attachment 2 cart green cart program information · • corrugated cardboard • box board (ex....

WASTE & RECYCLING SERVICES

BLUE CART & GREEN CART PROGRAM INFORMATION

ATTACHMENT 2

Submitted to Finance Committee January 26, 2015

What’s wasted today? Garbage coming from the Lethbridge residential sector was audited to discover how much of each type of

waste is being thrown away. The waste was chosen randomly, separated into categories, and each category was weighed. Three main streams were identified as organics, recyclables, and waste.

27%

47%

26%

Recyclables

Organics(Compostable)

Waste


What’s a ‘green cart’?

• Fruit & vegetable scraps• Food leftovers, plate scrapings• Meat, fish, poultry and bones• Egg shells• Dairy products• Pasta, rice, pizza• Bread, cereal, grains• Cooking oil & fat• Sauces and condiments• Baked goods, candies• Baking ingredients, herbs,

spices

• Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags• Nuts and shells• Eggshells• Paper towels and tissue • Paper cups and plates• Houseplant clippings• Grass and leaves• Soiled cardboard• Parchment paper• Dryer lint• Pet and human hair

A green cart typically accepts all food and yard waste, including many materials that are unsuitable for backyard composting. Programs will vary slightly in different communites based on processing considerations.


What’s the value? A curbside green cart has been adopted in many Canadian communities to collect organic waste for

processing. Almost 50% of residential waste is compostable.

A green cart typically accepts all food and yard waste, including many materials that are unsuitable for backyard composting. Programs will vary slightly in different communites based on processing considerations.

Ease of Use

Social Benefits

Accessibility

Sustainability

•Extendsthelifeofthelandfill•Mitigateslong-termliabilityoflandfill(greenhousegasandleachatereductions)•Nutrientsandmineralsreturnedtoecosystem•Accesstolocalmarkets

•Limitedpreparationofmaterials•Noseparationneeded.•Carttypeisfamiliartocommunity•Clearinstructionsforparticipation

•Nobackyardneeded•Acceptsmaterialunsuitableforbackyardcomposting

•Meaningfulcommunityactions

•Innovationandadvancementincommunity

•Communityinvolvement,localtangibleresults


What’s a ‘blue cart’?

• Corrugated cardboard• Box board (ex. tissue or cereal

box)• Metal food cans• Clear glass food jars• Plastic food containers• Clamshell plastic containers

• Other rigid plastic containers• Office paper • Magazines• Newspaper • Flyers and postcards• Shredded paper• Plastic bags

A blue cart typically accepts recyclable materials such as cardboard, paper, plastics #’s 1-7, clear glass and metal food cans. Programs will vary slightly in different communites based on processing and market considerations.


What’s the value? A curbside recycling collection is offered in most large Canadian cities as well as many towns and smaller

communities. Approximately 26% of residential waste is composed of recyclable materials.

Ease of Use

Social Benefits

Accessibility

Sustainability

•Extendsthelifeofthelandfill•Reducescarbonfootprint•Conservesnaturalresources

•Allmaterialsgoinonebin•Carttypeisfamiliar•Clearinstructionsforparticipation

•Noinsidestorageofrecyclablesneeded•Noneedtotransportallrecyclablesfromproperty

•Meaningfulcommunityactions

•Innovationandadvancementincommunity

•Communityinvolvement,localpresence


What’s left in the garbage? Recycling, organics and other diversion programs greatly reduce the amount of household materials that are disposed of by landfilling. The materials that are not acceptable for these programs are considered ‘residual’

and are commonly managed by landfilling.

• Foil food wrappers and bags• Styrofoam• Non-recyclable plastics• Gift wrap• Diapers• Soiled food packaging• Pet waste and bedding material

(ex absorbent woodchips)

• Non-usable clothing and shoes• Broken household items• Floor sweepings, sawdust, vaccuum waste• Items made from multiple

materials (ex. lightbulb, toys)


Curbside Challenges

• Limited cart storage space on property

• Inabilityto‘optout’ if the service is not desired

• Litter caused by loose materials falling or blowing out of cart

• Multi-dwellingbuildings (apartment buildings, townhouses, etc)

introduce the need for unique solutions

• Increasedcustomercarerequired to educate and assist particpants

•Lackofunderstandingormisconceptions about the program

• Misuse of cart - ex. using recycling cart to disposed of excess garbage

• Cartsize is not adequate to accomodate materials for the time

between collections

• Collection scheduleconfusion

The following are examples of the challenges reported by users and/or administrators of curbside programs.

• Unwillingness to participate because of the ‘yuckfactor’ of food waste

• Freezingof materials in cart during cold weather

• ‘Insitu’organicrecyclingmaydecrease (ex. backyard composting

and grasscycling)

• Concerns about odourandcleanliness of cart

• Scavengingencountersemerge when ‘deposit’ beverage containers

are placed in or stored in cart

Mitigationmeasuresforthesechallengesarecommonlyappliedtomeetahigherlevelofsatisfactionfortheusersoftheprogram.

Challenges common to all curbside collection programs:

Challenges unique to green cart programs:

Challenges unique to blue cart programs:


GREEN CART IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE – NOW (2015-2018)

Council Decision – Curbside Initiative

Organics Study

Upgrades to Organics Processing System

Pilot Design & Customer Engagement

Spring 2015

Summer 2015

Fall 2015

Winter 2015

Spring 2016

Pilot

Full Implementation

Pilot Monitoring & Customer Engagement

Monitoring

Report on Pilot & Establishment of Utility Rate

GREEN CART IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE – LATER (2019 & BEYOND)


Organics Study



Spring 2018

Fall 2018

Spring 2019

Spring 2020

Spring 2021

Pilot

Full Implementation


Monitoring


Now

Later

When could a green cart be implemented?


GREEN CART IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE – NOW (2015-2018)


Organics Study



Spring 2015

Summer 2015

Fall 2015

Winter 2015

Spring 2016

Pilot

Full Implementation


Monitoring


Now

Later

When could a blue cart be implemented?

BLUE CART IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE – NOW (2015-2018)


MRF Study

Procurement & Establishment of MRF Processing System


Spring 2015

Summer 2015

Fall 2015

Winter 2015

Council Decision - MRF Option

Spring 2016

Pilot

Spring 2017

Full Implementation

Monitoring & Customer Engagement

Monitoring


BLUE CART IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE – LATER (2019 & BEYOND)


MRF Study

Procurement & Establishment of MRF Processing System


Spring 2018

Fall 2018

Spring 2019

Council Decision - MRF Option

Pilot

Spring 2020

Full Implementation

Monitoring & Customer Engagement

Monitoring


Spring 2021


Collection Frequency Considerations

• The amount of capacity for recyclables will vary between households based on shopping

preferences, amount of people living in the dwelling, and participation of individuals

• There is some fluctuation in the amount of materials with special occasions or occurrences

• Less pick-up day confusion with simplified schedule

• A two dollar monthly savings can be had with collection every other week

• Odours will be more likely to develop with less frequent collections

• Curbside diversion programs greatly reduce the amount of capacity needed to

accomodate household waste

• Reducing the frequency of the current collection schedule can be perceived as service

reduction



Green Cart Considerations• Odours will be more likely to develop with less frequent collections

• The amount of grass and leaf volumes fluctuate with the seasons



Blue Cart Considerations

Black Cart Considerations


attachment 2 cart green cart program information · • corrugated cardboard • box board (ex....

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