Changes to Yard Waste Program to Support Employee Health and Safety

As a result of the proposed amendment to MC 844, this report also seeks to amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges (MC 441) by deleting the fee to purchase yard waste bins. Solid Waste Management Services has identified operational inefficiencies and employee health and safety concerns associated with the collection of yard waste from different types and sizes of rigid open containers. These health and safety concerns were initially identified by the City of Toronto's Ergonomics Unit as part of a Yard Waste Collection Ergonomics Risk Assessment report prepared specifically for Solid Waste Management Services in 2018. To help address ergonomic issues and find a potential solution to reduce the risk for employee injuries, Solid Waste Management Services staff conducted a Yard Waste Collection Container Pilot (the Pilot) to observe resident participation and set out behaviour. The Pilot also piloted the automated collection of yard waste from standardized City of Toronto-issued bins in select areas. Participant feedback was gathered as part of the Pilot to help inform staff recommendations on changes to the yard waste collection program. The Pilot findings showed that although the participating households preferred City of Toronto-issued standardized bins over rigid open containers and kraft paper bags, most households still required additional kraft paper bags to accommodate the amount of yard waste set out for collection. As both rigid open containers and kraft paper bags were being set out for collection, the use of an automated collection vehicle was not operationally efficient and staff were still required to manually lift additional yard waste in kraft paper bags into the vehicle. In addition, the design of the automated vehicle impeded staff's access to manually lift kraft paper bags into the hopper which did not allow staff to maintain proper lifting posture. The amendment to MC844 to set out yard waste in kraft paper bags only will be supported with a communication plan to educate residents and property owners on the new collection requirements for yard waste. Solid Waste Management Services will also work with 311 Toronto to ensure consistent messaging of program participation requirements and Municipal, Licensing and Standards to enforce proper program participation.

3. City Council direct that the amendment to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 844, Waste Collection, Residential Properties, deleting the option for owners of single family residential properties and multi-residential properties to use rigid open containers for setting out yard waste come into effect on January 1, 2023. 4. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges to delete the fee to purchase a yard waste bin. 5. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to make such technical and stylistic amendments to the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, as required and to introduce the necessary bills to delete the fee to purchase a yard waste bin. 6. City Council direct that the change to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, to delete the fee to purchase a yard waste bin, come into force on January 1, 2022.