Cleaning up After Mother Nature Andrea Graham Halton Region MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Overview - Halton Region Population 2013 Burlington -174,472 Halton Hills – 56,809 Milton – 102,920 Oakville – 184,150 Total - 518,311 4% Rural

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Ice Storm - Background December 20, 2013 Snow & freezing rain impacted North America affecting Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes and parts of the U.S. GTA – reported 3cm of accumulated ice resulting in fallen trees/branches Hydro One reported over 600,000 power outages

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Ice Storm – Halton All 4 Municipalities of Halton affected In particular Burlington, Rural Milton & Rural HH – Niagara Escarpment backdrop & vast tree canopy Residents without power for up to a week

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Ice Storm 2013

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Expectations & Actions Initial planning stages began once we received the first phone call. Manage expectations Residents Councillors Local Municipalities CAO Regional Chair/Mayors

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Urban Collection – Phase 1 First media release went out December 23 Enhanced collection services began on December 26 Until January 31 st - 1 pile of bulk brush collected on garbage day Collecting brush w/ Christmas Trees

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Urban Collection – Phase 1 Regular bulk brush dimensions of 10’x6’x4’ Provide urban residents only with enhanced yard waste collection service All residents were entitled to free drop off at HWMS until January 31st

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Urban Collection Request vs Actual

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Urban Collection – Phase 2 January 3 – second media release went out Extending services through to end of February Obtained additional resources Collecting brush everyday in various areas of Halton

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Urban Collection – Phase 2 3 additional drop off locations Georgetown – Town Ops Centre Acton – PW Yard Milton – Mohawk Racetrack Collection in the Milton rural hamlets Cambellville, Brookville, Moffat Suspended service February 7th due to weather, resolving to continue urban clean up in the spring.

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Urban Collection – Phase 2 Weather Challenges: Constant snow Frozen brush taking too long for too little brush collected Residents hadn’t cleaned anything yet Free drop off at the landfill until June 30 th

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 How’d we do it? Got Trucks?

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 How’d we do it? Emergency PO’s for additional resources required Additional dedicated Miller Waste trucks ~ additional contractors providing daily collection to assigned areas Tree Care companies – wood chipping services

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 How’d we do it? Roll off bins/hauling services required for various resident drop-off locations throughout the Region. Chipping service for large brush piles

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Spring Brush Collection March 31st – May 30 th Miller Waste had dedicated trucks to collect bulk brush separately from YW – daily 2 additional collection contractors No woodchipping services Continuation of winter collection service …or so we thought

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Rural Collection Pressure from rural residents to provide collection Issue being raised was fairness We wanted to align enhanced services with current services provided Felt rural residents have means to deal with it

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Rural Collection

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Rural Collection Initial safety concerns collecting with rear packers Politics won and collection began - May 5 th – May 31 st Rural was split into areas Miller Waste collected areas daily – YW dimensions of 20’x6’x4’ Hired student to monitor

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Rural Collection Things changed yet again RFP for Rural Chipping Services was developed - Call in service Lists, Lists, and more Lists! Realized not everyone was calling in so put them on the list ourselves Contractor also chipped what was out there

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Communications Mobile Signs Website Social Media PSA’s – newspaper, media releases Daily updates to the senior mgmt Chair, CAO, Commish, Councillors

MWA Spring Workshop May 2013 By the Numbers Additional ~6000 tonnes of YW captured = 40% 1250 calls related to storm brush Estimated additional cost ~$2.1M

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Lessons Learned We under-estimated sheer volume of work Expectation of the work kept changing – action plans constantly evolving & changing Suspension of urban collection in February led to a few angry tree care service companies

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Lessons Learned Dedicated staff monitoring was essential Daily assessments/updates of progress helpful We can do it! And were successful at it. Increase creditability of municipal gov & WM staff

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Burlington Flood -Background Monday August 4th ~200mm of rain fell in Halton in 3 hours Equivalent rainfall of 2 months worth Became evident areas extremely effected were isolated to Burlington Combination of sewer back-up & creeks overflowing

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Burlington Flood

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Expectations & Actions Limited knowledge of initial impact Received calls requesting service the following day – Tuesday Expectation of collection assistance was an immediate response Residents, Politicians, Senior Mgmt First media release occurred on August 6 th

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Expectations & Actions Initial plan was to waive limits garbage bag (3-bag) bulk limits (3-item) Asked residents to observe collection guidelines Garbage bags < 50 lbs Flooring/Carpeting bundled & tied - 2’x4’ Insulation/Loose drywall placed in garbage bags/containers

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Challenges Limited Resources Coordinate with Contractor – gave them a heads up that it was coming We hadn’t been able to assess damage yet – who and how much Service for Burlington only? Soon realized more damage then initially thought

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Burlington Flood - Curbside

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 How’d we do it? Water dept involved due to sewer back-ups – able to determine areas affected

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 How’d we do it? Miller Waste obtained a few more trucks for daily collection but mostly able to use existing resources. Collection changed from garbage day only, to daily service Utilized student & staff to monitor/assess areas to focus on each day – and of course more Lists!

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 How’d we do it? Collected 3 saturdays with large fleet 25 trucks, 18 trucks, 10 trucks Helped it was August – traditionally lighter time of year Collection schedule already has additional bulk day in September Initial plan was until Aug 31 st - then Sept 30 th – then Oct 31 st

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Communications Same as Ice Storm Mobile Signs, Website, Social Media, PSA’s – newspaper, media releases Daily updates to the senior mgmt Informed residents to put material curbside and we would get to it Key is to keep people informed

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 By the Numbers Estimated 3097 hhlds flooded Additional ~550 tonnes = 15% Additional cost ~$150,000 Existing Fleet was able to absorb most of the cost

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Lessons Learned Experience! Initial plan prepared by Tuesday morning Important to have good relationship with your Contractor Contingency plans are difficult – constantly changing & evolving

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Weather Changing According to CBC - precipitation across Canada has increased by 12% 50 yr floods are occurring every 10 yrs Last 25 yrs of rainfall showed there were yr storms and 6- 50yr storms

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 What’s Next? Locusts?

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014 Contact information x8279