Toronto Solid Waste Management
Encyclopedia
Toronto Solid Waste Management is the municipal service
that handles the transfer and disposal of garbage as well as the processing and sale of recyclable materials collected through the blue box
program in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It also coordinates programs to help residents and business reduce their production of waste.
, neared capacity during the 1990s, it was found that no other municipality in Southern Ontario
was willing to accept the garbage, but there was also no political support for a change to incineration
. A deal was eventually made to ship Toronto's garbage to the Adams Mine
, an abandoned open pit mine in Northern Ontario
, once the Keele Valley site closed. But objections turned to serious controversy as the time neared, and eventually the agreement was cancelled.
(See Carleton Farms Landfill
).
site near London, Ontario
. The contract to ship household garbage to Michigan is due to end in 2010 when the Green Lane landfill will be used. Jane Pitfield
who ran (and lost) against Mayor Miller in the November 2006 election has advocated incineration as an alternative method of disposing of waste. This is opposed by many Toronto environmental groups but supported by others who point out that the technology has improved and incineration is now less polluting.
Concerns with the border, and opposition from residents in Michigan prompted the need to look for alternate sites or expand the city's recycling
programs. Toronto's contract with Michigan lasts until 2008, and includes an option to expand to 2010, but the city is actively seeking options to close the contract sooner. Even the current contract could be in jeopardy following a vote in February 2006 by the Michigan House of Representatives to ban out-of-state garbage from being shipped to the state from Ontario and other U.S. states, but this requires approval by the US federal government before it can be enforced by Michigan. In May 2006, Carelton Farms, the garbage dump in Michigan that is under contract with the city of Toronto announced it would not be accepting waste sludge as of August 1, 2006, but would continue to receive household waste.
Even with 60% diversion through the green bin and recycling programs, residual waste from the Greater Toronto Area
would amass 2,200 tonnes (2,425 tons) a day or 800,000 tonnes (882,000 tons) a year.
In 2005, Toronto switched from a "blue box" (plastic
and metal
) and "grey box" (paper)
program to a unified recycling system. The city also introduced in 2005 a green bin program to recover compostable materials. However, the green bin program has come under criticism by watch groups due to its cost, which is three times per tonne more to operate than currently shipping to Michigan.
There has long been heavy opposition from many Torontonians to waste incineration due to the perceived toxic emissions that result. However, a recent poll conducted in November 2006 shows that a majority of its citizens would now consider incineration as an alternative, which the current mayor Miller opposes. There is currently an incinerator operating in Brampton in adjacent Peel Region, in operation since 1992, which meets the environment ministry's emission guidelines as well as producing power to serve around 5,000 homes.
Recently the Ottawa-based Plasco Energy Group has formulated a plan to process garbage, turning it into a synthetic gas. Plasco claims that by using an 8,000-degree Celsius
(14,400 °F
) plasma flame, 100,000 tonne
s of trash can ultimately produce 12 megawatt
s of power. Emissions are filtered with active carbon; the waste byproduct of this process is slag, which can be mixed with asphalt and used in road construction. According to a Toronto Star article (linked below), other companies offer similar technologies. Although a plan has yet to be approved, consent has been given to build a demonstration facility in Ottawa, and some Toronto city councillors have indicated their support for the program.
In June 2006, suburban York Region and Durham Region announced they were jointly teaming up to procure an incineration site to be built by 2011 that will potentially power up to 200,000 homes but this does not include the city of Toronto.
In September 2006, city council approved an agreement to ship Toronto garbage to the Green Lane Waste Facility near St. Thomas, Ontario
. Councillors opposed to the agreement have accused Mayor Miller of pushing through a secretive deal and there has also been strong reaction from residents and MPs from the London-St. Thomas area.
, the City began to look at ways to cut cost on waste management. One solution was for contracting out waste collection services to private contractors.
With the exception of Etobicoke, the rest of Toronto's waste services employees are civic staff. In Etobicoke services are contracted out to Turtle Island Recycling Company of Toronto
. Tranport of waste from transfer stations to landfills are contracted out to Republic Services Canada Incorporated of Dundas, Ontario
and Wilson Logistics Incorporated of Toronto
. A large part of the city apartment units are contracted to miller waste systems .
Beginning in the mid 2012, two more contractors will begin residential pickup services. Green For Life Waste and Recycling Solution both from Pickering, Ontario
will service the city west of Yonge Street
and east of Etobicoke. As for October 2011, the city nor contractors have indicated if current waste staff will be hired back to work on the two contracts.
Public services in Toronto
Public services in Toronto are funded by municipal property taxes, financial transfers from the Government of Ontario and Government of Canada, or are operated and financed by the higher-level governments...
that handles the transfer and disposal of garbage as well as the processing and sale of recyclable materials collected through the blue box
Blue box
An early phreaking tool, the blue box is an electronic device that simulates a telephone operator's dialing console. It functioned by replicating the tones used to switch long-distance calls and using them to route the user's own call, bypassing the normal switching mechanism...
program in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It also coordinates programs to help residents and business reduce their production of waste.
1990s End of Local Landfills
As the city's last remaining landfill site, Keele ValleyKeele Valley Landfill
The Keele Valley Landfill was the largest landfill in Canada and the third largest in North America during its operation. It was the primary landfill site for the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of York and Durham from 1983 until 2002, and was owned and operated by the City of Toronto...
, neared capacity during the 1990s, it was found that no other municipality in Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
was willing to accept the garbage, but there was also no political support for a change to incineration
Incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
. A deal was eventually made to ship Toronto's garbage to the Adams Mine
Adams Mine
Adams Mine is an abandoned open pit iron ore mine located in the Boston Township of the District of Timiskaming, south of Kirkland Lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is situated on the Canadian Shield....
, an abandoned open pit mine in Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
, once the Keele Valley site closed. But objections turned to serious controversy as the time neared, and eventually the agreement was cancelled.
2000-2006 Shipping Waste to US
By the time the Keele Valley site closed at the end of 2002, the city had made a new deal: its garbage is now shipped by truck to a site in MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(See Carleton Farms Landfill
Carleton Farms Landfill
The Carleton Farms Landfill is located in Sumpter Township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan.The landfill sits on of property and has a solid waste boundary of . It is owned by Republic Services Inc., and is about west of Detroit...
).
2006-2010 End of US waste shipment, search for new landfill and diversion targets
In September 2006, Toronto City council agreed to purchase the privately owned Green Lane landfillGreen Lane landfill
The Green Lane landfill is a landfill near London, Ontario in Canada. It is owned by the City of Toronto.It operates a leachate collection system and an on-site leachate treatment plant. Green Lane also has an extensive landfill gas collection system. This gas is roughly 50 per cent methane and 50...
site near London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. The contract to ship household garbage to Michigan is due to end in 2010 when the Green Lane landfill will be used. Jane Pitfield
Jane Pitfield
Jane Pitfield was a Toronto city councillor, representing one of the two Don Valley West wards. She ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Toronto in 2006.-Personal life:...
who ran (and lost) against Mayor Miller in the November 2006 election has advocated incineration as an alternative method of disposing of waste. This is opposed by many Toronto environmental groups but supported by others who point out that the technology has improved and incineration is now less polluting.
Concerns with the border, and opposition from residents in Michigan prompted the need to look for alternate sites or expand the city's recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
programs. Toronto's contract with Michigan lasts until 2008, and includes an option to expand to 2010, but the city is actively seeking options to close the contract sooner. Even the current contract could be in jeopardy following a vote in February 2006 by the Michigan House of Representatives to ban out-of-state garbage from being shipped to the state from Ontario and other U.S. states, but this requires approval by the US federal government before it can be enforced by Michigan. In May 2006, Carelton Farms, the garbage dump in Michigan that is under contract with the city of Toronto announced it would not be accepting waste sludge as of August 1, 2006, but would continue to receive household waste.
Even with 60% diversion through the green bin and recycling programs, residual waste from the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
would amass 2,200 tonnes (2,425 tons) a day or 800,000 tonnes (882,000 tons) a year.
In 2005, Toronto switched from a "blue box" (plastic
Plastic recycling
Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastics and reprocessing the material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state. For instance, this could mean melting down soft drink bottles and then casting them as plastic chairs and tables...
and metal
Scrap
Scrap is a term used to describe recyclable and other materials left over from every manner of product consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap has significant monetary value...
) and "grey box" (paper)
Paper recycling
Paper recycling is the process of recovering waste paper and remaking it into new paper products. There are three categories of paper that can be used as feedstocks for making recycled paper: mill broke, pre-consumer waste, and post-consumer waste. Mill broke is paper trimmings and other paper...
program to a unified recycling system. The city also introduced in 2005 a green bin program to recover compostable materials. However, the green bin program has come under criticism by watch groups due to its cost, which is three times per tonne more to operate than currently shipping to Michigan.
There has long been heavy opposition from many Torontonians to waste incineration due to the perceived toxic emissions that result. However, a recent poll conducted in November 2006 shows that a majority of its citizens would now consider incineration as an alternative, which the current mayor Miller opposes. There is currently an incinerator operating in Brampton in adjacent Peel Region, in operation since 1992, which meets the environment ministry's emission guidelines as well as producing power to serve around 5,000 homes.
Recently the Ottawa-based Plasco Energy Group has formulated a plan to process garbage, turning it into a synthetic gas. Plasco claims that by using an 8,000-degree Celsius
Celsius
Celsius is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
(14,400 °F
Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit is the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by, and named after, the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit . Within this scale, the freezing of water into ice is defined at 32 degrees, while the boiling point of water is defined to be 212 degrees...
) plasma flame, 100,000 tonne
Tonne
The tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI...
s of trash can ultimately produce 12 megawatt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s of power. Emissions are filtered with active carbon; the waste byproduct of this process is slag, which can be mixed with asphalt and used in road construction. According to a Toronto Star article (linked below), other companies offer similar technologies. Although a plan has yet to be approved, consent has been given to build a demonstration facility in Ottawa, and some Toronto city councillors have indicated their support for the program.
In June 2006, suburban York Region and Durham Region announced they were jointly teaming up to procure an incineration site to be built by 2011 that will potentially power up to 200,000 homes but this does not include the city of Toronto.
In September 2006, city council approved an agreement to ship Toronto garbage to the Green Lane Waste Facility near St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
. Councillors opposed to the agreement have accused Mayor Miller of pushing through a secretive deal and there has also been strong reaction from residents and MPs from the London-St. Thomas area.
2011-present Contracting Out Waste Collection
Under Mayor Rob FordRob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
, the City began to look at ways to cut cost on waste management. One solution was for contracting out waste collection services to private contractors.
With the exception of Etobicoke, the rest of Toronto's waste services employees are civic staff. In Etobicoke services are contracted out to Turtle Island Recycling Company of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Tranport of waste from transfer stations to landfills are contracted out to Republic Services Canada Incorporated of Dundas, Ontario
Dundas, Ontario
Dundas is a formerly independent town and now constituent community in the city of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada. It's nickname is the Valley Town. The population has been stable for decades at about twenty thousand, largely because it has not annexed rural land from the protected Dundas Valley...
and Wilson Logistics Incorporated of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. A large part of the city apartment units are contracted to miller waste systems .
Beginning in the mid 2012, two more contractors will begin residential pickup services. Green For Life Waste and Recycling Solution both from Pickering, Ontario
Pickering, Ontario
Pickering is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest metropolitan area in Canada.- Early Period :...
will service the city west of Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
and east of Etobicoke. As for October 2011, the city nor contractors have indicated if current waste staff will be hired back to work on the two contracts.
See also
- Nine Dragons Paper Holdings LimitedNine Dragons Paper Holdings LimitedNine Dragons Paper Limited is a privately-owned paper manufacturing company in Mainland China, engaging in the manufacturing of containerboard products which include linerboard, duplex board as well as pulp. Its CEO and largest shareholder is Ms...
- Green Lane landfillGreen Lane landfillThe Green Lane landfill is a landfill near London, Ontario in Canada. It is owned by the City of Toronto.It operates a leachate collection system and an on-site leachate treatment plant. Green Lane also has an extensive landfill gas collection system. This gas is roughly 50 per cent methane and 50...
- Keele Valley LandfillKeele Valley LandfillThe Keele Valley Landfill was the largest landfill in Canada and the third largest in North America during its operation. It was the primary landfill site for the City of Toronto and the regional municipalities of York and Durham from 1983 until 2002, and was owned and operated by the City of Toronto...
- GarbologyGarbologyThe primary academic meaning of garbology is the study of refuse and trash. As an academic discipline it was pioneered at the University of Arizona and long directed by William Rathje. The project started in 1973, originating from an idea of two students for a class project...
- Historical diggingHistorical diggingHistorical digging is the pursuit of antique bottles and related objects while excavating defunct privy vaults, old town dumps, landfills and elsewhere...
- Dump diggingDump diggingDump digging is the practice of locating and excavating old garbage dumps with the intent of discovering objects which have potential value as collectibles or antiques. These dumps are sometimes centuries old but often date to the late 19th century or early part of the 20th century...
- Landfills in the United States
- Carleton Farms LandfillCarleton Farms LandfillThe Carleton Farms Landfill is located in Sumpter Township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan.The landfill sits on of property and has a solid waste boundary of . It is owned by Republic Services Inc., and is about west of Detroit...