[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=” Headline” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ title=”Cleaning up the scraps: What can improve Ontario’s waste diversion rates?” subhead=”With space at a premium, Ottawa is among the municipalities that must urgently cut down on waste flowing into local landfills. ” text_orientation=”left” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” image_orientation=”center” background_layout=”light” content_orientation=”center” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_icon_placement=”right” custom_button_two=”off” button_two_icon_placement=”right” content_font=”|700|||||||” content_text_align=”left” content_font_size=”12px” content_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” title_text_align=”left”]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
By Alicia Wachon<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][et_pb_fullwidth_image _builder_version=”3.0.89″ src=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/4076466452_c4d41e6130_b-1024×771-1.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=” Ottawa’s Stance – Some of the Worst in the Province” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n \u201cI was a bit disappointed to find out that we were as bad as we are,\u201d says Duncan Bury, a co-author of the Waste Watch Ottawa report. He is part of the advocacy group that uses evidence to suggest ways of improving design, collection systems, policies and programs in Ottawa.<\/p>\n Waste diversion refers to any household or organic food waste that can be recycled or composted instead of ending up in a landfill.<\/p>\n In 2015, Ottawa diverted 42.5 per cent of its waste. Only Essex-Windsor had a lower rate at 37.5 per cent. Ottawa\u2019s 2015 diversion rate was also lower than its 2014 rate, which was 45 per cent. Though Ottawa is not far behind the overall provincial average of 47.7 per cent, it lags after other municipalities like Regional Municipality of York (York Region), which topped the 2015 rankings.<\/p>\n The WWO report believes that poorly performing systems are a result of not enough proper participation and a lack of education on what will happen if these rates continue to decline.<\/p>\n \u201cIt starts with looking at what we\u2019re actually throwing out in the first place, and then thinking, how does that impact us in the long haul?\u201d, says Bury.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Municipal Waste Diversion image from WWO report” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/WWO-report.png” align=”left” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption for WWO image” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center”]<\/p>\n [Photo \u00a9 Waste Watch Ottawa Report, p.9]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Landfill Life Expectancy at Risk” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n One major concern of the WWO report looks at the capacity of Ottawa\u2019s Trail Road landfill site, which has a current life expectancy of 28 years.<\/p>\n \u201cThe argument and analysis [WWO] did, says that for every one percentage point [increase] to the existing waste diversion rate, such as 44 to 45, you get one extra year of life at the existing Trail Road landfill site,\u201d said Bury. He says the odds of finding another site within the bounds of Ottawa are low because there is no room to fit another.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough 28 years in some ways seems like a long time, if you have to replace that site and find another one, this will be very expensive and difficult to do,\u201d says Bury.<\/p>\n The report recommended how the city could easily increase their rates by improving the current collection programs rather than creating entirely new ones. To do so, they could enhance the collection frequency to prevent an overflow of blue box items. They could lower the limit on the collection of garbage as an incentive to increase participation, and could also create a \u2018pay as you throw\u2019 system that will discourage waste generation in Ottawa.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”DUNCAN BURY” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ src=”https:\/\/cusjc.ca\/catalyst\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/CapNews1-1.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” align=”center” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” alt=”A profile of Duncan Bury, a co-author of the Waste Watch Ottawa report.” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n Duncan Bury, the co-author of the Waste Watch Ottawa report, says he believes that Ottawa has the ability to extend the capacity of the Trail Road landfill before it’s too late.<\/strong>\u00a0[Photo \u00a9 Clarissa Leir-Taha]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.89″ module_alignment=”center”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_code admin_label=”Tableau Graph” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_orientation=”center”]<div class=’tableauPlaceholder’ id=’viz1512683860847′ style=’position: relative’><noscript><a href=’#’><img alt=’Number of active and in-inactive landfills in Ontario ‘ src=’https://public.tableau.com/static/images/Ac/ActiveIn-ActiveLandfills/Dashboard1/1_rss.png’ style=’border: none’ \/><\/a><\/noscript><object class=’tableauViz’ style=’display:none;’><param name=’host_url’ value=’https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F’ \/> <param name=’embed_code_version’ value=’3′ \/> <param name=’site_root’ value=” \/><param name=’name’ value=’ActiveIn-ActiveLandfills/Dashboard1′ \/><param name=’tabs’ value=’no’ \/><param name=’toolbar’ value=’yes’ \/><param name=’static_image’ value=’https://public.tableau.com/static/images/Ac/ActiveIn-ActiveLandfills/Dashboard1/1.png’ \/> <param name=’animate_transition’ value=’yes’ \/><param name=’display_static_image’ value=’yes’ \/><param name=’display_spinner’ value=’yes’ \/><param name=’display_overlay’ value=’yes’ \/><param name=’display_count’ value=’yes’ \/><param name=’filter’ value=’publish=yes’ \/><\/object><\/div> <script type=’text\/javascript’> var divElement = document.getElementById(‘viz1512683860847’); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName(‘object’)[0]; vizElement.style.width=’800px’;vizElement.style.height=’627px’; var scriptElement = document.createElement(‘script’); scriptElement.src = ‘https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/javascripts\/api\/viz_v1.js’; vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement); <\/script>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”What happens to the environment?” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n In addition to to lengthening life expectancy, there are also environmental and health reasons to watch for in terms of restricting our waste diversion over time. As outlined in the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario\u2019s report from October<\/a>, \u00a0Beyond the Blue Box <\/em>called for immediate action on several environmental concerns that occur from improper waste disposal. Most of these concerns address either land or atmospheric pollution.<\/p>\n Firstly, rainwater that drips through waste can collect certain chemical pollutants and toxic materials that create a contaminated liquid called \u201cleachate\u201d. When landfills lack rigorous leachate collection systems, the report says the contamination affected surface water on the ground.<\/p>\n Another example of ground contamination is pure litter in the landfill. Besides the fact that it is costly to manage, it can pose risks to ecosystems and wildlife. As garbage breaks down, microscopic organisms ingest toxic chemicals into their body that can be passed throughout the food chain.<\/p>\n In terms of atmospheric pollution, the air itself is at risk when incineration takes place to make room for more waste. Particulate matter and pollutants such as dioxins released into the air cause human health problems.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_code admin_label=”YouTube video” _builder_version=”3.0.89″]<iframe width=”600″ height=”500″ src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iS4VDu98Qa8″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen><\/iframe>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”environment paragraph cont.” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n Lastly, it is no surprise to that improper waste disposal also contributes to the already worrisome global issue of climate change. There are many ways that this occurs. For one, extracting resources each time produces carbon dioxide which is a common greenhouse gas. Transporting those products around the globe, as well as to the landfill when they cannot be reused, releases additional gases. Lastly, decomposing waste in landfills can cause uncontrolled fires and damage vegetation\u2014again releasing emissions into the atmosphere and effectively speeding up the process of climate change.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”New Legislation” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n In 2016, Ontario passed the Waste-Free Ontario Act. It outlined a plan to maximize the province\u2019s waste diversion by setting interim diversion goals to meet until Ontario manages to produce a significantly less amount of waste.<\/p>\n The primary change was aimed at large producers of waste from manufacturing industries to taking financial responsibility and collect their own waste made by their products and packaging.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder the previous framework, The Waste Diversion Act from 2002, \u2026 producers were not directly obligated to reduce waste, increase reuse or promote recycling,\u201d says Lindsay Davidson, a spokeswoman from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.<\/p>\n In 2017, the province released the Strategy for a Waste Free Ontario report<\/a> which introduced the concept of a circular economy. A circular economy aims to incorporate new designs of materials and products to be more environmentally friendly, which as a result, will maximize the overall amount of waste diversion. The report also says that the first few years of this process will be dedicated to setting the foundation for this shift in waste collection and will start by transforming the current programs.<\/p>\n \u201cMaking producers responsible for their products and packaging provides incentives to improve product design,\u201d says Davidson.<\/p>\n The province thinks that if producers create packaging that is environmentally friendly, recovering these materials through their own collection services could also increase productivity that showcases a new design.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_code admin_label=”Landfill map” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ text_orientation=”center”]<iframe src=”https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=1epQg0LX_xvkewXaj2FtA8dpVUige_fsV” width=”640″ height=”480″><\/iframe>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Financial Shift Provides Municipal Relief + city’s personal goal” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n Waste management is no simple matter in Canada. Though it is regulated under provincial legislation, it still relies on action from the other levels of government. The federal government translates what is expected of the country from a global standpoint, while local municipalities manage the actual collection of waste.<\/p>\n In Ontario, there are generally two sectors of waste generation; the first being residential waste such as curbside collection or depot drop-off centres, and the other is an industrial, commercial and institutional sector (IC&I).<\/p>\nThere\u2019s a mountain looming over the nation\u2019s capital\u2014a mountain of trash.<\/h4>\n
A new report has identified Ottawa as the second worst among 12 similarly sized Ontario cities at diverting waste from landfill sites.<\/h4>\n
Landfill life expectancy at risk<\/h3>\n
What happens to the environment?<\/h3>\n
New legislation<\/h3>\n
Financial relief provides municipalities relief<\/h3>\n