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11 · Friday, November 18, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER PILING UP: Oakville residents can have six garbage bags collected every two weeks. That limit will be reduced to three as Halton Region moves to expand the lifespan of the Halton dump. Bag tags coming as limit decreases to three By Christina Commisso METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Six new waste diversion strategies will be rolled out in Halton over the next few years, with the aim of adding four years to the lifespan of Halton's dump. Halton Regional council approved a solid waste management study Wednesday that aims to boost Halton's waste diversion rate from 57.4 per cent -- currently the leading rate in Ontario -- to 65 per cent by 2016. "This is probably one of the biggest bragging rights we've got in terms of accomplishments over the last couple of years," said Oakville Councillor Tom Adams. The biggest game changer will be the introduction of garbage bag tags. Currently, residents can place up to six bags of garbage for curbside pick-up every other week. The Region is looking to cut that limit in half -- three bags every other week -- and residents can purchase tags for $1 or $2 for additional garbage bags. Rob Rivers, director of waste management, said the bag tags will be phased in with full implementation in 2016. "First we have an awareness campaign, then friendly enforcements and the third phase will be full enforcement," he said. Currently, Halton has the highest garbage limit in the GTA but about 80 per cent of households place three bags or less for curbside collection, he said. The initiative will divert three per cent more waste from the Regional Road 25 landfill and is the most expensive diversion tactic, costing taxpayers an additional $3.61 a year (based on a $350,000 property assessment). Rivers said while the bag tags and new limit will divert more waste from the landfill, it's expected more materials will end up in blue bins or green carts, which cost the Region more to process than if they went to the landfill. The Region also plans to increase the number of items that can be recycled in Halton and bump the size of blue bins from 18 to 22 gallons. "We want this in place before the full enforcement of bag tags to allow residents to divert more before bag tags are in place," said Rivers. Plastic plant pots, plastic trays and paint cans are some of the materials the Region plans to permit in blue bins, a move that will divert another 1.6 per cent of waste from the dump. Promotion and education about waste management will divert 1.5 per cent more waste and implementing the Green Cart and enhanced Blue Bin programs at apartment buildings will divert another one per cent of waste. Currently, four apartment buildings in Halton are piloting a Green Cart program, but Rivers said there are 500 buildings and 28,000 units that fall into the multi-residential category and it will take about four years to develop organic waste programs at all of them. While most of the new initiatives require another year or so of research before implementation (the full strategy should be fully in place in 2016), there are two initiatives the Region plans to roll out in 2012. Expanded special waste drop off days, when residents can recycle hazardous waste and electronics, will divert 0.2 per cent of waste ­­ a small but important amount, said Rivers. "The sensitivity of the materials' chemical composition is very harmful for the environment. We need to move these out of the landfill." Promoting recycling of clothing to charities or reuse centres will divert 0.3 per cent more from the landfill without additional cost to taxpayers. In total, the six initiatives will increase Halton's waste diversion by 7.6 per cent and cost taxpayers an extra $8.65 a year. There was extensive public consultation prior to the release of the waste management strategy, including four public information centres and online and telephone surveys. Those surveyed were asked if they support a 70 per cent diversion rate, which would cost taxpayers an additional $25.41 a year, or whether they'd support a 65 per cent diversion rate at a cost of $8.65. Support for a 65 per cent diversion rate was expressed by 72 per cent of telephone survey respondents and 65 per cent of online survey respondents, while support for a 70 per cent diversion target was about 10 per cent lower. Future diversion initiatives will be reviewed in three years and include community recycling centres, online waste exchange, curbside collection of construction waste, toxic taxi (a call-in pick-up service for hazardous waste) and public space waste diversion. The Regional Road 25 landfill previously had a life expectancy to 2040, but the new waste strategy will up its lifespan to 2044. Rivers estimated the cost to develop a new landfill is $200 million and the total cost throughout its lifespan is about $750 million. "It's a huge investment." Milton councillor Colin Best advocated uniformity in waste diversion. Rivers said consistency in recyclable items in Ontario is difficult to implement with municipalities contracting waste and recycling with various providers. Burlington councillor John Taylor asked if f bag limits could be increased around Christmas or for spring-cleaning. He also asked staff to research what's necessary for the bag tag program so the initiative can be included in the 2013 budget. "This one has the biggest impacts in terms of reaching our goals." Sore Feet, Sports Injury, S Painful Ingrown Toenails? P Plantar Warts? We can help! 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