Diep Duong, P.Eng. Manager, Waste Reduction and Management Environment Division Department of Environment and Natural Resources Government of the Northwest Territories

Why prevent and divert waste Waste hierarchy Legal framework for waste reduction and recovery programs Environment Fund Beverage Container Program Single-use Retail Bag Program Electronic waste What’s next

1.To protect and enhance the environment 2.To reduce greenhouse gas emissions 3.To preserve our resources

Canada (2006 Stats Canada) Produce almost 35 million tonnes per year 7.75 million tonnes of which is diverted 22% diversion rate 835 kg/person/year NWT ( , based on Arkis Solutions) Produce approximately 49 thousand tonnes per year Between 530 – 1870 kg/person/year No diversion rate

Uncompacted = ~ 242,000 m 3 /yr Compacted = ~ 80,700 m 3 /yr

We produce enough waste in the NWT to fill up about 32 Olympic-size swimming pools annually

Reduce Reuse Recycle Recover Disposal

Waste Reduction and Recovery Act October 2003 Legal framework for creating programs to reduce, reuse and recycle materials in the NWT Waste Reduction and Recovery Advisory Committee Environment Fund

Separate from general government revenue Fees collected from programs under the Act go into the Environment Fund Money from the Fund can only be used to establish, operate and evaluate waste reduction and recycling programs and initiatives

Operating expenses for programs under the Act Upgrade/improve NWT beverage container depots (Behchoko, Gameti, Norman Wells, Fort Resolution, Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik, Ulukhaktok, Fort Providence & Fort Liard) Feasibility of centralized composting in Yellowknife Pilot project for centralized composting in Yellowknife (partial funding) Hay River backyard composting Public education and outreach on waste reduction and recovery through Ecology North New program development – adding milk, SRBP, electronic waste

First program under the Act Implemented on November 1, 2005 Deposit-refund program – incentive to recycle Includes all ready-to-serve beverage containers, including milk and milk substitute

Distributor or Retailer ConsumerDepot Processing Centre Southern Markets or Use Locally

Over 182 million beverage containers returned to date Approximately 27 million containers returned annually Average recovery rate of 82% since program inception

Annually, we are avoiding 2475 tonnes of CO 2 e emissions = taking 485 vehicles off the road

Since the program began we have collected and recycled enough aluminum to build… 379 Twin Otters!

Refillable beer - Brewer’s Distributing Ltd. in Edmonton

Aluminum – densified and sold to markets in the US

Plastic – baled and sold to Merlin Plastics in Calgary

Multi-material containers – baled and shipped to Michigan along with the Alberta containers

Non-refillable glass shipped to Airdrie and recycled into fiberglass insulation

Program review started in 2011 to see how we could improve the program Key areas in review: Collection network Collection network Transportation Transportation Revenue and expenses Revenue and expenses Management of scrap Management of scrap Policies and procedures Policies and procedures Processing of containers Processing of containers Quality control – audits of distributors and operators Quality control – audits of distributors and operators Reuse/recycling Reuse/recycling Extended producer responsibility Extended producer responsibility Container categories Container categories

Report completed in November recommendations, some require amendments to regulations Report and a timeline for addressing the recommendations on website

Second program created under the Act – January 15, 2010 February 1, 2011 Goal: reduce bag litter on our land and to create a greater awareness of waste reduction and environmental stewardship Higher fees = fewer bags

ENR Registers distributors and retailers Receives quarterly payments of fees Distributor Charges NWT grocery stores 25¢ per bag (+ bag price) Pays fees to ENR Retailer Charges consumers 25¢/bag Fee appears on receipt Consumer Remembers their reusable bag Or Pays 25 ¢ per bag P 25¢ Per bag 25¢ Per bag Environment Fund 25¢ Per bag

From January 15, 2010 to September 30, 2012 the SRBP prevented over 14 million bags from being used in the NWT Generated approximately $1.15 million Money collected from the SRBP - Environment Fund to pay for program expenses and development of new programs or improvement of existing programs

Not using ~5.9 million bags annually = 49 tonnes of CO 2 e emissions avoided Equivalent to taking 10 vehicles off the road annually

Would stretch from Inuvik to Colón, Panama

E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream Contains hazardous chemicals and heavy metals In Canada, there are: Eight provincially regulated e-waste programs in operation (BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, NS, PEI & QC) NB, NL and YT are also working toward the development of e-waste regulations.

E-waste survey to determine the types and amounts of electronic products in the NWT and where residents get their electronic products – May 2012 Inventory and feasibility study completed - December 2012 Reviewing data and engaging with ARMA and EPRA

Waste Management Strategy for the NWT The need to look at waste management as integrated and finite system. What baseline data do we need? Do we set targets? Who will be our key stakeholders? Which waste diversion programs do we implement?

Waste Management Strategy What waste disposal policies, standards, and/or regulations do we support and/or create? Do we support extended producer responsibility (EPR) in the NWT and if so, is it the right tool for all waste diversion programs? What other waste management policy tools do we use to achieve our goal? What is the best way for us to manage our waste diversion programs?

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