COUNTY OF SIMCOE
To:
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Section:
Consent - Corporate Services – Solid Waste Management
Item Number:
CCW 14-334
Meeting Date:
September 23, 2014
Subject:
Waste Management Data and Analysis
Recommendation:
THAT Item CCW 14-334, providing an update with respect to both curbside and waste management
facility collection programs, waste generation rates, and waste diversion data, be received for
information.
Executive Summary:
As preparation for the 2015 Solid Waste Management Strategy (Strategy) update, this item provides a
summary and analysis of 2013 curbside and facilities collected tonnages, the most recent Solid Waste
Management data submitted to Waste Diversion Ontario. Based on this submission:


the waste diversion rate (unaudited) was 56.55%, a slight decrease from 57.65% in 2012; and
the residential waste generation rate (unaudited) decreased by 1.9% over 2012.
Further information related to garbage tag sales and medical exemptions are also provided in this
report. Going forward, this information will form part of the 2015 Strategy update which will include a
comprehensive summary and analysis of waste management data and examine system performance,
specifically in regards to targets set for both diversion and per capita waste generation rates. A
curbside audit will also be completed this fall in preparation for the review, providing updated
information on the composition of curbside garbage and programs which could be targeted for
improvement.
Background/Analysis/Options:
The following provides a summary and analysis of 2013 collected tonnages both curbside and at
County waste management facilities and the most recent data submitted to Waste Diversion Ontario.
In addition, information is provided on the upcoming Solid Waste Management Strategy update, to be
initiated in early 2015.
September 23, 2014
Committee of the Whole CCW 14-334
2
Summary of Collected Tonnages – Curbside
Table 1 summarizes the annual tonnages collected curbside from 2010 to 2013, noting that in
April 2013, new County-wide collection contracts began.
Table 1: Curbside Collected Tonnages (tonnes/year)
2010
2011
2012
20131
Garbage
38,089
38,393
39,285
38,470
Organics
11,460
10,939
11,159
10,698
Recycling (Paper & Containers)
23,091
22,884
22,460
24,463
Leaf & Yard and Brush
4,604
3,213
4,898
5,311
Curbside Program
Notes:
1. New County-wide collection contracts began in April 2013 for garbage, organics, and recycling. A new
contract for the collection of leaf & yard waste and brush also began in 2013.
Residential curbside garbage tonnages decreased slightly in 2013 despite a 1.7% increase to
residential serviced units (as calculated through the Waste Diversion Ontario submission process).
2013 audit data indicates that only approximately 23% of eligible IC&I locations are participating in
curbside collection programs.
There was a decrease in the tonnage of curbside organics collected in 2013. In this regard, a
promotion and education campaign was initiated in 2014 to encourage residents to participate in the
program. Additional strategies to increase participation will also be considered in the 2015 update. As
has been reported previously, most recent audit data indicates that almost 35% of curbside garbage
comprises material that could be diverted through the green bin program, with only 44% of available
curbside organics being captured.
Despite the noted decrease in the organics tonnage, curbside diversion rates for the basic level of
service (weekly garbage, organics and recyclables collection) increased slightly from 46.27% in 2012 to
47.75% in 2013.
Garbage Tag Sales
In 2013, 191,260 garbage tags were purchased which is a decrease of 9.31% from 2012. Staff notes
that the tonnage of curbside garbage collected in 2013 also decreased slightly while the number of
eligible units increased in 2013.
Table 2: Summary of Garbage Tag Sales (tags sold/year)
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Number of garbage
tags sold
270,500
258,470
199,350
210,894
191,260
Annual average per
household
2.3
2.0
1.6
1.6
1.5
September 23, 2014
Committee of the Whole CCW 14-334
3
Medical Exemptions
The medical exemptions program was developed to provide financial relief associated with the
purchase of garbage tags for residents who produce additional waste due to a medical condition. It is
noted that a significant number of requests are received from group homes rather than individual
residents.
In 2013, 310 medical exemption requests were received, an increase from the 212 requests received in
2012. Of the 310 medical exemption requests, 43 were from new users.
Summary of Collected Tonnages – Facilities
Table 3 summarizes the annual tonnages collected at County facilities in 2012 and 2013.
Table 3: Facilities Marketed Tonnages (tonnes/year)
2012
2013
(unaudited)
Garbage Drop-off
19,475
18,101
Containers and Fibres
1,895
1,751
294
89
Asphalt Shingles
3,2121
6,211
Drywall
1,988
2,130
Scrap Metal
1,378
1,802
Wood Waste
5,111
6,695
2
6,980
7,004
4,918
2,207
Textiles
18
21
Mattresses
433
446
2,166
1,008
Tires
352
262
Electronics
385
327
HHW
519
408
49,124
48,462
Facility Program
Organics
Leaf & Yard
Brush Chips
Rubble
Total Tonnes Managed
Notes:
1. Fall grinding delayed due to equipment repairs; therefore, tonnage accumulated to be carried over to 2013.
2. The tonnage leaf & yard waste is assessed as collected.
September 23, 2014
Committee of the Whole CCW 14-334
4
Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) 2013 Datacall Results (unaudited)
In order to receive blue box program funding, the County is required to complete an annual Waste
Diversion Ontario (WDO) datacall which includes reporting of all aspects of residential waste generation
and diversion. As outlined in Item CCW 14-089, on January 22, 2014, WDO released the results of the
2012 municipal datacall. The County of Simcoe, with a 2012 overall residential diversion rate of
57.65%, ranked seventh in the province and first amongst comparators in the “Urban Regional” WDO
municipal grouping.
The 2013 datacall has been submitted and the results are expected to be released by WDO in late
2014 or early 2015. For reference, Schedule 1 has been provided as a summary of WDO datacall
reported tonnages from 2009 through to 2013. Based on the unaudited submission, the County’s
diversion rate for 2013 was 56.55%, representing a decrease of 1.10% from the 2012 rate.
It is noted that data provided from the WDO datacall may differ from other Solid Waste Management
data previously reported. Commercial tonnages are not considered in the WDO calculations and
further, WDO combines some diversion program categories in their calculation method and applies
automatically calculated tonnages for materials such as tires, grasscycling, backyard composting, and
deposit return bottles.
Waste Generation Rate
In 2011, Council approved Resolution No. 2011-048 which stated “THAT a minimum of 1% annual
decrease be established as the per capita waste reduction target as outlined in Item CS 11-042.”
The per capita waste generation rate, as determined through the 2010 WDO datacall, serves as the
baseline for comparison. Table 4 below illustrates the changes in the per capita waste generation over
recent years. Of note, in 2013, the per capita residential waste generation rate (unaudited) decreased
by 1.9%; however, overall, the waste generation rate per capita has increased 16.8% in that three year
period.
Table 4: Per Capita Waste Generation Rate (kg/capita)
Per Capita Waste
Generation Rate
Year-Over-Year Change
2010
2011
2012
2013
(unaudited)
393.65
413.36
469.05
459.93
2010 – 2013
% Change
+16.8%
--
+5.0%
+13.5%
-1.9%
Solid Waste Management Strategy 2015 Update
It was recommended that the County conduct periodic reviews and updates to the Solid Waste
Management Strategy (Strategy) at various times throughout the twenty-year planning period and as
such, detailed implementation timelines were presented for only the first five years. The first update is
scheduled to begin in 2015 with an initial “current state” report which will consider the existing solid
waste management system and its performance, collected tonnages and diversion data, and a review
of performance targets that were outlined in the 2010 Strategy.
September 23, 2014
Committee of the Whole CCW 14-334
5
In preparation for the update, a curbside audit will also be completed this fall, providing updated
information on the composition of curbside garbage and programs which could be targeted for
improvement.
Financial and Resource Implications:
There is no direct financial impact as a result of this informational Item.
Relationship to Corporate Strategies:
This Item fulfills the Solid Waste Management Strategy’s recommendation that key system
performance indicators should be monitored and/or measured and that results of the monitoring
initiatives be reported on an annual basis. Best practices also dictates that a review of the blue box
program be undertaken regularly and communicated to Council.
Reference Documents:
Item CS 11-042 – Establishing a Per Capita Waste Reduction Target (February 9, 2011)
http://www.simcoe.ca/ws_cos/groups/public/@pub-cos-sta-com/documents/web_content/rsc103810.docx
Item CCW 14-089 – Waste Diversion Ontario – 2012 Municipal Datacall Results (February 11, 2014)
http://www.simcoe.ca/ws_cos/groups/public/@pub-cos-sta-com/documents/web_content/rsc414794.docx
Item CCW 14-265 – Waste Diversion Update (June 3, 2014)
http://www.simcoe.ca/ws_cos/groups/public/@pub-cos-sta-com/documents/web_content/rsc430266.docx
Attachments:
Schedule 1: WDO Datacall Annual Tonnage Comparison
for CCW 14-334
Schedule 1.pdf
Prepared By: Jillian Fairchild, C.E.T., Project Coordinator
Stephanie Mack, P.Eng., Special Projects Supervisor
Approvals:
Rob McCullough, Director, Solid Waste Management
Debbie Korolnek, General Manager, Engineering, Planning and
Environment
Trevor Wilcox, General Manager, Corporate Performance
Mark Aitken, Chief Administrative Officer
Date
September 10, 2014
September 10, 2014
September 12, 2014
September 12, 2014