As we put the wrap on 2013, it’s timely to look back at a year of valuable achievements and continuous improvement in the business of recycling.
The hard work of municipal staff has contributed to closing out 100+ CIF projects in 2013 resulting in a total of approximately 300 projects completed over the past five years of CIF operations. The volume of effort alone is impressive – but it doesn’t really speak to measured project impacts. Your efforts have resulted in significant system cost reductions, recovery increases and improved best practice compliance scores!
How do we know? Last summer, the CIF published the CIF 2008 to 2013 Review that measures the impact of your work to improve Ontario recycling through implementation of CIF-funded projects. If you haven’t had a chance yet, this document’s well worth the read: CIF 2008 to 2013 Review
Beyond closing out previously approved projects, 2013 proved to be a busy but productive year in its own right. Some highlights of 2013 include:
- Hosting our most successful spring consultations with the municipalities to date. Your feedback informed the 2013 REOI plans, CIF program updates and the 2014 budget as well as changes to next year’s datacall
- Approval of approximately $8.8 million in funding for 46 new projects under the 2013 REOI, with particular interest (expressed in REOI responses) in Blue Box system rationalization and system cost management
- Provision of training for 50+ municipal staff through the Contract Management and the new Benchmarking and Assessing trainings (including two session for this high-demand course)
- Completion of three multi-residential round tables to aggregate insights from past projects and develop a Centre of Excellence multi-residential toolkit.
Looking ahead to the new year, the CIF Committee and MIPC have approved the Interim 2014 CIF Operations Plan, which will be finalized pending the outcome of the 2014 Blue Box funding arbitration. The interim budget includes $4.6 million funding for CIF grants to be distributed through a targeted REOI process. The CIF Centre of Excellence will also take shape in 2014 with a $825,000 allocation to develop and deliver toolkits, training programs and marketing materials and to provide direct support for RFPs and contract management, decision-making and cost-saving strategies. New for 2014 – the WDO has also provided approval for the CIF to support projects to develop, implement and measure impacts of policy initiatives to increase waste diversion.
The final 2014 CIF Operations Plan will be published on the CIF website and we will notify you as soon as it’s available. In the meantime, CIF staff will be on the phone and at your doorstep working with you to complete approved projects and help address your questions and concerns.
On a bittersweet note, we are saying “so long,” but not “goodbye” with sincere gratitude, to Anne Boyd, as she completes her transition back to full time work with the City of London. Anne has been an invaluable member of the CIF team. All those who have had the privilege of working with her have been able to benefit from her vast knowledge and her sound guidance in multi-residential recycling.
Finally, on behalf of all of us at the CIF, thank you for your great efforts this year. On behalf of Alec and Carrie and the rest of the CIF support staff, I wish you a safe and happy holiday season and look forward to working with you in 2014.
Mike
Mike Birett, CIF Director
mbirett@wdo.ca or 905-936-5661