Planning and Implementation of a Curbside Organics Program

Presentation Outline Background (City of Surrey) Surrey’s Program Development and Pilot Program City-Wide Roll-Out Next Steps Program Considerations

Background Located in Metro Vancouver 2 nd largest City by population in Province City of Vancouver City of Surrey

Curbside Collection Program Over 100,000 single family households currently receive curbside collection from the City Prior to new program, weekly collection of: o Garbage o Single Stream Recycling o Yard Waste Over 34,000 multi-family units receive weekly cart collection of recyclables (single stream)

Program Development City of Surrey Sustainability Charter Metro Vancouver Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management Plan Surrey’s Vision “To fuel Surrey’s waste trucks with renewable biogas generated from curbside organic waste”

Post Program and Target Rates

Baseline Waste Audits Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out Three audits completed: o Summer 2009 o Winter 2010 o Spring 2010

Public Consultation Undertaken to: o Gauge level of interest and solicit opinions o Assess public’s acceptability of collection options o Increase public awareness of City’s diversion efforts Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out

Surveys Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out 3 Delivery Methods Public / Community Events Telephone Online Webpage

Overall Results of Consultation Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out Almost 1,400 responses received Many more residents made aware of proposed plans for organics management Majority of residents supportive of City’s plan Identified possible barriers

Pilot Program Design Designed and implemented in 5 neighbourhoods in November ,000 households in total pilot: o 1,000 receive weekly organics, recycling and garbage collection o 1,000 receive weekly organics collection and alternating bi-weekly recycling and garbage collection Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out

Pilot Program Waste Audits Pre Program Diversion Weekly Organics, Garbage and Recycling Weekly Organics, Bi-weekly Alternating Garbage and Recycling Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out

Pre City-Wide Roll-Out Door-to-door consultations to confirm default cart size Hotline to answer questions about SSO program Mail-out for customers to select preferred cart size Cart roll out commenced July 2012 Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out

City-Wide Roll-Out New waste services began October 1 st, 2012 exclusively using CNG collection fleet Curbside visual audits/inspections for contamination Provided door-to-door education for households with contamination Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out

City-Wide Roll-Out Results 81% increase 43% decrease 6% increase Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out

Proposed Biofuels Facility Next steps for Surrey: Overall vision is to create a closed loop system for SSO program with 80,000 tonnes per year P3 Canada Fund Approval in 2012 $16.9 million from Canada Production of vehicle-grade biofuel Facility to be operational by mid 2015/early 2016 Initial PlanningConsultationPilot ProgramCity-wide Roll Out

Program Considerations Hired local university students to assist with pilot consultations Students spoke many of the non-official languages common throughout Surrey

Program Considerations Provide sufficient planning time to develop a well thought out program Conduct multiple audits to confirm seasonality and variability in waste composition Careful consideration to customers preference to cart sizes Ensure appropriate level of public education and communication for implementing new waste collection services

Contact Information Alida Kusch, Environmental Scientist Dillon Consulting Limited Rob Costanzo, Deputy Manager, Operations City of Surrey