GENERAL COMMITTEE - COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT
TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
FROM:	Peter Loukes, P.Eng. Director, Operations & Asset Management
PREPARED BY:	Peter Veiga, Supervisor, Waste Management Operations
DATE OF MEETING:	February 6, 2006
SUBJECT:	Diversion Target Update

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report entitled “Diversion Target Update ” be received for information;

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on Markham’s diversion rate for the first six months of green bin collection.

BACKGROUND:

Diversion targets are an important tool for benchmarking the success of municipal diversion programs. The Minister of Environment announced a provincial diversion target of 60% by 2008. On June 24, 2004, Markham Council adopted a waste diversion target of 70% to be achieved after full implementation of 3-stream collection in 2007.

Markham’s all encompassing plan to divert 70% of our curbside material from landfill, known as Mission Green, includes: green bin organics recycling, alternate week garbage collection, expanded blue box recycling, leaf and yard material collection, home composting, community recycling and re-use depots, and starting in 2006, an expanded multi-residential recycling.

DISCUSSION

Markham’s 3-Stream diversion rate averaged 65% for the first six months of the new program. Leaf and yard material collection drove the diversion rate to a high of 71% in November 2005.

Table #1 below provides the actual tonnes diverted between July 2005 and December 2005.

Table #1

3-Stream Monthly Diversion Results

	July	August	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	TOTAL
Landfilled (tonnes)	2291.28	3218.47	3043.83	2775.11	2877.85	2460.37	16667.02
Recycled *(tonnes)	3899.22	5180.75	5311.39	5117.96	6957.75	4667.73	31140.12
Diversion Rate	63%	62%	64%	65%	71%	65%	65%

* Includes material collected from depots

Table #2 below provides a graphical comparison between the previous 2-stream diversion rate and the 3-stream diversion rate.

Table #2

Comparison of 2-stream and 3-stream system

The 65% diversion rate represents a dramatic improvement over the Town’s 35% diversion rate before green bin organics collection. Markham now has one of the highest diversion rates of any North American urban centre.

Next Steps

Integrated Environmental Waste Solutions has been contracted to conduct a waste audit of 40 randomly selected Markham households. Waste was collected and analysed in June 2005 and again in November 2005. The audit will provide specific insights into how residents have responded to the new 3-stream collection system and highlight areas for improvement that will help us reach the Mission Green 70% waste diversion goal.

In addition to the material audit, staff are completing a Town-wide garbage bag audit in order to determine the average number of garbage bags each Markham household sets out per month. This information is necessary in order to evaluate the current 3 bag limit.

Upon completion of the program audits, staff will report back with a detailed analysis of the next steps to increase diversion including the implementation of expanded recycling for multi-residential units.

Markham’s 65% diversion rate is among the highest of any North American urban centre. Staff will report back on the implementation of expanded recycling for multi-residential units and additional incentives to reach the Town’s Mission Green waste diversion goal of 70%.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no financial implications with this report

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

None

Peter Loukes, P.Eng. Director of Operations & Asset Management

Jim Sales, Commissioner of Community and Fire Services