How York Region could help solve Ottawa's waste diversion woes

It's not all trash talk, but one Toronto-area municipality does have some pointers for the City of Ottawa on how to handle its waste diversion program.

The Regional Municipality of York,made up of nine towns and citiesnorth of Toronto, hasgood reason to its waste diversion rate is significantly higher than the capital's rate.

A recent report from Waste Watch Ottawa (WWO) showed only 42.5 per cent of Ottawa's residential waste was diverted from a landfill, whereas the province'stop performers diverted more than 60 per cent.

• Ottawa lagging on waste diversion, group says

And when it comes to large municipalities in Ontario, York Region is at the top of the list. Once the energy produced from burned leftover waste is factored in, the municipality diverts nearly90 per cent of its waste from thelandfill.

Convenience is key

The reason? It's about making it easier, saidLaura McDowell, director of environmental promotion and protection with the Regional Municipality of York.

"We found that convenience really does drive diversion," McDowell told CBC Radio's All In A Day.

York Region, along with Toronto, allows pet waste, diapers, sanitary products and even compostable plastic liners in the green bin. Ottawa does not.

McDowell said the plastic liners are especially important to help residents deal with the "yuck factor."

York Region and Ottawa also differ when it comes to recycling.Instead of alternating weeks for paper and plasticrecyclingand requiring colour-coded bins, York Region has a single blue box for all recyclables and it'spicked up every week.

York Region focuses onextra 'R'

And while most people are likely familiar with the three 'Rs' reduce, reuse and recycle, York Region added a fourth R, "recover,"back in 2009.

Using a waste processing facility jointly owned with a neighbouring region, theDurham York Energy Centre processes around140,000 tonnes of waste annually, turning it to energy. However, the facility remains controversial because it burns trash.

Earlier this decade, Ottawa had hoped to incinerate its waste as well but a long-term plan with waste company Plasco to convert garbage into electricity never came to fruition.

"We're also focusing through our SM4RT Living Plan efforts to actually reduce waste so [we]try to eliminate it from the curb in the first place," McDowell said.

The region has introduced repair cafes, so that instead of throwing out that bike or tool when it breaks and buying a new one, people can learn how to fix them.

They've also heldcurb swap events, such asa big yard sale in all nine municipalities within York Region, where anyone can put stuff they don't want on the curb so their trash can become someone else's treasure.

And for people in apartment buildings, they can put their items on a table in a common area.

It is a different way of thinking. I have to say we owe our success to our residents. Our residents are very engaged.- Laura McDowell

"It is a different way of thinking. I have to say we owe our success to our residents. Our residents are very engaged," McDowell said.

In an effort to divert even more waste, the region introduced a pilot project for getting rid of textileslike clothing.

"It's small steps," McDowell said. "But a bunch of small steps can get you there as well."