A new report outlines the many problems apartment dwellers face when it comes to garbage disposal.
A consultation report presented at a city planning committee meeting earlier this month is calling for new guidelines for better waste disposal and collection in Ottawa’s multi-unit residential developments.
The report was drafted after a review of collection and recycling practices in Ottawa apartments by engineering consultant company Dillon Consulting. It was then presented to city council Nov. 13.
With Ottawa’s population expected to grow by 300,000 in the next 30 years, the guidelines aim to ensure that developers, owners and property managers are aware of proper collection and storage systems and consider them when designing new apartments.
The report outlined the many problems Ottawa apartment residents face when it comes to garbage disposal, including little collection space, a lack of access for collection vehicles and a subsequent increase in costs to the city. But perhaps the biggest problem is the apartments’ garbage chutes, which allow for the mixed disposal of recyclables, solid and organic waste.
The mixed collection contributes to the estimated 60 per cent of Ottawa waste that’s sent to local landfills.
“Most major urban centres experience issues with waste collection in multi-residential dwellings,” explains Travis Woollings, sales and marketing manager at Orgapower Canada, the local company that processes the city’s compost.
Since 2009, the city’s looked into investments for more efficient disposal and recycling systems for apartments, which have often been considered too expensive by officials and residents.
“Sorting waste through a chute system is costly to have designed and installed,” says Robert Dekker, vice-president of Centretown Citizens Community Association.
But with a new bi-weekly garbage pickup system in place, the city must find a solution as issues such as waste storage becomes a bigger concern. With the report, the city may have found that solution: five systems for high-rise residences that would allow for disposal.
Guidelines for low-rise apartments are also included, as the consultants called for the implementation of recycling, Green Bin programs and a maximum distance of 100 metres between stacked townhomes and outside storage.
All buildings and designs would have to meet applicable city bylaws, the committee says.
While the report outlines plausible solutions, some condo residents are still concerned.
“These new buildings will have older residents who may not wish or be able to take green waste down for sorting on a once, or more than once a day basis,” he says, echoing city councillors such as Coun. Mark Taylor.
“Have you taken into account Ottawa’s aging demographic . . . Have you looked at it through a lens of accessibility?” Taylor asked at the meeting, adding the guidelines need to consider things such as those who would be throwing out the garbage.
Despite these concerns, the report was approved by council. With Ottawa’s multi-residential building collection contract expiring in 2014, the guidelines won’t be applicable until then.
The initiatives could save the city roughly $8 million a year and avoid the overuse of its two landfills, which last year were reportedly running out of space.
The planning committee said there’s no financial implications associated with the report.