Waste Management
Strategic Plan Update

Recommendation:
That Transportation and Public Works
Committee recommend to City Council:
That Waste Management Policy
C527, as outlined in Attachment 1 of
the March 16, 2007, Asset
Management and Public Works
Department report 2007PW7460, be
approved.
Report Summary
This report presents Waste
Management Policy C527, required to
support in particular new initiatives
for both residential and nonresidential sectors to be assessed or
implemented over the next one to ten
years. These initiatives arise from the
10-year update of the Waste
Management Strategic Plan.

Report


The recent 10-year update of the
Waste Management Strategic Plan
identifies new waste management
initiatives for assessment or
implementation that enhance service
to the residential sector, expand
services for the non-residential
sector and enhance litter
management. As such, Policy C527
presented in Attachment 1 is needed
to provide the mandate for these
new services.
Specifically, Policy C527 provides for
a sustainable, integrated waste
management system that includes regular direct collection services to
the residential sector, optional
regular direct collection services to
the non-residential sector,

processing and disposal services for
residential and non-residential
sectors, litter management, and
supportive educational programs.
The commitment in the Policy to
leveraging the waste management
infrastructure and expertise in
support of Edmonton’s economic
development opportunities enables
full participation in synergistic
business opportunities. Some
opportunities may best be pursued
by an operation funded on a full
utility basis. In addition, the delivery
of new initiatives for individual, feebased services are also best
accommodated under a full utility
operation. The update of the Waste
Management Strategic Plan provides
for examination of moving the Waste
Management Branch from a partial
to full utility when appropriate.
A summary of the new initiatives in
the 10-year update of the Waste
Management Strategic Plan that are
dependent on approval of Policy
C527 is found in Attachment 2 for
information.
Several considerations influenced
the new initiatives and requirement
for Policy C527 including:
 evolving needs of the community;
 robust population and economic
growth which correlates with
increasing waste volumes;
 an aging population;
 greater cultural diversity;
 public desire for sustainable,
environmental solutions;
 continued demands for
convenient, high levels of waste
services;
 general public input; and
 need to respect that the existing
Waste Management Strategic
Plan delivers a sustainable and
PAGE
ROUTING – Transportation and Public Works Committee, City Council | DELEGATION -| W. D. Burn/R. G. Neehall
WRITTEN BY – R. G. Neehall | March 16, 2007 – Asset Management and Public Works Department 2007PW7460
Page 1 of 2
Waste Management Strategic Plan Update
affordable waste management
system and an equitable fee
structure.
Public Consultation


Citizen input into the update includes
feedback received as part of the
public involvement process on waste
financing in the spring 2006; a
comprehensive survey of residents
conducted in the fall 2006; and
ongoing dialogue with residents
through the community liaison
committee, volunteer programs, the
Waste Hotline and other outreach
activities.
Ongoing dialogue with residents and
businesses show sustained support
for reduction, recycling and resource
recovery initiatives that divert waste
from landfills for beneficial use.
Justification of Recommendation
Approval of Waste Management Policy
C527 is recommended in order to
provide the mandate Administration
needs to assess or implement new
services in the next one to ten years.
The Policy is relevant to the City’s needs
since it reflects:
a. due consideration of a number of
factors influencing change in waste
management services;
b. expectations of residents for an
environmentally sustainable and
affordable waste management system;
c. the support of residents for waste
diversion initiatives enabling 90%
diversion of the residential waste stream
from landfilling; and
d. public input.
Page 2 of 2
Attachments
1. City Policy C527, Waste
Management
2. New Initiatives
Attachment 2
New Initiatives
Single Family Residential Bin Service
Against the background of limited availability of trades to perform small residential
upgrades, a growing number of homeowners are doing their own home improvements.
As a result, there is an increasing need for short-term, individual small bin service to
meet renovation or clean up needs. This demand will be formally assessed by
Administration in 2007 and if required, the service will be piloted in 2008 on a fee-forservice basis.
Enhanced Collection Services for Seniors
A growing number of seniors are remaining in their homes much longer than in the
past. Collection services such as door-side collection of garbage, recyclables and
household hazardous waste; and provision of recycling collection service to assisted
living facilities, need to be examined. The review of enhanced waste management
collection services for seniors will commence in 2007 and will determine the qualifying
requirements for service and funding options. Development of suitable pilot programs
for testing will occur in 2008 and, if required, full implementation in 2009 to 2010.
Recycling Service for Businesses (Non-residential Sector)
The only recycling service provided by the City to the non-residential sector is the
Community Recycling Depots. Several businesses, in particular small establishments,
have indicated that delivering recyclables to depots is not convenient to them and a
direct service is preferred.
A plan will be developed for implementation over the period 2008 to 2009 for a full
collection service (refuse and recyclables) for small business on a cost-recovery basis.
Establish Capital City Clean Up as a Core Service
In recent years, residents have consistently cited litter in Edmonton as a growing
problem needing immediate attention. Further, the Adopt-a-Block initiative
demonstrated that residents and businesses are keen to work with the City to reduce
litter thereby greatly leveraging City resources.
The projected population increase in the next 10 years will exacerbate littering if a
sustained program to address its collection and reduction is not in place.
Recognizing the willingness of residents and businesses to participate, an ongoing
program will include the following activities delivered by the Waste Management
Branch:
 Big Bin Service
 Business Supporting Communities Program
 Adopt-a-Block Program (Residential and Business)
 Consolidated Street Litter Basket Collection
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Report: 2007PW7460 Attachment 2
Attachment 2
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
Public Education (to influence attitudes and behaviors that lead to sustained
litter reduction)
Community Clean Ups
Systematic expansion of litter collection services in BRZs and other
commercial areas.
Waste Processing for Non-residential Sector
An estimated 60% of all waste generated in Edmonton is from the non-residential
sector. This sector participates in limited recycling and waste reduction activities,
generally using private service providers. The waste streams from this sector arriving at
the Edmonton Waste Management Centre (EWMC) and at the other disposal sites in
the area contain a range of materials that could be recycled - including organics, paper,
cardboard and plastics.
The Integrated Pre-processing and Transfer Facility at the EWMC will process waste
for the Composter, Gasifier and hauling to the landfill operated by the Beaver Regional
Waste Management Services Commission. It will also provide for the first time the
opportunity to extract recyclables from suitable non-residential loads arriving at the
EWMC. This facility will begin operating in 2009.
Non-residential customers of the EWMC will be encouraged to keep waste streams
relatively clean and separated. If this sector were to comply, approximately 50% of
loads could be processed into feedstock for composting or gasification. However, the
City must be prepared to provide a collection service specific to this need to lead the
way. An assessment of establishing a collection presence in this sector equivalent to
that of other municipalities such as Calgary will be done within one year of
commissioning the Integrated Pre-processing and Transfer Facility.
Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Operation
A particular concern of the non-residential waste stream is construction and demolition
(C&D) waste. There are sufficient amounts of some C&D waste, such as roofing
materials, wood and metals, to warrant an operation at the EWMC where this material
could be received and recovered. Options to acquire property close to the EWMC to
accommodate this facility are being assessed. This EWMC operation will also facilitate
construction of buildings to the LEED standards and any mandated recycling of C&D
waste through amendments to the City’s Building Permit requirements. Depending on
final Provincial regulations, a private sector operator will be sought to finance and
operate a modern processing facility on a self-sustaining basis.
Acquisition of land to house the C&D waste recycling operation is planned for 2007 with
establishment of the operation commencing in 2008, depending on planning approvals.
The search for a private-sector partner to develop the processing facility will follow
pending firm supporting initiatives by the Province. The target date for such a facility is
2009 to 2010.
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Report: 2007PW7460 Attachment 2