Aurora ahead of waste diversion targets

YorkRegion.com
July 21, 2016
Teresa Latchford

Not everything is getting kicked to the curb in Aurora.

In 2012, the town collected 319 kilograms of residential waste per person including yard waste, source-separated organics, blue box materials and garbage. According to the latest solid waste program performance report, that number dropped to 297 kg per person in 2015 with the goal of hitting 289 kg per person by 2021.

“In three years there is a 21 kg drop, that’s almost one garbage bag per person,” Director of Infrastructure and Environmental Services Ilmar Simanovskis said. “Since we are already 70 per cent to our 2021 target, we may have to adjust those targets.”

Aurora resident Jerek Bowman is doing his part by participating in the town’s backyard composting program that was successfully piloted last year. A chef by trade and being a urban food garden enthusiast, Bowman jumped at the chance to divert what he could from the waste system.

“I liked the idea of utilizing 100 per cent of the food that was coming into my kitchen,” he said. “It is surprisingly easy, there is no smell and no pests.”

He set up the free composter provided by the town in less than 10 minutes and simply followed the instructions provided. When he has enough compost, he uses it on his gardens.

But even though the town is on track, improvement doesn’t come without its challenges. Food waste, blue box contamination, multi-story housing collection and light weighting of materials continue to have an impact on waste generation.

One of the largest opportunities for improvement is to increase awareness of food waste reduction.

“I think it is the nature of our society. We are an affluent community and we buy a lot of food,” he said. “We need to help people understand and realize that a few changes of habit can really help.”

This year, the town will roll out six textile or clothing collection bins around town to help divert discarded clothing from the landfill and give those who choose not to donate to for-profit organizations an alternative. The bins will be located at the Stronach Aurora Recreation Centre, Aurora Community Centre, Aurora Public Library and the Aurora Family Leisure Complex. Door-to-door collection will also be offered to 3,000 homes in the northwest quadrant of the town on three Mondays in the coming year.

In the fall, the town hopes to work with community partners to provide electronic waste collection bins in multi-residential units.

The town will also continue with its backyard composting program that was piloted successfully last year. The goal is to give away 200 backyard composters a year to residents who are willing to give it a try.

“The compost is designed to complement the green bin program, not replace it,” he explained. “While it doesn’t seem like much to reduce your green bin waste by 10 to 15 per cent, if everyone does it, it adds up.”

Further into the future, residents can expect to see curbside giveaway days, cameras installed at illegal dumping hot spots, public outreach and education campaigns, a mandatory diversion bylaw, fees for bulky items collected and a two garbage bag and tag system.

The town continues to participate in York Region’s SM4RT Living Program.