Cleaning up After Mother Nature Andrea Graham Halton Region MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Cleaning up After Mother Nature

Cleaning up After Mother Nature

Andrea GrahamHalton Region

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014

Overview - Halton Region

Population 2013•Burlington -174,472•Halton Hills – 56,809•Milton – 102,920•Oakville – 184,150•Total - 518,311

•4% Rural


Ice Storm - Background•December 20, 2013•Snow & freezing rain impacted North America affecting Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes and parts of the U.S.•GTA – reported 3cm of accumulated ice resulting in fallen trees/branches•Hydro One reported over 600,000 power outages


Ice Storm – Halton•All 4 Municipalities of Halton affected•In particular Burlington, Rural Milton & Rural HH – Niagara Escarpment backdrop & vast tree canopy•Residents without power for up to a week


Ice Storm 2013


Expectations & Actions•Initial planning stages began once we received the first phone call.•Manage expectations

• Residents

• Councillors

• Local Municipalities

• CAO

• Regional Chair/Mayors


Urban Collection – Phase 1•First media release went out December 23•Enhanced collection services began on December 26•Until January 31st - 1 pile of bulk brush collected on garbage day•Collecting brush w/ Christmas Trees


Urban Collection – Phase 1•Regular bulk brush dimensions of 10’x6’x4’•Provide urban residents only with enhanced yard waste collection service•All residents were entitled to free drop off at HWMS until January 31st


Urban Collection

Request vs Actual


Urban Collection – Phase 2•January 3 – second media release went out•Extending services through to end of February •Obtained additional resources •Collecting brush everyday in various areas of Halton


Urban Collection – Phase 2•3 additional drop off locations

• Georgetown – Town Ops Centre• Acton – PW Yard• Milton – Mohawk Racetrack

•Collection in the Milton rural hamlets• Cambellville, Brookville, Moffat

•Suspended service February 7th due to weather, resolving to continue urban clean up in the spring.


Urban Collection – Phase 2•Weather Challenges:

• Constant snow• Frozen brush• taking too long for too little brush

collected

•Residents hadn’t cleaned anything yet•Free drop off at the landfill until June 30th


How’d we do it?Got Trucks?


How’d we do it?•Emergency PO’s for additional resources required

• Additional dedicated Miller Waste trucks ~ 6-8

• 2 additional contractors providing daily collection to assigned areas

• Tree Care companies – wood chipping services


How’d we do it?•Roll off bins/hauling services required for various resident drop-off locations throughout the Region.•Chipping service for large brush piles


Spring Brush Collection•March 31st – May 30th

•Miller Waste had dedicated trucks to collect bulk brush separately from YW – daily•2 additional collection contractors•No woodchipping services•Continuation of winter collection service …or so we thought


Rural Collection•Pressure from rural residents to provide collection•Issue being raised was fairness•We wanted to align enhanced services with current services provided•Felt rural residents have means to deal with it


Rural Collection


Rural Collection•Initial safety concerns collecting with rear packers•Politics won and collection began - May 5th – May 31st

•Rural was split into areas •Miller Waste collected areas daily – YW dimensions of 20’x6’x4’•Hired student to monitor


Rural Collection•Things changed yet again•RFP for Rural Chipping Services was developed - Call in service•Lists, Lists, and more Lists!•Realized not everyone was calling in so put them on the list ourselves•Contractor also chipped what was out there


Communications•Mobile Signs•Website•Social Media•PSA’s – newspaper, media releases•Daily email updates to the senior mgmt

• Chair, CAO, Commish, Councillors

MWA Spring Workshop May 2013MWA Spring Workshop May 2013

By the Numbers•Additional ~6000 tonnes of YW captured = 40% •1250 calls related to storm brush•Estimated additional cost ~$2.1M


Lessons Learned•We under-estimated sheer volume of work•Expectation of the work kept changing – action plans constantly evolving & changing•Suspension of urban collection in February led to a few angry tree care service companies


Lessons Learned •Dedicated staff monitoring was essential•Daily assessments/updates of progress helpful•We can do it! And were successful at it.•Increase creditability of municipal gov & WM staff


Burlington Flood -Background•Monday August 4th ~200mm of rain fell in Halton in 3 hours•Equivalent rainfall of 2 months worth•Became evident areas extremely effected were isolated to Burlington•Combination of sewer back-up & creeks overflowing


Burlington Flood


Expectations & Actions•Limited knowledge of initial impact•Received calls requesting service the following day – Tuesday•Expectation of collection assistance was an immediate response

• Residents, Politicians, Senior Mgmt

•First media release occurred on August 6th


Expectations & Actions•Initial plan was to waive limits

• garbage bag (3-bag) • bulk limits (3-item)

•Asked residents to observe collection guidelines

• Garbage bags < 50 lbs• Flooring/Carpeting bundled & tied - 2’x4’ • Insulation/Loose drywall placed in garbage

bags/containers


Challenges •Limited Resources•Coordinate with Contractor – gave them a heads up that it was coming•We hadn’t been able to assess damage yet – who and how much•Service for Burlington only?•Soon realized more damage then initially thought


Burlington Flood - Curbside


How’d we do it?•Water dept involved due to sewer back-ups – able to determine areas affected


How’d we do it?•Miller Waste obtained a few more trucks for daily collection but mostly able to use existing resources.•Collection changed from garbage day only, to daily service•Utilized student & staff to monitor/assess areas to focus on each day – and of course more Lists!


How’d we do it? •Collected 3 saturdays with large fleet

• 25 trucks, 18 trucks, 10 trucks

•Helped it was August – traditionally lighter time of year•Collection schedule already has additional bulk day in September•Initial plan was until Aug 31st - then Sept 30th – then Oct 31st


Communications•Same as Ice Storm

• Mobile Signs, Website, Social Media, PSA’s – newspaper, media releases

• Daily email updates to the senior mgmt

•Informed residents to put material curbside and we would get to it•Key is to keep people informed


By the Numbers•Estimated 3097 hhlds flooded •Additional ~550 tonnes = 15% Additional cost ~$150,000•Existing Fleet was able to absorb most of the cost


Lessons Learned•Experience!•Initial plan prepared by Tuesday morning•Important to have good relationship with your Contractor•Contingency plans are difficult – constantly changing & evolving


Weather Changing•According to CBC - precipitation across Canada has increased by 12%•50 yr floods are occurring every 10 yrs•Last 25 yrs of rainfall showed there were 3 -100yr storms and 6- 50yr storms


What’s Next?Locusts?


Contact information

[email protected] x8279

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Cleaning up After Mother Nature Andrea Graham Halton Region MWA Fall Workshop October 29, 2014