Edition 9: May 2008

In-the-Loop CEO’s Message
Throughout the past four years, Stewardship Ontario has used In-the-Loop as a key communications vehicle it its work with municipal Blue Box recyclers and other stakeholders to strengthen Ontario’s municipal Blue Box recycling system through the Effectiveness & Efficiency Fund. With new responsibilities to develop and implement Ontario’s Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program plan, the range of activities and interests that Stewardship Ontario shares with municipal recyclers has increased. With that in mind, the last edition of In-the-Loop expanded its traditional focus on the Blue Box recycling program and the E&E Fund to MHSW program activities. As stakeholders of this program, you need this broad range of information and we will now be using this publication as a means to make it available to you. I look forward to working with you in our environmental stewardship efforts and I welcome your comments and questions as we meet the challenges of the coming weeks and months.
Joyce Barretto, CEO

E&E Fund Manager’s Notes
The Efficiency and Effectiveness Fund has reached an important milestone. With 72 projects approved for a total project value of approximately $20 million, the E&E Fund is now fully subscribed. Throughout 2008 and even into 2009, E&E Fund staff will continue to work with municipalities to implement the vital projects for which E&E Fund support has been approved and share project findings and recommendations. At the same time, the new Continuous Improvement Fund (CIF) is in development and we look forward to continuing success in increasing recycling program effectiveness and efficiency through its implementation.

With the continued implementation of E&E Fund projects and development of other initiatives, Stewardship Ontario’s support for municipal recycling continues to grow. Over the coming summer months, we will provide updates on several activities underway. We will keep you informed about the joint project with Unical to build a mixed glass processing plant in Brampton, that will save municipalities at least $10 million over the next 7 years. This project has the potential to provide service to many more in the future. We will keep you informed of the several activities we are initiating to address the recovery of and markets for plastics with the approval by the Stewardship Ontario Board of Directors of $2.4 million.

This is an exciting and challenging time for all of us. If you have any comments or questions, I welcome you to email or call me and will hope to see you at the spring Ontario Recycler Workshop that will be coming to Barrie, next month! Phil Jensen, 647-777-3367.

E&E Fund Project Updates
System upgrades in Peterborough County prompted by MRF modernization
In response to changes at their MRF, Peterborough County is streamlining their five stream recycling collection system to two-streams (fibre and containers). As an addition to its curbside collection program, the county relies heavily on a depot system which provides a recycling outlet for the county’s many rural residents. This E&E Fund grant will help with the purchase of new recycling bins and compaction equipment that will bring depots in line with the new processing system. It will also support a promotion and education campaign to support these changes by explaining the new process to residents. Peterborough County staff will test a couple of compaction units, track program impacts and share statistics and operational impacts as they become available. Savings between $5,000 and $9,000 per month from reduced haulage costs are anticipated, with possible additional savings coming from reduced labour costs.

E&E Fund delivers training for recycling staff across Ontario; municipalities invited to take part in its development
Over the next three years, the E&E Fund will invest $1.75 million to design and deliver a 3 year training strategy for Ontario recycling professionals. The program will include core training for up to 200 participants and specialized training for another 140. The goal is to have recycling professionals in more than 70% of communities complete the certification process.

Municipal recycling professionals are invited to help design and deliver this program. Stewardship Ontario is currently seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from qualified individuals to participate in steering committees that will contribute to development of this program. The Training Program Steering Committee, will review procedures for training and certification, and will ensure program credibility, integrity, relevance and transparency. The Training Content Development Team will review competencies, training materials, exams, and provide subject matter expertise to support curriculum development. EOIs are requested for submission by May 30th, and offer an excellent opportunity to participate in laying the foundation for this initiative. All interested individuals are encouraged to contact Phil Jensen at pjensen@stewardshipontario.ca to obtain a copy of the EOI.

In addition to implementing the training strategy, the Association of Municipal Recycling Co-ordinators, with municipal partners in York Region and the City of Thunder Bay will develop a contract management training module, for delivery late this fall. The project team will develop curriculum and materials for a contract management training session, a subject identified as one of the four top specialized training needs in the 3 Year Training strategy.

More about Ontario’s Blue Box Program
Andy Campbell takes the reins as Managing Director of the Continuous Improvement Fund Andy Campbell has assumed his new responsibilities as the Managing Director of the Continuous Improvement Fund (CIF), the successor to the E&E Fund. As a critical first task, he is working with the CIF governing body to develop an operational plan, which will cover the procedures for the Fund, including the application process. He is planning to have this in place by the end of June. However, he would like to hear from anyone with good project ideas. The CIF Strategic Plan is available for review and Andy Campbell will provide a status update at the Ontario Recycler Workshop on June 17. For more information, please contact Andy directly at: andycampbell@wdo.ca; 705-719-7913

Requesting feedback on development of Ontario’s Plastics Market Development Strategy
As approved by the Board of Directors of Stewardship Ontario, for 2008, $2.4 million were added to the fees of stewards of Blue Box plastics to support the first part of a multi-year strategy to address recovery of and markets for plastic packaging.

The strategy comprises two main tracks, the first of which is to develop and test a strategic communications campaign to increase the recovery of “all bottles and tubs.” In partnership with the City of Brockville, Stewardship Ontario will launch a Promotion and Education campaign targeting these materials in June. The baseline research and development of communications materials is underway. Stewardship Ontario is also in discussion with municipalities to launch a similar larger demonstration campaign in the GTA.

Part 2 of the Plastics Strategy focuses on identifying the approach to engaging the plastics recycling industry and market, levels of investment required and appropriate technologies to increase recycling of the full range of plastics, particularly for plastics #3 to #7. Stewardship Ontario is preparing a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) to identify potential processors that might provide long term management options for these materials. Stewardship Ontario will provide information about and solicit input to development of this REOI at the plastics market development session at the upcoming ORW. For more information on the plastics market development initiatives, please contact Guy Perry: 647-777-3354.

Speaking of which…
Registration is open for the June 17 Ontario Recycler Workshop
This spring’s Ontario Recycler Workshop incorporates findings on collections projects, recycling innovations, with an additional spotlight on three special projects, CIF and the plastics market development program referred to above. This ORW will take place in Barrie Ontario on Tuesday, June 17. A small block of guest rooms is available at a special group rate for a short time – please be sure to call the hotel if you need to reserve accommodation (1-705-728-6191). ORW will be available by webcast for all participants who are unable to attend in person. Please watch your inbox for an invitation – it’s coming soon! Click here for ORW information or to register for ORW.

Website upgrades enhance stewardshipontario.ca and the Recyclers’ Knowledge Network
Stewardship Ontario has just completed major website redesign and renovation projects at its two key sites: www.stewardshipontario.ca and www.recyclersknowledgenetwork.ca. Stewardship Ontario’s main site has been relaunched with distinct sections devoted to the Blue Box Program Plan and the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program. The MHSW branch of the site contains several new pages of vital information for all stakeholders of this program. Together, these sites are your definitive sources of information for these two recycling programs and we encourage you to browse them at your leisure.

Secondly, with a completely new design and structure, Recyclers’ Knowledge Network (RKN) offers a dynamic and interactive means of accessing information and tools that you can use to strengthen your municipality’s recycling program. This site is designed exclusively for municipal recycling professionals. It features tools derived from E&E Fund project results, including the findings of the Recycling Best Practices study. Municipalities can use these resources as a planning tool, to help evaluate the potential impact of applying best practices or other approaches in their programs. This is a truly unique resource that can add to your recycling efforts. We encourage you to use it, critique it and share your thoughts and suggestions with us.

Other Programs
The MHSW project team is working rapidly toward the July 1 Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) program launch date. A vital task for the team involves working with municipalities who choose to collect Phase I MHSW materials (through municipal depots or mobile events). As of July 1 2008, these municipalities will be eligible to be reimbursed by Stewardship Ontario for transportation and recycling/disposal costs as well as some other agreed costs for Phase 1 materials.

To be eligible for reimbursement, municipalities will need to enter into a ‘Shared Responsibility Agreement’ with Stewardship Ontario. For the purpose of negotiating these agreements, municipalities have been assigned to either Barry Friesen (Western, Northern and Southern Ontario) or Joseph Hall (Eastern Ontario). View the draft Agreement.

A MIPC-MHSW committee (chaired by Glenda Gies, WDO) is working with municipalities to resolve issues related to the program plan and the draft Agreement. This eight-member committee includes four municipal members and four Stewardship Ontario representatives. It is addressing issues that include retroactivity of the agreement to July 1, 2008, compensation rates for “value added” services, insurance clauses and others. Municipalities are encouraged to forward comments for the committee to one of the committee members, Sherry Arcaro, Peterborough County, sarcaro@county.peterborough.on.ca. Would you like to view MHSW program updates?

In-the-Loop:

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For more information on any item in this publication, please contact Phil Jensen, pjensen@stewardshipontario.ca or 647-777-3367.