst appeared in our affi liate environmental news service EcoLog. For more information, visit www.EcoLog.com)

Arrests in Site 41 protest

Things have heated up at a protest against a landfi ll proposed for Tiny Township in Sim-coe County, Ontario. An elderly, retired farm couple are among eight people being charged by police in relation to the protest at what the protesters call “Dump Site 41.” Ina Wood, 76, and her husband Keith, 82, are charged with mischief.

Opposition to the landfi ll includes First Nations people, the local agricultural com-munity and certain Georgian Bay cottagers. A rally July 25 attracted 2,500 people and was addressed by former Toronto mayor David Crombie, Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus and Georgian Baykeeper Mary Muter.

Construction at the site, which was to open this fall, has been halted since July 6, when the Anishinabe Kweag (women) from Beausoleil First Nation decided to block the gates. Simcoe County has obtained an interim injunction and is seeking $160,000 in dam-ages from Vicki Monague of Beausoleil and dairy farmer Anne Ritchie Nahuis. Argument on a permanent injunction was to be heard August 13-14.

client’s business results across all industries.Visit www.VeoliaES.com

Grocer issues fewer bags with feeA month after implementing a fi ve-cent fee for single-use bags, Metro grocery stores have distributed 70 per cent fewer bags compared

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to the monthly average. Metro introduced the fee for single-use bags at grocery stores in Quebec and Ontario on June 1, 2009. Since then, demand for reusable bags has increased by fi ve times. Selena Fiacco, a spokesperson with Metro Ontario Inc., said that the results are encouraging because they confi rm that

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Advertisers’ Index August/September 2009

Company Page # Company Page #

AECOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

AMRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Avery Weigh-Tronix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Canadian Waste & Recycling Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 33

Battery Broker Environmental Services Inc . The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Baycon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Cassels Brock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Environmental Compliance Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

EMF Containers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Environmental Business Consultants (J . Nicholson) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Fast Pace Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Greey EnWaste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Golder Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 42

Gore & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Groundworx . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Harris Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

HMI Mgmt Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Lafleche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Laurin Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Mack Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Metro Waste Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Norseman Plastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Paradigm Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Paul Van der Werf (2CG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Protainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

RBRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Recycling Council of Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Recycling Equip Council Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Rehrig Pacific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Samuel Strapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Schuyler Rubber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Sebright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Softpak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Sustainable Development Technology Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Trout River Trailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Trux Route Management Systems Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Van Dyk Baler Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Vermeer Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Vogel Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Walinga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

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“The government may allow all landfi ll gas projects to

proceed on a “normalized” baseline nationally.”

by Laura Zizzo, LL.B.B L O G

The Onset of OffsetThe new federal draft offset system for greenhouse gases

To address climate change, governments are looking at ways to mandate emissions reductions and to put a cost on the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Government of

Canada has announced that a domestic response to climate change will include a cap-and-trade regime with an “offset system.” A cap-and-trade system will limit the emissions of regulated entities. Those entities that emit in excess of their cap can come into compliance by purchasing credits or allowances from other regulated entities that emit less than their caps allow, or from credits created by those outside of the regu-lated sector (the “trade” in cap-and-trade). The credits created by the non-regulated sector are called offset credits. Potential sources of offset credits include landfi ll gas projects and projects that create greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the forestry and agricultural sectors.

An offset system should be operational in ad-vance of the full cap-and-trade system to ensure there is enough supply of credits for regulated entities to purchase. As a result, the federal gov-ernment is moving forward with the development of the Canadian offset system before the regula-tory system has been unveiled. Further details about the regulatory regime, it promises, will be released in the coming months.

The offset system opens the door to a more lenient interpretation of when offsets will be al-lowed. On June 10, 2009, Environment Canada released the long awaited draft rules and guidance documents to de-velop and implement its proposed offset system for greenhouse gases. The draft documents released include the Program Rules and Guidance for Project Proponents and the Program Rules for Verifi cation and Guidance for Verifi cation Bodies, which will provide guidance to both offset project developers and those wishing to be accredited as verifi ca-tion bodies. The draft version of Canada’s Offset System for Greenhouse Gases: Guide for Protocol Developers was published on August 9, 2008. Final versions of all three guides are expected in the fall of 2009, after comments have been received and addressed. The release of the fi nal guides will launch the offset system. Offsets created under this system may be sold for compliance purposes into a future federal cap-and-trade regime and may also eventually be eligible for compliance purposes in other countries, including the United States.

The newest draft documents indicate that projects that began on or after January 1, 2006 will be eligible to create credits for reduc-tions achieved on or after January 1, 2011. These documents suggest

that the crediting system will not be up and running until January 1, 2011. Previous iterations of the government’s plan suggested projects that began on or after January 1, 2000 would be eligible and reductions achieved on or after January 1, 2009 could earn credits. The previous plan also indicated that the regulatory system would be up and running by January 1, 2010.

Normalized baselinesSignifi cantly, the draft documents indicate that the government will con-sider the use of normalized baselines for certain offset protocols. This means that in order to quantify the amounts of emissions reductions that

the project will realize, it may not always require site-specifi c data, but may apply normalized baselines based on national statistics.

The draft Program Rules and Guidance for Project Proponents state that the use of normal-ized baselines may be required to ensure that the offset system does not signifi cantly disadvantage proponents in jurisdictions that have been more proactive in regulating greenhouse gas reduc-tions. This could have interesting implications for landfi ll gas and waste diversion offset projects. In some provinces laws exist or are being developed to require landfi ll gas capture. In these provinces, projects may not pass the offset system require-ment that reductions be surplus to all legal re-

quirements. In order to address inequalities in provincial legal require-ments and to prevent perverse disincentives to regulate, the government may allow all landfi ll gas projects to proceed on a “normalized” baseline nationally. This is good news for project proponents in more proactive jurisdictions, but may raise concerns over the environmental integrity of these offset credits.

The release of the draft documents provides some reassurance that a greenhouse gas regulatory system is developing. However, the fed-eral government has clearly indicated that changes may be necessary to ensure compatibility with a future U.S. system and the bourgeoning global market.

More information, including links to the draft documents, can be found on Environment Canada’s website, www.ec.gc.ca

Laura Zizzo, J.D., is a lawyer with her own practice in Toronto, Ontario focused on climate change law and policy. She can be reached at [email protected]

the project will realize, it may not always require site-specifi c data, but may apply normalized baselines based on national statistics.

Project Proponentsized baselines may be required to ensure that the offset system does not signifi cantly disadvantage proponents in jurisdictions that have been more proactive in regulating greenhouse gas reduc-tions. This could have interesting implications for landfi ll gas and waste diversion offset projects. In some provinces laws exist or are being developed to require landfi ll gas capture. In these provinces, projects may not pass the offset system require-ment that reductions be surplus to all legal re-


http://www.ec.gc.ca


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Whether at home, work or play, rechargeable batteries and cell phones

are part of our lives. Once they no longer hold their charge, recycle them. Call2Recycle supplies free collection boxes for your workplace as well as at drop-off locations at retail and

within your community.Go to www.call2recycle.org to register

your business for free and to find nearby participating collection sites.

You can also recycle at any participating hardware supply store:

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solid waste & recycling august/september 2009

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waste recycling requirements

waste business

remaining waste residue

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