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Home My WebLink AboutWD-54-84CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT R. DUPUIS, P. ENO., DIRECTOR HAMPTON, ONTARIO TEL. (416) 263.2231 LOB 1JO 987 -5039 REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF MAY 22, 1984. REPORT NO.: WD -54 -84 SUBJECT: INTERIM REPORT ON TOWN OF NEWCASTLE INVOLVEMENT IN SOURCE SEPARATION OF HOUSEHOLD WASTES. RECOMMENDATION: It is respectfully recommended: 1. That this report be received for information%; "A; BACKGROUND: Further to Council's previous direction on this matter, and an information report on February 6, 1984, this report is being presented to update Members of Council on progress to date® >..2 may. �ti� Page 2 REPORT NO. WD -54 -84 REPORT: Late in March, a meeting was held at the Town of Whitby municipal offices, and presentations were made by private contractors involved in recycling in the Kitchener and Oakville areas, as well as by a representative of the Ministry of the Environment involved in the funding of such operations. Local groups involved in recycling such as Durham Recycling also presented information on their activities. Discussions centred around how the recycling operations were set up, the method of operation, financial aspects, and the future of such activities. From these discussions, the following was determined: 1. Our throw -away society is using natural resources at a very high rate, and every effort should be made to recover such resources from the products being handled as garbage. Although the present cost of doing this on a large scale exceeds that of the throw -away concept, it must be promoted and refined, so that it becomes cost effective. 2. Recycling is highly dependent upon good promotion and advertising and co- operation from all, especially the householder. ...3 Page 3 REPORT NO. WD -54 -84 3. Large scale recycling operations are very labour intensive, with the labour component using more than half the cost of the operation. 4. Private operators have an advantage over municipalities, in that they can hire labour at less than half the cost to municipalities. 5. In all cases, even private operations must be subsidized by the Ministry of the Environment to break even. 6. The municipal recycling operation run by Georgetown has resulted in an increase in the cost of solid waste collection and disposal to the taxpayer. 7. Funds are available from the Ministry of the Environment to establish plans for recycling operations, which plans must include a definition of the amount of materials to be recycled, markets for such materials, method of operation, and cash flow projections for three years. 8. Subsidy to create a break even situation is available for a three year period from the Ministry of the Environment. ...4 Page 4 REPORT NO. WD -54 -84 From the data collected and the above facts, it is evident that the state of the art for recycling of certain contents of household wastes has not advanced to the stage where recycling is a profitable operation. In fact, even under the most ideal circumstances, where these operations are run by private firms with relatively low labour costs, they must be subsidized to merely break even. Laidlaw Waste Systems Limited, operating in Kitchener, is considered a model example of recycling, and one of the most successful, but it too requires subsidy. The municipally run operation in Georgetown is also run at a loss and increased cost to the taxpayer. This would suggest that another approach must be taken if the Town of Newcastle is to consider recycling. A local group "Newcastle Environment Watchers" has been operating a recycling depot in Bowmanville for about the past five years. The project is regularly advertised and bins are set up at the Goodyear Plant for disposal of newsprint, glass and tin on Saturday mornings. The Puckrin waste disposal firm assists by providing bins and arranging for marketing of the collected materials. Attached is a copy of a report on the Environment Watchers activities and method of operation. It was felt that the Town might be able to get involved in recycling by providing assistance to this group in one of various ways. ...5 Page 5 REPORT NO. WD -54 -84 A meeting with members from the group was held in mid April and various methods of developing a co- operative effort were discussed. Some ideas are as follows: 1. Advertising and promotion could be improved through circulation of notices by the Town. 2. Assistance might be provided by the Town through placement of bins at the Bowmanville Works Yard where they would be accessible at all times rather than just on Saturdays. 3. the Town could investigate providing a vehicle on Saturday mornings for collection of newspapers by the volunteers. 4. An arrangement might be made with a private firm, such as Puckrin, for collection of newsprint or regular garbage days. There are aspects of all of the above which must be considered before firm recommendations are made. A future meeting with the Newcastle Environment Watchers is scheduled for May 23rd, with a proposed meeting with Durham Recyclers about a week later. Upon consideration of various proposals and all relevant facts, a further report with firm recommendations about the Town's involvement will be made. Respectfully submitted, 3 R.G. Dupuis, P. Eng., Director of Public Works. RGD:jco May 11, 1984. NE"- :CASTLE ENVIRONMENT 'rdATCHERS Ball, Wanda and Ivan Barnes, Nancy Boden, Dorothy Bryson, Ray and Kay Crane, Peter Dobbs, Eugene r Laing, Susan and Hugh Marsh, Susan Millson, Helen Murdock, Cindy Pearcey, Christine Read, Jim Reynolds, Doug Stroud, Evelyn Kormarnicki, Jeanmichel Twist, Ernie and Iva Youngman, Roy Workman, Rusty Wright, Scott 623 -2744 RR 4, Bowmanville 623 -6860 32 Vanstone Court 623 -4965 68 Rosen Crescent 623 -7175 110 7 Concession St .,W. 623 -5674 21 Strike Ave, 623 -7200 6 Sunset Rd. 623 -7167 68 Temperance Street 579 -8849 Box 15, Gr, 23, RR 3 Bowmanville 623 -5377 26 Orchardview 623 -1656 RR4, Bowmanville 623 -6779 4 Shoreview Court 623 -7004 6 Fourth Street 263 -2937 RR 5, Bowmanville 623 -6149 89 Little Avenue 623 -2701 RR 1, Bowmanville 623 -6769 79 Roser Crescent 623 -4977 62 Alenna Street 623 -1519 7 - -4 Bernard Street Five years ago the Newcastle Community Conservation Centre funded by the federal government, set up headquarters in.Bowmanville with an aim to help conserve our resources by 1) making people more aware and 2) by initiating new programs. Recycling became a major issue with the centre as it saves resources, money and energy and reduces disposal costs. As a Xr pJect worker, I became involved first by making a slide show on Landfill vs. Recycling. Then we went into the schools reaching as many peopla as we could. Groups were also addressed and a survey on r ecylink was circulated throughout the town. I realized at the time group of interested persons a group of dedicated people expressed their concern and of whom are still involved Watchers came into being. that it was important to establish a Core if a depot was to materialize. Fortunately, turned up for our first meeting and interest. It was through this group, most today, that the Newcastle Environment Report (the present) by Kay and Ray Bryson Thanks to our dedicated volunteers the Newcastle Environment Watchers are still on the-job of keeping our part of the environment a little purer from waste. Once a month our bin is filled and Puckrin removes and empties the bin at no charge to us. Our tins are removed and taken to Cedardale Scrap and sold for remuneration as our financial statement shows. Tin fell to rp10 a ton but has now regained the price of '$25 a ton. From Octob6r 8 to the present we have collected eight and one -half ($2) tons of tin. The following organizations continue to save bottles and /ir tin for our depot: Lions Club, Bowmanville Nursery School, Bowmanville Golf ands Country Club, Oddfellows t Ledge and Castle Hotel. We are also, supporting the Community Service Order volunteers to help minor offenders find a place in our society. As you know sometimes this is helpful to us and at other times leaves us with fewer people on the job than expected. As of April 5, our bank balance stands at $73.13. This will go towards our annual insurance premium of p85.00 which comes due in mid - August. FINANCIAL STATEMENT (prepared by Susan Laing) Balance at January 1, 1982 i 54.98 Income Sale of tin, January 1, 1982 to April 11, 1983) 92,21 Sale of bottles, January 1, 1982 to April 11, 1983 11.54 Donations, January 1, 1982 to April 11, 1983 21.10 124.85 Expense Advertising, January 1, 1982 to April 11, 1983 14;63 Safety glasses 7;07 Insurance 85.00 106.70 1 Balance, April 11, 1983 (cony d) It took a couple of months to complete all plans but with thi help of Mr. Dykstra, the Goodyear agreed to donate space f r, the aaepot Originally Peterborough was to pick up newspa-)er and Regional Reclaimers were to collect the glass and tin but these plans fizzle. out. Puckrin and Sons have supplied the bin and taken ouv recyclables. This September, the Depot will have been in operation fqn five years. Without the strong backbone of a few dedicated peopl# we wouldn't be where we are today: (Cindy Murdock)