Item - 2015.PW3.8

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee received the item for information.

Beginning June 1, 2015 the list of plastic film materials accepted in the Blue Bin Recycling Program will be expanded.  With the addition of this material, it is anticipated that approximately 3,500 additional tonnes will be recycled and diverted from landfill. This change will increase the amount of Blue Bin diversion by 2% and overall residential diversion by 0.35%.

Plastic shopping bags were added to the Blue Bin program in 2008.  The change will expand the range of plastic film materials.  Some examples include, but are not limited to, milk bags, dry cleaning bags, newspaper/flyer bags, in-store produce bags and frozen vegetable bags.  A comprehensive communications campaign will be introduced to educate and inform the public of the new list of acceptable plastic film materials.

The additional revenues from the sale of the film, reduced landfill costs and increased stewardship funding will offset the additional operating costs, thus resulting in an annual net savings of approximately $8,527 per year and $4,974 in 2015 based on seven months of savings.