Item - 2019.IE10.10

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1.  Requested the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the first quarter of 2020 on options to extend the Chute Closure Program to multi-residential buildings unable to receive City of Toronto collection services.

In 2010, City Council approved the Chute Closure Program ('the Program') for multi-residential buildings in an effort to improve recycling rates and increase diversion at these buildings. In order to be eligible for the Program, buildings must meet the following minimum requirements: receive City of Toronto collection service; have sufficient space for storage of un-compacted waste containers on the property (if applicable); have sufficient space for storage of recycling containers on the property; and, have ordered, received, distributed and made residents aware of in-unit containers at least six months prior to the initial chute closure application.

There are many multi-residential buildings throughout the city that do not receive City of Toronto collection service and are therefore ineligible to submit an application for the Program. In some cases, the property owner/manager may be willing to switch from private collection to City of Toronto collection but are unable to do so because the physical conditions of their property do not meet the requirements for City of Toronto collection.

In an effort to increase diversion, changes should be considered to the Program so that multi-residential buildings that cannot receive City of Toronto collection services, but meet all other requirements of the Program, can still take part.