Waste reduction final report -4 - Test Input

• conduct an audit of the waste that will be generated by the project and prepare a
written waste audit report;
• based on the audit, prepare a written waste reduction plan that includes source
separation (recycling) programs for materials such as wood, steel, concrete and bricks
before the project begins;
• implement the waste reduction work plan;
• include measures for communicating the plan to workers at the project site;
• retain a copy of the audit and work plan documents on file for five years from
completion of the project.
Regulation 103/94 requires source separation (recycling) programs for specified wastes:
• implement a source separation program for the reusable and recyclable materials
listed in Regulation 102/94;
• specify facilities that are sufficient for the collection, sorting, handling and storage of
these materials;
• communicate the source separation program and its successes to employees, patrons,
and tenants;
• make reasonable effort to ensure that the separated waste is reused or recycled.
Material to be recycled by establishments designated under Ontario’s 3Rs Regulations
include: cardboard, brick, concrete, drywall (gypsum board), steel and wood.
Various reports have commented on a consistent lack of enforcement of CRD waste
management regulations in Ontario. Inspections by the Ministry of Environment in 2006
revealed that more than 90 per cent of industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) groups
were out of compliance with the Ontario Regulation 102/94 and 103/94 12 and a 2010 reort by
the Auditor General states that “the Ministry has little assurance that the regulations are being
complied with” 13 . Although a waste audit and plan must be prepared there is no requirement
to submit it anywhere and non-compliance does not lead to any financial penalty. There is a
lack of awareness of the regulations, an ineffective inspection process, and lack of
information. Conversely the Ontario Waste Management Association (the association that
represents private-sector waste management companies), estimates that the cost of disposing
waste in a landfill is about 40% lower than the cost of recycling, creating disincentives to
recycle.
However, the recent focus on waste diversion resulting from the 60% diversion target in
Ontario (and Quebec), and the increased concerns about waste disposal, as well as the impact
the sustainable building concerns and the LEED green building rating have led to more
efforts at enforcement. At this stage it is unclear what affect this is having.
The situation in other Canadian provinces varies. Some provinces have little or no regulations
regarding CRD waste management. Others such as British Columbia and Nova Scotia have
higher ICI waste diversion rates than Ontario due to more creative diversion programs. Both
12 Baker, B. (2007, March 17). ICI: clean up your act; Michigan move to ban Ontario trash worrisome. Daily
Commercial News
http://dcnonl.com/article/id20429&search_term=ICI%20clean%20up%20your%20act
13 2010 Auditor General’s Report, Section 3.09, p. 213 http://69.164.72.173/en/reports_en/en10/309en10.pdf
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