January 20, 2015
Solid Waste Management Services recommended 2015
Operating and Capital Budgets and Rates
Divisional overview:
What Solid Waste Management Services does:
 Manages approximately 1 million tonnes of garbage and recyclable material annually
 Provides collection services within the public realm to all residents and visitors city-wide
to support a clean city, including: Litter-pickup; Recycling and litter collection from 6,000
parks bins and over 8000 street bins; and 1,000 special events a year
 Provides solid waste collection services to City of Toronto residents, businesses,
charities, institutions, religious organizations and City agencies, corporations, divisions
and school boards including: Green bin, Blue Bin, garbage, bulky waste, leaf & yard
waste and electronic and hazardous waste
 Ensures that garbage and recyclables that are collected and received at transfer
stations are transported to processing and disposal facilities
 Ensures garbage and residual waste is safely managed including operation of the
Green Land Landfill
 Ensures the perpetual care of 160 closed landfill sites
 Provides communication and education on how to participate in the City’s waste
management programs and to encourage diversion from landfill
Solid Waste Management Services customers include:
 Approximately 1 million homes and businesses;
 461,500 single-unit homes;
 422,000 multi-unit homes
 14,000 small commercial;
 City agencies, corporations and divisions; non-residential, small commercial and school
boards;
 Private commercial and industrial waste accepted at transfer stations and landfill; and
 Other municipalities.
Solid Waste Management Services Assets –Over $600M
 seven Transfer Stations (six with Household Hazardous Waste Depots)
 one active landfill - Green Lane Landfill with a projected lifespan to 2029 based on current
diversion rates
 160 closed landfills
 one operating Green Bin Processing Facility
 one Green Bin Processing Facility under expansion
 one Durable Goods Recycle Centre
 four Collection Yards and one Litter Collection Yard
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Over 625 vehicles and pieces of equipment
Approximately 1.6 million garbage, recycling and green bins
Personnel: 1,102 SWMS employees
Budget overview
 The Recommended 2015 Solid Waste Management Services budgets consists of:
o The 2015 Recommended Operating Budget of $370.785 million
o The 10 Year Recommended Capital Plan of $671.755 million including the 2015
Recommended Capital Budget of $76.006 million – comprised of $67.92 million
carried forward from 2014 into 2015.

The provision of services and programs, replacement and renewal of Solid Waste
infrastructure, vehicles and equipment is funded largely through fee revenues. The VolumeBased Rate revenue is used to fund 69% of Solid Waste's operating budget, the remaining
31% is funded through tipping fees at transfer stations, revenue from the sale of recyclable
material and industry stewardship funding.
Rate overview
The 2.25% annual increase (3% effective April 1, 2015) is being recommended for the 2015
Solid Waste Management Services Rate and User Fees. The rate increase is expected to
generate approximately $6.100 million in revenue. It will balance fiscal constraints while
maintaining critical progress on waste diversion initiatives, operational improvements and
capital investments in good state to repair and new infrastructure.
A 4% rate increase for 2015 was projected in the 2014 Rate/Budget report in order to support
waste management goals. The recommended effective rate increase is only 2.25% and if
approved, it will be only the fourth time the rate was increased since implementation in 2008.
Revised Recommended 2015 Key Rates and Fees
Below are examples of several key Solid Waste Rates and Fees from the Schedule with the 3%
increase applied. Please note that the remaining rates and fees found on the Schedule but not
listed below also have been recommended to increase by 3%.
Single Family Residential Rates
Bin Size
Annual Rates
Small
Medium
Large
Extra- Large
Bag Only
$237.64
$288.49
$391.80
$454.45
$152.13
…/3
-3Residential Units Above Commercial (RUAC) Rates
Bin Size
Bi-Weekly
Annual Rates
Small
Medium
Large
Extra- Large
Bag Only
$237.64
$288.49
$391.80
$454.45
$152.13
Small
Medium
Large
Extra- Large
$288.49
$391.80
$555.57
$892.99
Bag Only
$202.98
Yellow Bag/Tag (each)
$3.29
Weekly
Yellow Bag/Tag Fee
Multi-Residential Rates
Rates
Volume
Uncompacted
Base/unit
1.917
Excess/yd3
$14.08
$202.95
Compacted
0.9585
$28.17
The annual rebate per unit for all customers above will remain unchanged at $185
Front End Collection Fees per lift
Customer Type
Commercial/NonResidential
ABCDs
School Board
Collection Type
Rate (per yd3)
Un-compacted
Compacted
Un-compacted
Compacted
Un-compacted
Compacted
$11.77
$23.53
$8.74
$17.48
$9.31
$18.61
…/4
-4Curbside Collection Fees per Bin
Annual Rates
Customer Type
Commercial
ABCDs
School Board
Non-Residential
Non-Residential
Frequency
Bi-Weekly
Weekly
Twice Weekly
Yellow bag fee (each)
Bi-Weekly
Weekly
Twice Weekly
Yellow bag fee (each)
Bi-Weekly
Weekly
Twice Weekly
Yellow bag fee (each)
Bi-Weekly
Small
Medium
Large
Extra-Large
Weekly
Small
Medium
Large
Extra-Large
Twice Weekly
Extra-Large
Yellow bag fee (each)
$427.54
$855.09
$1,710.17
$3.29
$302.15
$604.29
$1,208.58
$2.68
$358.29
$716.77
$1,433.53
$2.68
$85.51
$171.02
$256.53
$427.54
$171.02
$342.03
$513.05
$855.09
$1,710.17
$3.29
Tip Fees at City Transfer Stations (except Drop & Load)
Customer Type
Material
Commercial/ Non- Waste Loads
Residential Recyclable Material Loads
Tire loads
ABCDs Waste Loads
Recyclable Material Loads
Tire loads
School Boards Waste Loads
Recyclable Material Loads
Tire loads
Rate (per tonne)
$106.09
$79.57
$159.14
$86.01
$39.78
$79.57
$89.10
$39.69
$79.57
-52.
Drop & Load Fees
The following current Solid Waste fees have been recommended to increase to market rates
(instead of being increased by 3%), effective April 1, 2015
Drop & Load Fees at City Transfer Stations
Customer Type
Commercial/ NonResidential
3.
Activity
Drop & Load
Rate (per tonne)
$ 15.45
New Fee for Clean Fill at Green Lane Landfill
The following is a new Solid Waste fee not currently indicated in the Schedule that has been
recommended to take effect as of April 1, 2015.
Miscellaneous Fees at Green Lane Landfill, City Transfer Stations
Activity
Rate (per load)
Sale of Clean Fill
4.
$2.00-$3.00
Single Family Residential Rebates per household
Below are the recommended new annual rebates for Single Family Residential household bins.
Only one rebate will be applied per household. If more than one bin exists, the rebate for the
largest bin will apply.
Bin Size
Annual Rebate
Small/Bag Only
Medium
Large
Extra- Large
$227.01
$199.76
$144.41
$110.85
As noted above in the proposed rate charts, other recommendations include:
o Introduction of fees for the sale of Clean Fill from the Green Lane Landfill
o Adjustment of the transfer station Drop & Load fees to reflect market rates
o Allow eligible Non-Residential customers to participate in a Waste Diversion Rate
Waiver Program and a resumption of a rate charge of 100% of the commercial
rate for all other Non-Residential customers that are no longer fee exempt
…6
-6Cost of Yellow Bags or residential garbage bag tags
 The proposed cost to purchase a Garbage Bag Tag for each standard-size bag of overflow
garbage will increase marginally to $3.29 per tag (from $3.19 per tag). Tags are available
for purchase at Toronto Canadian Tire stores.
 The proposed cost of a Yellow Bag for Toronto’s eligible commercial and industrial
customers will also increase marginally to $3.29 per bag.
Why is a rate increase proposed for 2015?
2015 Program Changes include:
 Waste Diversion Rate Waiver Program for Non-Residential Charitable Sector, called the
'Charities Rate Waiver Program'($0.644 million), which includes revenue from ineligible
customers and 6 additional staff (Council directed) for audits, 6 trucks to ensure
diversion programs are in place for eligible organizations
 2 additional staff for contract management support ($0.163 million)
 One time funding for additional litter and public space waste/recycling collection to
support the 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games ($0.100 million)
How often has the rate changed in the past?
If approved, this will be the fourth time the rate has increased. The residential rates were
introduced in 2008 and there were zero rate increases in 2009 and 2010. The first annual rate
increase of 3% was in 2011 to ensure there was sustainable revenue to support diversion
initiatives and maintain adequate and reliable processing capacity for Green Bin organic
material and recycling, sorting, processing and marketing. There was a 0% rate increase in
2012 and again in 2013 for the vast majority of customers. In 2014, the rate was increased by
3%.
Regarding our commercial customers, the Yellow Bag fee increased by 3% in 2014, the
second increase for the commercial customers serviced by the City since 2002.
What the Volume-based Rate pays for
 Volume-based Rates support the continued roll-out of programs/infrastructure to divert
waste from landfill. Diversion of waste from landfill by all solid waste customers must
continue to maximize the usable lifespan of the City-owned Green Lane landfill and ensure
long term disposal security.

Solid Waste user fees allow for unlimited collection and processing of recycling, yard
waste, organics, bulky items, electronics and white goods/metal items at no additional
charge. The user fees also pay for much more than household waste services; they fund
city-wide litter collection, Community Environment Days, drop-off-depots, parks bin
collection, perpetual care of closed landfills, etc.
…/7
-7What are the Operating Budget pressures for 2015?
 Processing contracts – Volume / Price Changes - Costs to process recyclables and
Green Bin collected from the City’s programs are increasing by $6.687 million.

Additional Contribution to Vehicle Reserve and Fleet Services Increase – Staff are
considering a long term plan to shorten the vehicle replacement process to better
reflect the lifespan of the collection vehicles to ensure they are in a state of good repair,
the 2015 Operating Budget includes a one-time $5.000 million contribution to the
vehicle reserve to replace existing vehicles sooner.

Green Lane Landfill – recommendation to stop re-directing City garbage away from
Green Lane Landfill to avoid significantly higher disposal costs. Paid private tonnage at
Green Lane is also declining, resulting in higher net operating costs.
What could offset these budget pressures in 2015?
 City of Toronto anticipates receiving an additional $5.000 million industry funding for the
Blue Bin Recycling Program from Stewardship Ontario as a result of the outcome of a
recent Arbitration decision and scoring higher in the funding formula.

It is anticipated the funding (revenue) provided to the City by Stewardship Ontario and
the Ontario Government for the collection and post-collection costs for Household
Hazardous Waste materials will be lower than 2014 because the Province canceled
funding for certain materials that were previously eligible and projected reduction in
materials to be processed.

However, the net increased funding from industry stewards allows Solid Waste
Management Services to offset other costs, thus reducing the rate increases.
What is the proposed change regarding the rebate for single family residents on
curbside collection service?
Solid Waste Management Services' recommended 2.25% annual Rate increase (3% effective
April 1, 2015) will balance fiscal constraints while maintaining approved service levels and
critical progress on waste diversion initiatives. A reduction in the Solid Waste Rebate (Grant) in
the amount of $17.922 million is proposed as part of the Tax Budget.
As a result of this reduction, the rebate for single family customers will be revised based on
Garbage Bin size, from the current rebate of $224 per customer. As a result, Single Family
customers, will see a net increase on their utility bill, including the annualized rate increase of
2.25%.
o Small Bin fees will increase by $3.91/yr or $0.33/month
o Medium Bin fees will increase by $32.64/yr or $2.72/month
o Large Bin fees will increase by $91.00/yr or $7.58/month
o Extra Large Bin fees will increase by $126.39/yr or $10.53/month
…/8
-8The changes maintain a pricing structure that encourages waste diversion and results in an
average annual increase for all single family residential customers (58%). It is also a first step
to a full user pay program that improves waste diversion.
Currently, 75% of residents are not using the small Garbage Bin and waste audits stats show
there is too much recycling, organics, electronics and even yard waste in Garbage Bins. There
is room for improvement and opportunity for residents to switch to smaller Garbage Bins and
thereby lower their fees.
Why propose changing the rebate for these customers now?
In 2015, a key priority for Solid Waste Management Services is to ensure long term
sustainability of the utility. This change is an initial step toward that objective.
This recommended approach maintains a pricing structure that encourages waste diversion
and moves towards a full user pay system, while still providing very affordable waste collection
services. It also provides an opportunity to reinforce the importance of waste diversion and
encouraging customers with larger bins to divert more waste and subscribe to a smaller size
bin.
Why are Single Family Customers the first to experience this annual increase?
After reviewing a number of options, it was determined that the most feasible approach was to
begin with Single Family Residential customers. Multi-Residential customers were not
considered for this initial phase because of potentially significant revenue loss, resulting from
Multi-Residential customers choosing to opt out of City services. Opting out also negatively
impacts waste diversion objectives because private contractors do not offer the comprehensive
list of waste diversion collection services the City does.
What is the impact of the proposed rate increase and changed rebate for Single Family
customers?
Table 2: Single Family Residential - Annual Rates Comparison
Bin Size
Small
Medium
Large
X Large
Rates
2014
$230.72
$280.09
$380.39
$441.21
2015
$237.64
$288.49
$391.80
$454.45
Rebate
2014
2015
$224.00
$227.01
$224.00
$199.76
$224.00
$144.41
$224.00
$110.85
Net Fee
2014
2015
$6.72
$10.63
$56.09
$88.73
$156.39
$247.39
$217.21
$343.60
…/9
-9Key accomplishments in 2014

Continued Green Bin roll out to Multi-Residential properties
 Additional 941 properties joined the program in 2014; Most of the buildings serviced
are now on the program
 50 new 3Rs Ambassadors recruited in 2014; Goal is to have at least one in every
building (currently have over 250 trained volunteers)

Lead for Ice Storm Debris Management
 Collected and processed 50,000 tonnes of material immediately following the storm
and an additional 20,000 tonnes during Spring
 $15.5M SWMS portion of the costs submitted to the Province (all costs including
staff overtime, Sole Sources, etc) and 85 Emergency Contracts issued

Launched Long Term Waste Management Strategy
 To guide the Division’s policy decisions for the next 30 to 50 years

Disco Road Organic Processing Facility
 Providing additional capacity for processing Green Bin materials

Contract Awards – District 1 Curbside Collection & Recycling Processing
Capacity
 Awarded Etobicoke community curbside collection to Miller
 Canada Fibers Limited was the successful proponent selected to operate the
Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) the City uses for recycling

Blue Box Funding Arbitration
 Successfully concluded in November resulting in a decision that awards the City an
additional $4 million approximately blue box funding from Stewardship Ontario
What ongoing Program opportunities and challenges can the City expect to face?
•
•
•
Development of Long Term Waste Management Strategy in 2015
• Will guide the Division’s policy decisions for the next 30 to 50 years
• Process involves getting feedback from stakeholders and the public as input to
development of the strategy
• Outcome is to have a Council approved Waste strategy that will guide how
programs are developed
Sustainable rate structure & 10 year forecast
• Review of rate model
• Cost projections from the Waste Strategy
Customer Service – a continued priority
• 1.542 complaints per 1,000 households per week
…/10
-10•
•
Green Bin Processing Capacity – RFP (Request for Proposal) to construct an
improved organics processing facility at the Dufferin Site
Renewable Energy - Landfill gas and Biogas Studies completed in 2014, which in turn
triggered the Disco Road Biogas Utilization Project. Plan to capture and use the biogas,
generated as a by-product of the anaerobic digestion process used at the Disco Road
Organics Processing Facility, as a renewable energy resource. Intend to use the biogas
to provide heat and power to City facilities at 120 and 150 Disco Road.
Key projects included in the 2015 budget
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Continue development of a Long Term Waste Management Strategy to guide the
division's decision-making for the next 30-50 years
Next Generation Green bin – RFP (Request for Proposal) to replace aging green bins
(~12 yrs old); goal is to have a bin that is easy for residents to use, is even more rodent
resistant, and can be collected with automated trucks
Develop a comprehensive Asset Management Program for transfer stations/yards;
closed landfills; the active Green Lane Landfill; vehicles and bins (ensure facilities and
assets are maintained and replaced at the right time)
Multi-Res Diversion – continued focus – complete rolling out Green Bin organics
collection to multi-residential buildings, school boards and agencies, corporations and
divisions
Continue with enhanced litter collection service
Both expand and maintain reliable processing capacity for organics and singlestream recycling
Develop an Integrated Management System (IMS) that advocates environmental
sustainability, quality and health and safety
The 10-Year Recommended Capital Plan of 671.755 million) provides funding of $76.006
million within the 2015 Recommended Capital Budget for the following:

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Diversion Systems and Facilities ($27.952 million);
Ongoing maintenance of Perpetual Care of Closed Landfills ($8.050 million);
Transfer Station Asset Management ($13.792 million);
Collection Yard Asset Management ($0.400 million);
Development of Green Lane Landfill ($15.313 million)
Long Term Waste Management Strategy Plan ($1.465 million);
Landfill Gas and Bio-Gas Utilization ($2.476 million);
Corporate and Divisional IT Initiatives ($4.322 million); and
Two-way Radio Replacement ($2.235 million)
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Media contact:
Pat Barrett, Sr. Communications Coordinator, 416-392-4716, pbarrett@toronto.ca