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MANOR PARK CHRONICLE
november
2007 Source-separated organic (SSO)
waste collection – an update
In the May 2007 issue of the Chronicle I reported that Ottawa
was finally moving to implement a source-separated organic (SSO)
waste collection program. At that point the City was calling for
tenders and had expected that the program would be up and
running by the fall of 2008. I am pleased to report that
Orgaworld Canada Ltd. has been selected. The company will
purchase an 8.9 ha. site immediately north of the City’s Trail
Waste Facility. It is also responsible for building its
processing plant. Program implementation has slipped a little
however; start-up is now slated for March 1, 2009. The net
annual incremental cost of the SSO program, with weekly residual
garbage collection, is estimated at approximately $13.1 million,
which equates to $34/household/year (or $0.65/week). Note that
introducing bi-weekly collection of residual waste, while
implementing weekly organics collection, would increase program
participation and help to ensure that the 60% diversion rate is
achieved. Moreover, it would reduce collection costs by
approximately $1.89 million per year! The decision to proceed to
bi-weekly collection of residual waste has yet to be made.
Costs of the program include:
• Purchase and distribution of organics collection carts;
• Purchase of new fleet, and hiring and training of staff;
• Development of a Communication Plan.
Benefits of this program include:
• Delay the need to develop a new landfill site for up to thirty
years which could cost up to $120 million;
• Improve the diversion rate of residential waste from landfills
to 60%;
• Reduce odour generation at local landfills and reduce impacts
on neighbouring communities;
• Produce environmentally friendly soil thus reducing the need
for chemical fertilizers;
• Reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from local landfills.
Over 35% of the residential waste stream is organic and
compostable (leaf and yard waste, and kitchen waste.). At
present, most residential organic kitchen waste goes to
landfill. Currently, the City’s recycling programs successfully
diverts approximately 32% of residential waste from landfill
through paper and container recycling and leaf & yard waste
composting. Separate collection and processing of kitchen
organic waste is needed for Ottawa to achieve the 60%
residential diversion target set out in the City’s Integrated
Waste Management Master Plan.
Households that comply with the City’s waste by-law by
participating in the blue and black programs and the kitchen
organics program will produce, on average, less than two bags of
residual waste every two weeks. Staff estimates that 60% to 80%
of their waste will be picked up through the City’s organics and
recycling programs.
A New Drainage By-law Will Now Apply on Private Property
Property owners, when improving their properties, may change the
grades on their property through landscaping or the installation
of decks, sheds and swimming pools. These alterations disrupt
the original drainage pattern and cause rain water or snow melt
to accumulate or be redirected towards adjacent properties. This
results in approximately 4,000 complaints and inquiries each
year!
The City has the authority under the Municipal Act to pass a
by-law that would empower staff to impose corrections on
landowners who disrupt drainage systems by issuing an order to
discontinue an activity or to do work to correct the
contravention, and to enter onto private property to make those
corrections at the landowner’s expense. City Council has decided
on a pro-active approach recommended by staff and make use of
the powers granted under the Municipal Act. The new by-law makes
it an offence to alter or obstruct a drain (including a ditch)
or lot grade.
The Director of the department will now have expanded authority
to take remedial action and may now issue an order to include
the situation where the alteration or the obstruction affects
private property. If compliance with the requirements of the
notice is not forthcoming, the Director may cause the work to be
done at the expense of the offending owner. The total cost of
the work will include an administration fee in the amount of 15%
of the cost of the work.
The By-law will allow the City to make corrections quickly in
cases where there is imminent and significant risk to public
health, public safety or private property. The general approach
would be to first use persuasion and education and only apply
the provisions of the By-law if this fails to have the required
effect.
Minor Complaints: The City will not respond or attempt to
address complaints where the resident is expecting an
unreasonable level of service. Examples include cases where the
residents are in dispute and drainage is being used by one as an
excuse to harass the other; where the water disappears soon
after the rain event ends; or where there are small amounts of
standing water in a ditch or swale during the spring melt
because of snow and ice blockage. Naturally, the By-law does not
apply in cases where changes which actually improve the historic
drainage situation have occurred.
2008 Budget Tabling at Council on November 14th
As usual, following budget tabling, there will be an opportunity
for constituents in Rideau-Rockcliffe to learn of the budget
proposals directly from the City Manager, Mr. Kent Kirkpatrick,
and other senior staff members. I expect that staff from the
Police department and the Ottawa Public Library will also be on
hand. I have organized the consultation this year in partnership
with my colleagues councillors Georges Bédard and Michel
Bellemare. The evening will allow for an extensive question and
comment period. This is always an excellent opportunity for you
to communicate your thoughts on City priorities as reflected in
the proposed budget.
The meeting will be held on November 15, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at
the St Laurent Complex (Courtyard Room – next to the Library) –
525 Côté Street. I look forward to seeing you then and to a
fruitful dialogue on the City’s expenditures.
Jacques Legendre
Councillor, Rideau-Rockcliffe
You can communicate with me at (please include a telephone
number):
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 580-2483, Fax: 580-2523
E-mail:
jacques.legendre@ottawa.ca
Web Site:
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com
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