Tell One Friend: Make it Safe to Reach your Trash

Waste collectors lift and toss thousands of tonnes of garbage, every day. Edmontonians can keep collectors safe and moving by making it easy to reach your trash.

 

• Place cans and bags as close to the street or alley as possible.
• Do NOT put cans or bags on top of or behind piles of dirt.
• Keep garbage stands open and accessible from the front.

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Spread the Message

Try these tactics to encourage friends, family, neighbours and co-workers.

Model the Behaviour

Put your own garbage cans and bags out early and properly. Your neighbours will follow your example.  

One Small Ask

“I’ll share this link with you about waste collection. Will you take just three minutes to check it out? I’ll send it now. It’s edmonton.ca/wastecollection”.

Offer Timely Prompts

When talking to family, friends and neighbours about lawns or outdoor chores, mention how cutting grass can be more efficient. 

Give Positive Feedback

"I like how your garbage stand is open from the front. That makes it easy, fast, and safe for our waste collector to pick up cans and bags." or "I saw that you put your garbage can next to the curb for our waste collector. That’s helpful."

Visit edmonton.ca/wastecollection

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A New Chapter in the World of Waste

It’s been a long road for Waste Services.

More than 2 years ago, we started a process to determine the best way to move forward with waste management in Edmonton.

Now, after researching best practices, conducting internal assessments, considering over 30,000 points of input from 2 rounds of public engagement and receiving feedback from the Edmonton Cart Rollout to 8,000 homes—we have a clear path forward. On September 10, City Council approved the 25-year Waste Strategy and accompanying reports.

“This is the beginning of a new era for Waste Services in Edmonton,” says Michael Labrecque, Branch Manager, Waste Services. “We’ve worked hard to build a plan that will help divert waste from landfill, in a way that works for Edmontonians. Now, we’re excited to put that plan into action.”

What’s Next?

Beginning in 2020, a 4-stream waste collection system will be rolled out in phases to single-unit residences. More information will be provided to residents as details solidify. 4-stream waste collection includes:

• A 120L green cart for organics (primarily kitchen scraps, topped up with yard waste)
• A black cart for residual garbage (residents will initially receive a 240L cart, with the option to exchange it later for a 120L cart at a reduced rate)
• Recyclables collection in blue bags
• Seasonal yard waste collection in paper yard waste bags, twice in the spring and twice in the fall

By the end of 2021, all single-unit Edmonton residences will receive 4-stream collection. Soon, planning and consultation will begin to develop new approaches to waste for condos and apartments and the commercial sector.

The 25-year Waste Strategy uses a Zero Waste Framework. This doesn’t mean we’re aiming to divert 100 percent of waste right now; our waste diversion goal remains 90 percent. Rather, Zero Waste implies a system that is constantly improving, with a strong focus on waste reduction. With that goal in mind, next steps will include developing rules to restrict some single-use plastic items, and supporting waste reduction-focused community programming.

But How Much Will It Cost?

Changes to waste services will be funded by small rate increases of about 2.5 percent per year for the next three years. Without changes to how we manage waste, it is likely that these rate increases would be higher. The Waste Services fee is included on EPCOR bills.

Learn more about the Future of Waste in Edmonton.

  

Tell One Friend: Have Your Say Without Delay

It's time to continue the conversation. The City is looking for more input about the future of Edmonton's waste programs and services.

Join Waste Services to refine potential changes to cart sizes, share ideas for improving access to Eco Stations and more. Public engagement opportunities have begun and continue to April 15, 2019. What We Heard (fall, 2018)

How to Have Your Say

 • Complete the Online Survey
 • Visit a Drop-In Session

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Make Your Message Effective

Here are some tips for connecting with friends, family, neighbours and co-workers:

Be a Role Model
"I completed the online survey about waste, last night. It was neat and easy to do."

Decrease the Barriers
"The City also has drop-in sessions too. Let's find the next event,I completed the online survey about waste, near you."

Increase the Benefits
"Yes, the drop-in events are fun and interesting. Plus, our input will make a difference, helping you and I to deal with garbage, food scraps, and recycling."

One Small Ask
"Will you complete the online survey?"

Visit edmonton.ca/futureofwaste

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MCR Appreciation Party 2018

Thanks to all the MCRs and friends who came out on Sunday, November 25th. It was great to see old friends and connect with other MCRs. Everyone had a fun time.

Waste Services is looking for excellent new volunteers. Invite a friend to volunteer as a Master Composter Recycler. Visit edmonton.ca/mcrp

Time to Talk the Future of Waste

Changes are coming to the way you sort and manage your household waste. Edmontonians are invited to help adjust and shape these changes by providing feedback in person or online.

• Public Drop-in Sessions: October 3 until November 15
• Online Survey: October 1 until November 10

Topics for discussion include; four options for curbside garbage setouts, food waste and reuse, single-use plastics restrictions and more.

Feedback gathered will help shape final program recommendations presented to City Council in 2019. The recommendations will support the City of Edmonton’s focus on increasing the diversion of residential waste from landfills.

Visit edmonton.ca/futureofwaste

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Tell One Friend: Time to Talk Future of Waste

Waste Services is proposing big changes to the way Edmontonians sort and manage their waste at home and work. You can help shape your future waste management system!

Everyone has a role to play in managing Edmonton’s waste, to ensure a cleaner, sustainable future for our city. This fall, the City will be seeking input from Edmontonians about these proposed changes.

We need your help -- tell your friends, family, colleagues and community members about upcoming public engagement opportunities, and encourage them to participate. Share your voice, shape your city.

From October 1 - November 15, 2018, residents can attend an upcoming drop-in session and complete our online survey.

Sign up for our monthly Future of Waste e-news, for updates and upcoming public engagement opportunities.

One Small Ask

“Will you go to the web page and look at the survey? You can decide if you have the time to complete it”

Give Feedback

“Hey, I saw you at one of our Future of Waste drop-in sessions. That’s great you’re being active in the community and sharing your voice.”

Create Social Norms

“There are a lot of people in our community sharing their thoughts about the proposed waste collection changes. Have you shared yours through the survey or at a drop-in session?”


Visit edmonton.ca/futureofwaste or call 311.

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City Reports Focus on Future of Waste Services

On Thursday, August 23, the City's Utility Committee will discuss eight separate reports about the future of waste management in Edmonton.

Of the eight reports, three ask councilors to make decisions on the following topics:

• Alternate Collection and Diversion Options for Grass, Leaf and Yard Waste
• Source Separated Organics Pilot
• Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Sectors Strategic Review

"Years ago, we set an ambitious goal: to divert 90 per cent of residential waste from the landfill. Right now, we're not close enough and we have to look at new ways to do things," says Michael Labrecque, Branch Manager, Waste Services. "For over a year, we've reviewed our programs and looked at what other cities are doing well. From this, we know we need to put more emphasis on waste reduction and prevention, and that means

looking at how residents set out their waste, what waste gets collected, when, and how.
This is a topic that affects every Edmontonian, and we look forward to supporting City Council as they determine the best direction for our city."

Below is a quick summary of what Edmontonians can expect to see debated at Utility Committee:

• Waste Services' Four-year Business Plan: Provides a strategic overview for
  2019-2022. This report outlines the priorities for the upcoming four-year budget
  cycle, including key initiatives, performance indicators and the utility rate.

• Waste Services: 25-year Strategic Outlook: Outlines key focus areas for the
  updated waste management strategy as it pertains to regulated waste services
  (such as single-unit and multi-unit properties), as well as non-regulated  waste
  services (such as commercial and industrial waste). The report also provides an
  overview of public engagement beginning in fall 2018.

• Alternative Collection and Diversion Options for Grass, Leaf and Yard Waste:
  Details options for removing grass waste from regular waste collection,
  implementing seasonal collection of leaf and yard waste, and providing
  alternative disposal programs for both. The report outlines three options based
  on operational and financial considerations as well as public engagement.

• Source Separated Organics Pilot: Outlines options for a source separated
  organics program testing phase prior to the planned 2020 program
  implementation. Four options are presented, as well as details of planned public
  engagement. Following public engagement, Administration will make a formal
  recommendation to Utility Committee about final details for the testing phase,
  involving 5,600 homes across the city.

• Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Sectors Strategic Review: Provides
  an overview of the operations of Waste Services' non-regulated business lines.
  The report recommends revisiting the overall strategic approach, including a
  targeted engagement program. With respect to the current construction and
  demolition (C&D) waste processing operations. Administration recommends an
  immediate review of the business model to determine whether restructuring can
  better position operations to meet financial and environmental goals.

• Extended Producer Responsibility: Gives a review of extended producer
  responsibility policies and programs (waste reduction, reuse and recycling
  activities) in other jurisdictions. Outlines potential opportunities and details on
  how an extended producer responsibility policy would affect Edmonton's waste
  program.

• Food Waste Reduction: Details options for food waste reduction strategies,
  including potential partnerships, public education campaigns and examples from
  other municipalities, along with measures of effectiveness.

• Reduction and/or Elimination Mechanisms of Single-use Plastics: Provides
  an overview of current practices in other jurisdictions to reduce and/or eliminate
  the use of single-use plastics such as plastic bags, cups and straws.

Visit edmonton.ca/meetings for the full reports.
(Utility Committee -- Agendas, Minutes and Video).

Friends & Colleagues at the MCR Townhall

Thanks to all the MCRs, MCRs-in-Training, and 2018 Candidates at the MCR Townhall Meeting.

It was great to see friends, new and old.

Front: Sunil & Julie
Row 2: Chidi., Elaine, Bana, Majida, Melissa, Coleen & Helene
Row 3: Erika, Katie, Yohie, Pam, Maria & Sarah
Row 3: Tammy, Hetal, Jocelyn, Mildred, Pat, Marx, Kayla & Cayley
Back: Hetal, Kory, Rodney, Suzy, Neil, Christine, Gordon, Liz, Bronwen, Terry, Nicole, Gaby, & Mark

We covered a lot of ground in a couple hours.

Waste Strategy Update
We discussed the Strategy Update presented to Utility Committee on February 23rd. Click here to read the strategy, the minutes, and documents. You can also watch the discussion.

Utility Committee approved the Strategy Update, in principle. The proposals go to City Council for more discussion on March 20th.

Improving the MCR Program
MCRs gave feedback about improving the program and helping MCRs be even more effective.
Some specific topics were:

• easy ways to record volunteering, 
• how to stay active as MCRs, and
• how to show friends & colleagues that we are waste experts

     

Tell One Friend: Refuse the Refuse

Let's face it: It's hard to say no to stuff. It's especially hard when the item is a gift, offered as a well-meaning gesture.

Say you visit your dentist. You are thrilled to get a new tooth brush but you don't need the floss (and the packaging with it). How to refuse the floss, politely?

Saying NO is hard in the first place, but it's one of the best ways to reduce waste.

Saying NO to swag, "finisher" t-shirts, and samples at the grocery store can be tricky. Balance courtesy to others along with your own goal to reduce waste.

Just like anything, saying NO takes practice. As an MCR, you can show others how to do this well.

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What's Your Secret?

Well-Meaning Swag

• Does refusing the refuse work for you?

• How to you decline politely, without hurting someone's feelings?

• Do you have a success story to share?

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Visit edmonton.ca/waste to learn What Goes Where.
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Edmonton’s Anaerobic Digestion Facility by MCR Tim M.

It Will Take Your Breath Away

A collaboration between the City of Edmonton and the University of Alberta, the Anaerobic Digestion Facility (ADF) will process up to 48,000 tonnes of organic waste when in operation, producing electricity, heat and compost. In anaerobic digestion, material is broken down in the absence of oxygen. This results in the production of biogas (largely methane), which can be used to power electrical generators. Although more common in Europe, this type of facility is only the second if its kind in Canada (the other one is in Richmond, B.C.).

When operating, organic material is placed into one of eight long, 5m x 35m cells and inoculated with water that contains the necessary microbes for the digestion process. Over 28 days, the material breaks down and produces biogas, which is then sent to two 800 kW generators.

A view from inside one of the cells. It takes about eight hours to fill a single cell with organic waste.

The generators produce heat and electricity. The heat, about 90⁰C, will be used to dry the garbage fluff in the Integrated Processing and Transfer Facility(IPTF), which is then used as feedstock for Enerkem’s Waste-to-BiofuelsFacility. After losing some of its heat to the drying process, the air returns to the ADF at around 60⁰C -- the temperature ideal for anaerobic digestion -- and helps to heat the digestor cells.

Once the anaerobic digestion process is complete, the remaining material is moved into an aeration bay and mixed with carbon-rich green wood and further composted in an oxygen-rich environment over a period of 10 to 12 days.

Set to open in 2018, the Anaerobic Digester was built primarily to compost unmixed, organic material such as household food and yard waste. The electricity will be used to power the Edmonton Composting Facility (ECF). Waste Services will consider how to use this electricity when the ECF is not operating, depending on need.

Learn about the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.
Visit edmonton.ca/ewmc
Visit EWMC Interactive Site Map

Tim is an employee with Waste Services who completed the MCR Training in 2017. As a member of the Education Team, he leads tours of the Edmonton Waste Management Cenre and involves Grade Four students in managing their own waste.

MCR Refresher: 6 Things MCRs Should Know about the Reuse Centre

It was great to see MCRs, last Thursday. Here are highlights from our chat.

1. Ten Years of Growth & Change
The Reuse Centre has kept over 1,500 tonnes of waste out of the landfill and welcomed over 200,000 customer visits to donate and shop.

The Reuse Centre is bigger and busier than ever. More donations. More items. More diverted from landfill. More volunteers. This isn't a tiny Centre any more.

Then again... A busy facility means keeping a fair system for all. MCRs are like any other customer. We pay the regular $5 fee. And we only drop off items from the Accepted Items List.

2. Products & Pricing

• The List of Accepted Items evolves, over time.
• Changes happen every year, based on careful consideration including Customer Satisfaction Surveys, in-store wishlists, and feedback from staff and volunteers.

• Criteria for Accepted Items:
• Items that will sell in the store.
• Avoid competing with other second-hand organizations.
• Current Pricing:
• Individuals: $5 for up to 50kg
• Leisure Access Program (LAP): 24 free punches/year
• Non-profits: $50 for 25 punches

3. Teaming up to Reduce Waste

• Residents can donate items to the Reuse Centre at any Eco Station.
  Just make sure the bag or box is clearly labelled.
• Goodwill Alberta sends donations that do not sell on their shelves to the Reuse Centre, like VHS tapes, photo frames, and baskets.

4. Lots of Volunteering
Over 300 volunteers help sort items, lead tours, assist with crafting workshops, and write for the Reuse-It Edmonton blog. And volunteering at the Reuse Centre has changed too.

Group Sorting

• Groups of volunteers (4 to 20 people) can schedule a shift to sort items. This also means there aren't drop-in opportunities for individuals. Yes, there are lots of groups who want to volunteer.
• There are 2 MCR sorting groups. Contact Rodney or Helene to connect with them.

Individual Volunteering

• Tour Guides
• Craft Assistants
• Bloggers for Reuse-It Edmonton

5. A Volunteer's Joy: "One Free Purchase"
Volunteers who sort at least one hour get one free purchase in the store.
Some common-sense conditions apply:

• up to 50kg (just like one regular purchase)
• shop after your shift, not before
• shop the same day, and
• everyone shops from the store (not from the Sorting Room).

6. Turn on the Programs
The Reuse Centre now hosts group programs, birthday parties, reuse workshops, and even boardroom rentals. Also, there are special events like Family Day and drop-in crafting sessions.

Visit edmonton.ca/ReuseCentre or edmonton.ca/ReuseVolunteers
Visit facebook.com/EdmontonReuseCentre

     

Waste Services Temporarily Closes the Compost Facility

The City of Edmonton's Waste Services has temporarily closed the Edmonton Composting Facility (ECF).

An engineering assessment of the ECF identified structural issues with the building. As staff safety is the number one priority, Waste Services has temporarily shut down the composting facility while they explore short- and long-term solutions.

In the interim, wet waste will be redirected to the transfer floor. Waste Services is urgently working to find other options to best manage the organics fraction.

Visit edmonton.ca/waste

Celebrating with Friends: 2017 Volunteer Appreciation Event

Thursday, October 19, was a fine celebration of volunteering with Waste Services. Master Composter Recyclers and the Reuse Centre volunteers were recognized by the City for their efforts over the past year.

 

Thanks to everyone who enjoyed the evening. It was fun spending time with friends.