neighbours working together area waste management group (awmg) mwa spring workshop may 2014

Neighbours Working Together

Neighbours Working Together

Area Waste Management

Group(AWMG)

MWA Spring Workshop May 2014

MWA Spring Workshop May 2014MWA Spring Workshop May 2014

We are a cooperative of five separate municipalities located

within south-central Ontario:

Provides us with an the opportunity to share common experiences, exchange relevant information, and embark on joint ventures made possible by our close geographical connections.

Provides us with an the opportunity to share common experiences, exchange relevant information, and embark on joint ventures made possible by our close geographical connections.

Four of the five municipalities also share the Rural Regional group distinction under the WDO municipal groupings.

Four of the five municipalities also share the Rural Regional group distinction under the WDO municipal groupings.


We meet 2-3 times each year, sharing hosting duties on a rotating basis.


• Not unlike the MWA family - sharing and networking - but on a smaller, more regionalized, and more task-oriented basis.

• Casual and informal; no membership fees, no Agreements, no budget per se. Agendas and Minutes are completed by hosting municipality.


• Formed in 2008, when the County of Peterborough, Northumberland County, and Quinte Waste Solutions met to explore opportunities for organics processing. Decided to continue meeting regularly to discuss other waste related matters.

• Expanded to include the City of Kawartha Lakes and City of Peterborough in 2009.


Typical meeting agendas include the following items:

• Markets

• Diversion Programs (BB, L&Y, Scrap Metal, Tire, MHSW, WEEE, Organics)

• Joint Purchasing Opportunities

• Contracts / Tenders

• WDO Datacall (especially Best Practices)

• Updates on Major Projects / Initiatives (Master Plans, Collection Tenders, Changes in Services or Programs)


Benefits• One common voice to represent our area to

regulators and other waste-related agencies• General information sharing• Sharing of Tenders/RFPs• Overlap of media means opportunities for

shared outreach • Close proximity, making it feasible to

consider joint programs, procurement and co-contracting


Another great benefit…

Best Practices Points!


Some of the tangible outcomes from the AWMG:

• meetings with WDO officials regarding the latest ISPs for batteries, paint, etc (Michael Scott and Mary Cummins)


Recycle Rangers School Program


• Previously, all the municipal partners had varying types of programs; no consistency in the message

• Most found it difficult to reach the schools given staffing constraints

• Decided one consistent message, delivered by one outside agency, would be the way to go


Program Goals

• Focused on what was the same• Reinforce recycling messaging

through the kids• Blue box intensive• Rotating themes


Program Outcome

• 2 year pilot• Reached 82 of 83 schools in the

region• 10 schools competed in Waste

Reduction Challenge


Recycle Rangers won Gold for 2012 Best P&E Tool


What’s Next?

• Developing a new module for next phase


Original pilot group for “Plastic Is In” campaign


“Plastic Is In” campaign

Goals:

• To increase the capture of mixed plastics

• To educate people about mixed plastics

• To determine the effectiveness of the campaign



Method:• Various communication tools/strategies

Evaluation:•Pre and post audits

•Consumer research



Results:•Information on success of various communication vehicles

•Support for a provincial campaign focused on all plastics


Successfully applied to CIF for 50% funding for a group campaign, called

“Fibers Are In”


Challenges??• Not every idea works for the entire group –

differences in our programs, budgets and political masters may prevent it.

• Even if things can’t work for all of us, part of the group may still work together, and ideas may be adapted and modified as required.

• The following slides highlight some areas where we have had successes between two or more members, and where we may look to expand to others as possible.


Creation and sharing of some innovative collection ideas:


Shared P&E, particularly between the City and County of Peterborough


Shared ideas and personnel…


Currently working on shared messaging for common issues we

all encounter:• presence of batteries in with the recycling• the reduction of excessive food waste•presence of sharps in both garbage and recycling (promotion of the HPSA programs in pharmacies)•the promotion of reusable diapers


In conclusion…We’ve found no real downside in getting together a few times a year to share our current projects, our success stories - and our not so successful projects - and to talk about how we might collaborate in the future.

•fun, casual and always informative•good brainstorming and sounding board sessions•tangible results•easy to meet face to face due to proximity to one an other•Low cost of providing lunch once a year•The camaraderie keeps us all humble


And as Karl from Northumberland County likes to say…

Keep on recycling!


• City of Kawartha Lakes – Heather [email protected]

• City of Peterborough – Virginia [email protected]

• County of Peterborough – Lily Hamill [email protected]

• Northumberland County – Adam [email protected]

• Quinte Waste Solutions – Jeanne Vilneff [email protected]

Questions?Questions?

neighbours working together area waste management group (awmg) mwa spring workshop may 2014

Documents

campaignmwa spring workshop

programsmwa spring workshop

phasemwa spring workshop

gomwa spring workshop

waste related matters

joint programs

mwa family

quinte waste solutions