The Waste Management Subcommittee met to discuss the city's transition away from blue box recycling services for non-eligible properties, review waste composition studies, and address upcoming changes to waste collection contracts and organic waste processing. The meeting highlighted significant data transparency concerns following the provincial takeover of recycling, with staff confirming municipalities will "most likely will not" have access to contamination data going forward. Council also directed staff to conduct a legal review of GFL Environmental's contract renewal given ongoing litigation over the company's landfill operations.

Topics Discussed

Blue Box Transition Creates Data Transparency Gap

Following the provincial takeover of blue box recycling on January 1st, the city has lost access to critical contamination data that previously allowed tracking of diversion rates. Staff confirmed municipalities have "no leverage to get that data" and will "most likely won't" be able to access it in the future. Councilors expressed concern that residents have no way to know if recycled materials are actually being processed. Despite these concerns, waste composition audits showed recycling contamination remained stable at 10% before and after the transition, with recycling fibers actually decreasing slightly from 7% to 6%.

Non-Eligible Properties Losing Recycling Service

Council previously approved recycling collection from businesses, places of worship, city facilities, and special events through the end of 2026. After that date, these non-eligible sources will lose city recycling service and must arrange private collection. The city is updating its business waste webpage with private company options and will send notification letters in April, July, and November 2025 to affected addresses. Multi-residential buildings will be required to retain private recycling service to qualify for municipal garbage collection.

Waste Collection Contract Under Legal Scrutiny

The subcommittee passed a motion directing staff to report back on the legal implications of renewing the city's waste collection contract with GFL Environmental, given that the city is currently in court seeking a closure order on a GFL landfill due to public nuisance issues. Councilor Tatis stated: "the public knows we are seeking a closure order on the landfill to address the ongoing public nuisance issue." The current contract, which covers upper mountain areas on a 50-50 split with city staff, runs until April 2028 with an optional one-year extension.

Leaf and Yard Waste Facility Must Relocate

The city's leaf and yard waste composting pad at Glenbrook Landfill, which processes approximately 30,000 metric tons per year, must be relocated beginning in Q4 2026 to make room for future landfill cell development. Staff indicated the city will temporarily exit direct processing operations and contract with third-party facilities, likely outside city limits. Director Angela Story explained the current facility "doesn't meet modern environmental regulations" and "there's not enough room for under current regulations...in order to have proper runoff ponds and proper processing area." This will eliminate residents' access to free compost through city giveaway programs.

Green Bin Participation Remains Critically Low

Ward-by-ward audits revealed green bin participation rates ranging from only 20-30% to 60-70% across the city. Education initiatives showed limited effectiveness, with only 20% of non-participants in Ward 1 starting to use green bins after receiving materials and free compostable bags. Staff noted education alone requires "very high level of resources" with limited results. The city is exploring making green bins more accessible by placing them at Municipal Service Centers and potentially implementing neighborhood giveaway programs, as some residents don't participate simply because they lack bins.

Motions

Passed: - Motion to receive items 7.1 to 7.9 for information - Motion directing staff to report back to Public Works Committee on legal implications of renewing the waste collection contract with GFL Environmental, including risks associated with ongoing legal proceedings and the company's regulatory compliance history (2 opposed)

Attendees

• Councilor Lori
• Councilor Kevin
• Councilor Heather
• Councilor Wilson
• Councilor Tatterson
• Councilor Peter
• Chair (name not specified)