Skip to content

Council race: 'Trash talk' from Ward 11 candidate Derek Young

He has some ideas on how Greater Sudbury can more effectively divert its waste
220818_derek_youngSized
Ward 11 council candidate Derek Young. (Supplied)

Ward 11 candidate Derek Young is calling for a review of the City of Greater Sudbury's Waste Management plan, which was first written in March 2005 and updated in February 2016. 

The plan calls for Greater Sudbury to introduce a one bag limit starting in October 2019 with weekly collection and in October 2021, will switch to biweekly collection. 

Young said he is opposed to bi-weekly garbage collection and would like to see more innovative approaches to waste diversion with specific measurable targets as well as education.

"Currently the blue box and green bin programs are voluntary,” said Young, in a press release.

“Greater Sudbury has set a waste diversion target of 65% with no specific date to achieve this goal. Education and a willingness to participate are required.”

The City of Guelph adopted a "Zero Waste Philosophy" in 2008 and set a waste diversion target of 70 per cent by 2021. In 2012, Guelph was already at 68 per cent, the highest in the province, above the provincial average of 47 per cent. 

Green, Blue and Grey carts for all residents, as well as a city operated garbage collection program for downtown businesses and residents, have contributed to achieving these targets. 

Read the full text of Young's release below:

SUDBURY, ON - This year the City of Greater Sudbury is celebrating 40 years of land reclamation. Our land reclamation efforts have been recognized internationally, and over the last 40 years Greater Sudbury has become a leader in the environment. 

Let's build on our environmental successes by developing new best practices as well as learning from other municipalities across Canada such as Guelph, Hamilton and Saskatoon, to reduce our carbon foot print by looking at our own waste diversion, garbage collection and organic waste programs.

Ward 11 candidate Derek Young is calling for a review of the City of Greater Sudbury's Waste Management plan, which was first written in March 2005 and updated in February 2016. The plan calls for Greater Sudbury to introduce a one bag limit starting in October 2019 with weekly collection and in October 2021, will switch to biweekly collection. 

Young is opposed to bi-weekly garbage collection and would like to see more innovative approaches to waste diversion with specific measurable targets as well as education.

"Currently the blue box and green bin programs are voluntary. Greater Sudbury has set a waste diversion target of 65% with no specific date to achieve this goal,” said Young. 

"Education and a willingness to participate are required,” Young added. 

Through his involvement with the New Sudbury Days Festival, as an example, garbage was reduced from 16 bags in year one to 1.5 bags in year two simply through education opportunities on site and sorting the waste into garbage, recyclables and organic waste, which might suggest a one bag weekly limit could be achievable with an option to purchase additional garbage tags for larger family households if necessary.

Waste diversion should extend beyond single family homes and be expanded in Greater Sudbury to include commercial businesses, restaurants and hotels, institutions, apartments and condos as identified in the Waste Free Ontario Act 2016. 3.7 million tonnes of organic waste is generated in Ontario annually. 

In Greater Sudbury, organics can reduce household waste by 30% meanwhile Ontario has set targets of between 50-70% for organic waste.

The City of Guelph adopted a "Zero Waste Philosophy" in 2008 and set a waste diversion target of 70% by 2021. In 2012, Guelph was already at 68%, the highest in the province, above the provincial average of 47%. 

Green, Blue and Grey carts for all residents, as well as a city operated garbage collection program for Downtown businesses and residents, have contributed to achieving these targets. 

The result is lower operating cost for the city, a reduction in the amount of waste and a decrease on the carbon foot print. 

A number of innovative programs are also used, such as Bike Reuse, which provides free used bikes to residents, Waste Innovation Centre for demolition and construction waste, and curb side exchange programs "Giving Waste A New Life"

We must continue to support and build on programs in our community such as ConverGen, which is a part of Greater Sudbury Utilities. 

In 2017, over 83% of the methane produce in the landfill was captured and converted to 11,353,000 kWh, enough power for 3000 homes resulting in $430,000 paid to the City of Greater Sudbury. Similar to the Hamilton Central Composting Facility, which processes 60,000 tonnes of organics, this best practice of capturing methane gas is being explored and possibly expanded to include organic waste in Greater Sudbury.

Aside from garbage and organic waste, Greater Sudbury can be a leader as well by developing new policies regarding single-use plastics such as straws, packaging, shopping bags and corrugated election signs, which have one purpose and short lifespan. 

Although corrugated plastic is a code 5 and recyclable, not every city offers curb side pick-up, the signs are not biodegradable, and the signs produce substantial carbon waste in their production.

Young is reducing his carbon footprint by not placing election signs on lawns and only placing signs with high visual impact in a reduced number of strategic locations in Ward 11.

Learn more about Young's candidacy by visiting his page on Sudbury.com.


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.