HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-09-033 - Park Garbage and Recycling
REPORT
REPORT TO:
Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: April 20, 2009
SUBMITTED BY:
Jim Witmer, Director of Operations
PREPARED BY:
Greg Hummel, Manager of Park Planning, Development and
Operations
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
All
DATE OF REPORT:
April 15, 2009
REPORT NO.:
CSD-09-033
SUBJECT: PARK GARBAGE AND RECYCLING
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
REPORT:
The Community Services Department, Operations Division, has approximately 600 garbage
cans placed around the City in parks and open spaces, trail heads, active sports fields and other
City facilities at any given time. The numbers fluctuate depending on special events and
requests that are made from the public.
As we prepare for another season, garbage collection is a priority within the Operations
Division. Daily, there is approximately 50-70 staff out picking garbage from our parks, natural
areas and road shoulders that have accumulated through the winter. At this time, parks
operation is re-instating close to 300 garbage cans that were taken in for the winter months.
In 2009, recycling collection is increasing in our active parks. These parks, such as Budd Park,
Peter Hallman Ball Yard, Southwest Optimist Park, Victoria Park and many others, will be
outfitted with blue recycling caddies so that regular weekly pick up will occur.
Other opportunities are being investigated. After participating in an information session with the
Town of Markham, information was shared regarding the collection of waste, recycling and
organic materials. From this session, we have begun to look at our parks garbage materials and
have concluded that 95% of the material in our 40 gallon containers consists of plastic
bottles/pop cans, paper products and organic waste. Based on this percentage, there are
recycling companies that would take this waste and through their processes be able to separate
the organic waste from the recyclable material. The by-products would then be used for
compost or used in recycling processes. This opportunity would save us from having to invest
capital dollars into outfitting all our parks with specific recycling containers.
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Further investigation is underway to see how we can move this opportunity forward either
through a tendering process or alternative means.
Another opportunity that is being investigated is a business case for a parks garbage truck. This
truck would be used to service our parks on a regular schedule. The schedule would be
generated to meet the needs of all parks based on the activities within each park. As the
business case evolves, a case is being made that could provide a higher level of service
regarding parks garbage with virtually no increased financial impact to the corporation. The
business case will be brought forward once completed.
As new parks are being developed, the issue of parks garbage and recycling is a paramount
concern. The use of Moloks continues to increase because of their benefits. These units are
installed in locations where we have heavy, regular use. The Molok unit has a sleeve that is
installed into the ground at varying depths depending on the size of the unit. Within the sleeve is
a liner that can hold a greater quantity of garbage with little odour, insects and rodent activities.
When the liner is full, it is removed from the unit by machinery (or by hand) and dumped into a
vehicle and re-installed into the sleeve. These units fit visually and aesthetically well within the
parks environment.
By the end of the month of April, the City will have close to 600 garbage containers and 50
recycling containers in place city wide to deal with garbage in our parks and natural areas.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
This report has no financial implications at this time.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Pauline Houston, General Manager, CSD
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