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?