HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-09-022 - King Street Deep Collection Garbage ContainersREPORT
Report To:
Financial and Corporate Services Committee
Date of Meeting:
April 20, 2009
Submitted By:
Rod Regier, Executive Director, Economic Development
Prepared By:
Silvia Wright, Manager of Downtown & Community
Development
Greg Hummel, Manager of Park Planning, Development and
Operations
Ward(s) Involved:
1 and 6
Date of Report:
April 13, 2009
Report No.: CAO-09-022
Subject:
KING STREET Deep Collection Garbage Containers
RECOMMENDATION:
OPTION 3: Deep Collection Containers - MOLOK® CityScape
1. THAT Council approve
Receptacles and Elimination of Curb-side Collection
as described in this report,
combining pedestrian waste/litter and recycle bins to eliminate curb-side garbage bag
pick-up with one environment-friendly, cost-effective system.
2. And that Council waive the process of tender/contract; and that purchasing negotiate the
cost for the Molok® CityScape units for King Street Sections affected by Phase 1 and 2
Reconstruction.
BACKGROUND
During the design process and again through the tender document stages of the King Street
Master Plan, options were reviewed for the handling of litter and recycling through sidewalk
surface mounted containers. Through the public consultation process, there were increasing
concerns expressed about the appearance, odour and potential concrete staining coming from
the daily placement of garbage bags on the sidewalk for curb-side collection.
Businesses, Downtown Kitchener BIA (former KDBA) and visitors to the area have asked that a
more efficient system be employed to handle waste and that recycling be added to the
streetscape. Many challenges are present. The existing businesses and residences have had
the luxury of seven days a week curb-side garbage pick-up. The reality of the existing condition
is that a small percentage of businesses and residents do not have rear exits from their building
units. Those that have rear access have the opportunity to take their garbage and recycling
through to the lane way and use bins that are in place. Those businesses and residences that
do not have rear lane way access need a place to put their garbage and recycling for pick up.
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Through the review of existing, traditional and newly emerging systems for handling urban
waste and recycling activities, the Downtown Interdepartmental Resource Group (DIRG) has
identified a potential solution for garbage/litter and recycling on King Street.
REPORT
In consideration of concerns expressed, the Downtown Interdepartmental Resource Group
(DIRG) has examined three options in an attempt to satisfy the goals of removal of unsightly
daily garbage bags on the sidewalk, employing litter containers to suit the reconstruction design
and introducing opportunities for recycling containers.
This report evaluates three options for waste and recycling on King Street after reconstruction
was completed. Though most garbage and recycle options could be included any time after
construction, one attractive alternative requires installation during construction phases, therefore
making this a time-sensitive choice for staff to recommend at this time, April 2009.
OPTION 1: Current Litter Receptacles / King Street Curb-side Collection – Status Quo
Currently, curb-side garbage bag collection service is seven days per week. This service is
provided throughout the downtown so that bags are not visible for long durations of time on King
Street. Many businesses and residents on King Street have access to the rear lane way where
large garbage bins are located for their garbage. There are a number of businesses and
residences who do not have rear lane access for their own commercial and residential waste
disposal. These businesses and residences place their garbage at curb side for pick up.
Because of this practice, many follow suit and use the curb side service as a means of
disposing of their garbage.
This practice has resulted in many concerns expressed by the community, including the
unsightly negative impact of appearance, hygiene and odour, especially in warmer weather.
The bags of garbage are often out early in the afternoon and remain a visual and physical
impediment until collection the following morning. This contributes to the negative perception of
the downtown area. Bags being left at curb side have resulted in sidewalk staining and
increasing the need for additional power-washing of the surfaces. Overall, the status quo option
implemented after the King Street reconstruction requires continued inefficient truck-fuel trips,
increased power washing, impedes pedestrian traffic downtown and provides no incentives to
recycle.
The continued operational cost of Option 1 is incorporated into the Waterloo Region Waste
Management Contract, with the exception of Sunday curb-side collection and emptying of litter
receptacles which is a service funded through City of Kitchener Operations.
The single advantage of this approach is that no new behaviours are required by the business
or wider community. Operating costs will meet the operating budget that presently exists to
cover this system.
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OPTION 2: New Litter and Recycle Receptacles and King Street Curb-side Collection
Replacing the current Victorian style receptacles with new contemporary surface containers will
match the aesthetic appearance of King Street between Frederick and Francis Streets. This
option changes styles but the daily curb-side pick up would continue by necessity. The addition
of receptacles for recycling will increase operating services. The recycling pick up will require
additional operating budget which will be incorporated into City-wide recycling services to be
introduced throughout public spaces in 2010. Negative impacts of curb-side collection will
continue on King Street in Option 2 as noted in Option 1.
The continued operational cost of Option 2 would be the same as ‘status quo,’ with the addition
of recycling service costs incorporated into the City-wide program. There will be additional
capital cost for new containers absorbed by current capital and reconstruction budget.
OPTION 3: Deep Collection Containers - MOLOK® CityScape Receptacles and
Elimination of Curb-side Collection
Molok is a deep collection waste system. The deep collection waste system is a system that has
part of the container buried beneath the finished surface with waste deposited into a “silo” that
extends below grade to the depth of one metre. The capacity storage assists in the compression
of garbage, creates a cool space to minimize odours and minimizes the impacts of rodents and
insects. The compression of the garbage allows for the container to have a capacity five times
the capacity of surface mount containers. The Molok ‘CityScape’ receptacle blends into the
pedestrian scale urban settings.
Advantages of this litter collection system with its 5 times the normal amount of garbage
compressed in the container means fewer trips are required to empty the receptacles. Recycle
containers are included with the same benefits, adding opportunities for environment-friendly
behaviours on newly re-constructed King Street.
The further benefit of the Molok CityScape is that it also eliminates the need for curb-side green
garbage bag collection. For those few businesses and residents who do not have rear-lane
access to manage waste, the cover of the receptacle can be unlocked and deposit large bags of
garbage for compression are deposited in the deep containers. Coordination of keys and eligible
users will be carefully coordinated through the BIA and the City of Kitchener staff, currently
providing a complete inventory of potential users.
SOLE SOURCE RATIONALE:
Staff recommends that we proceed with one source as no other supplier satisfies requirements
as met by Molok ® Cityscape deep collection units. The summary of rationale is as follows:
1. No other trash/recycling containers are available at this time in our market and the product is
not available from other sources.
2. No other containers are known to exist in our market that will perform the same function in the
limited space available for King Street in a way that fits into the redesigned contemporary
streetscape.
3. The product has a unique performance factor. It requires no additional space for trash
containers, however, will hold up to six (6) or more bags of trash in the same surface area as a
regular container would.
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FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS:
Regardless of selecting Option 1, 2 or 3 we are currently analyzing and designing requirements
for waste disposal in the rear laneways in the downtown. We will need to ensure that we have
the capacity to handle waste disposal in the back laneways for all businesses and residences
who have back door access in the downtown. We will also need the support of the BIA and its
membership in order to achieve our goals to remove the curb-side waste off King St.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Capital costs for garbage and recycling receptacles are incorporated into current budget
allocations. For Phase 1 and 2 King Street reconstruction, we do not expect to exceed $65,000
for total cost of units.
There will not be additional impacts to operating budgets in 2009 and 2010 through program
adjustments with Community Services Operations. During the construction phases in 2009 and
2010, curb side garbage collection will continue. As Moloks are installed through the phases,
Operations staff will empty the Molok units until King Street is completed.
City of Kitchener Operations looks after existing Sunday curb side garbage collection. This
service is costing the corporation approximately $25,000 per year which will be reduced during
this time period as Moloks get installed and Sunday pick up is no longer required.
The additional operational budget allocation will be required for the 2011 fiscal year with an
additional $10,000 for Molok emptying and $9,000 for recycle service. We will also seek to be
compensated for the elimination of 6 day curb side pick up in future contract discussions with
the region and Waste Management.
Future consolidation with parks garbage pick up of Molok systems, creates an opportunity for
future savings and reductions in collection costs beginning the year after construction is
completed, 2011. Presently, Operations is responsible for 68 varying sizes of Moloks city wide.
The program may be extended in future to other sections of King Street or downtown where rear
lane garbage systems do not exist.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that Council approve Molok® Cityscape on King Street as part of
reconstruction project between Francis and Frederick Street 2009-2010. This environment-
friendly, Ontario-based system provides a solution to eliminate curb side garbage bags, serve
pedestrian litter collection and recycle requests. The system will be compatible with future
direction of parks operations, private site development and future rear-lane deep collection
installations. Molok has been reviewed by staff to be the only viable option as they are
confirmed as the only established North American supplier. Also, Molok has supplied a very
competitive price and carries with them an established positive business record in the
community.
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Molok ® CityScape
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Rod Regier, Executive Director Economic Development
Appendix:
Letter from Molok ® Deep Collection ™
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