Metro report on expanded polystyrene disposal

Consultation Workshop EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE POTENTIAL DISPOSAL BAN Sarah Evanetz

Stephanie Liu

SOLID WASTE SERVICES, METRO VANCOUVER

SOLID WASTE SERVICES, METRO VANCOUVER

Expanded Polystyrene Consultation – Web version

Agenda • Presentation • • • •

Metro Vancouver Overview Disposal Ban Program Research and Current Situation Potential Disposal Ban and Timeline

• Questions • Table Discussion • Next Steps 2

Metro Vancouver 21 municipalities one Electoral Area and one Treaty First Nation working together for a livable region Population of 2.5 million people 3

Metro Vancouver Services

REGIONAL GOVERNANCE LABOUR RELATIONS E911

Metro Vancouver Solid Waste Facilities

Solid Waste Plan Goals 1. Minimize waste generation 2. Maximize reuse, recycling & material recovery 3. Recover energy from the waste stream after material recovery 4. Dispose of all remaining waste in landfill after recycling and energy recovery

Targets • 70% diversion by 2015 • 80% diversion by 2020 • 10% per capita waste reduction Achieved: • 62% diversion in 2015

Metro Vancouver’s Disposal Ban Program

FOOD SCRAPS and CLEAN WOOD (2015) 8

What is Expanded Polystyrene?

Current Situation • 1-2% by weight of garbage (substantially more by volume) • ~10,500 tonnes disposed/yr • Recycling levels low (~21%), even with local recycling options • By volume, one of the largest material categories in the waste stream without a disposal ban • Highly visible to customers 10

Flow of Expanded Polystyrene

Distributor

Manufacturer Retailer

Recycle depots or retailers with take-back programs

Processor / Broker

Recycle service providers

80% commercial 20% residential 11

Recycling • Reused in local expanded polystyrene manufacturing company • Processed/densified at local facilities (60:1 or 90:1) • Baled and shipped overseas for processing • Overseas manufacture of picture frames ad crown moulding

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Local Processors/Densifiers Facility

Current Processing (tonnes/yr)

Additional Capacity (tonnes/yr)

Foam Only

1,800

2,200

Waste Control Services

90

270

Retailers (Brick, Sears)

Unknown

Unknown

Mansonville Plastics 140 (resused in foam production process) Others 13

Potential Disposal Ban • Initially focus on loads with large proportions of nonfood white expanded polystyrene • Rationale: • 80% of expanded polystyrene from commercial sources • Commercial recycling services already exist • Existing residential recycling program through RecycleBC

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Included Materials

Proposed: Non-food, white, blocky Includes: cushioning, structural and storage materials from appliance, electronics, film, heating industries Not included in early phase: food packaging, contaminated materials from seafood and agricultural industries, foam peanuts, foam treated with flame retardant 15

Thresholds

Proposed: Set initial threshold of 30% - Survey finds 30% threshold would capture loads with large proportions of expanded polystyrene - Phased approach to allow smooth transition to recycling 16

Surcharges

Proposed: Set surcharge to encourage recycling - Current disposal rates at regional facilities are ~ 1/3 the cost of recycling 17

Timeline

Fall 2017

Jan 2018

• Board will consider consultation input and review potential changes to the Tipping Fee Bylaw • Earliest possible implementation date • Educational period

Jan-Jun 2018 18

Questions?

Table Discussion: Included Materials Are these the appropriate materials to include in a ban (non-food, white, blocky)?

Table Discussion: Threshold Is 30% an appropriate threshold?

Table Discussion: Surcharges How should surcharges be levied to encourage recycling? 50%? 100% ?

Flat fee of $65?

Table Discussion • Is a disposal ban the right tool?

• What other strategies can encourage recycling?

• What can Metro Vancouver and others do to assist with the transition?