A new five-year contract for the hauling and disposal of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in Dysart et al could stand to save taxpayers around $2 million in projected costs.
Environmental manager, John Watson, said an agreement with York 1 Rosewarne Transfer Ltd. represents a 45 per cent decrease in hauling costs, and 61 per cent decrease in disposal costs compared to its current deal with Mid-Ontario Disposal, which expires Dec. 31.
The arrangement with York 1 will kick in Jan. 1, 2024, and run to Dec. 31, 2028.
Addressing council Nov. 28, Watson said the township received four bids for the contract, with York 1 offering haulage at $800 per trip, and disposal for $60 per metric tonne. Under the current agreement with Mid-Ontario, Dysart pays $1,442 per haul, and $152.44 per metric tonne disposed.
Year-to-date, up to Oct. 31, Dysart has collected 3,584.38 tonnes of C&D waste at the Haliburton, Harcourt, and West Guilford landfill sites, and had 94 trailer loads of materials shipped away, for a total cost of $681,893.
Under the terms of this new deal, those same numbers would run the township $290,262, so an approximate savings of $391,630.
“This is good news… there is definitely a cost benefit to us [in this] new agreement,” Watson said. He noted there would be annual CPI adjustments implemented from 2025 to 2028.
Dysart upped its C&D waste collection fees earlier this year, after the township saw its costs spike almost 38 per cent from 2021 to 2022. Furniture disposal doubled, rising to $20; the cost per cubic yard of C&D waste climbed from $60 to $100; while combinations of garbage, recycling, and C&D waste went from $120 per cubic metre to $200.
There is a plan to purchase and install a weigh scale at the Haliburton landfill, which Watson said earlier this year could see all C&D waste routed to the site in future. Currently, the township also accepts C&D waste at its Harcourt and West Guilford locations.
Electronics accepted
Starting in the new year, residents will once again be able to dispose of electronic waste (EEE) at all five landfill sites in Dysart.
Dysart entered into an agreement with Com2 Recycling Solutions in 2021 to handle the collection of qualifying materials in the township.
The company stipulated it would only collect from one landfill site, per new provincial regulations, forcing Dysart to stop accepting electronic recyclables at Harcourt, Kennisis Lake, West Bay and West Guilford landfills.
The company has proposed reinstating collections, starting Jan. 1, 2024. Watson said the company would install outdoor metal cages at all landfill sites, picking them up when they’re full. Watson noted this is a money maker for the township, with Com2 set to pay $110.23 per metric tonne collected.
To recycle, or not
Watson has pitched a revamp of the municipality’s mattress and box spring disposal protocols.
Currently, the items are processed as garbage at Haliburton, Harcourt, and West Guilford dump sites, with residents paying $20 per item. Watson is proposing Dysart work with Woodbridge-based company Recyc-Mattress to recycle them instead. He noted it would improve the township’s waste diversion rate.
The estimated cost is $15,650 per year based on bin rental, haulage, and recycling of 500 units. Watson said the township could recoup this by upping its mattress and box spring disposal fees to $30 per item. He proposed the program be implemented at the Haliburton landfill site only, with collections at Harcourt and West Guilford discontinued.
Watson added a similar program had recently been implemented in Minden Hills.
Coun. Pat Casey was worried increasing the fees for the second time in 12 months could lead to an increase in illegal dumping. Fearrey felt it was more cost effective to continue landfilling the items. The proposal will be discussed again in the new year.
