New bins would add recycling to waste containers

Municipal garbage containers could soon be multi-stream waste and recycling units that earn the County a small annual fee and address current legislation under the Waste-Free Ontario Act.

At Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Outdoor Facilities Supervisor Tanya Delaney will present her report on a five-year contract with the Creative Outdoor Advertising (COA) company, which indicates it is the largest provider of such programs with more than 9,000 units set up in more than 240 cities over the past 30 years.

COA offers the capital investment, maintenance and trash collection at no cost to the municipality. It seeks local small businesses to sponsor each site by paying a monthly advertising fee.

The program would begin with Picton and expand to Bloomfield, Wellington and the opportunity to other locations.

The “MetroBin” three-stream unit is designed to accommodate three separate recycling/waste
compartments, labelled appropriately.

Sarah Doiron, manager of the Picton Business Improvement Association, has approval from the board and backing from the County’s Heritage Advisory Committee, and looks forward to seeing them installed in the spring of 2020.

“Based on the feedback from many of our members, it is clear that the businesses on Main Street Picton see a need for an increased number of bins to collect refuse, as well as an option for the disposal of
recyclable materials – which currently doesn’t exist.”

The County retains approval over all sponsorship messages and installation locations. Each unit is GPS coded by COA and the inspection program can be monitored online. COA states it will dispatch a response team in cases of vandalism, within 24 hours, in in the case of destruction or unsafe conditions, respond within four hours, all at no cost to the municipality.

The County would receive approximately eight per cent of revenue received from sponsors if COA is responsible for the collection, or 25 per cent if the County does the collection. Staff propose the 25 per cent option.

The program does not replace the current garbage system but adds recycling.

Delaney notes that until the analysis for locations and number of bins is determined, staff are unable to project the revenue or additional collection expense amounts.

“However, initial estimates based on similar programs in neighboring municipalities indicate a possible gross revenue between $1,125 to $1,750 per year. “Staff are under the opinion that a program whereby a private company undertakes the substantial initial upfront costs and the on-going maintenance costs associated with running such a recycling program, and the County receives revenue, is of interest to the County.”