Testing formulas for high diversion

Shortly after winning an award for achieving 29% diversion, a proposal came from the Interim Waste Authority proposing that 2 dump sites be slotted for Markham, Ontario. The town, angered by the proposal, wanted to prove that they could achieve 75% diversion in a given demonstration area. Markham formulated its own strategy for achieving higher diversion levels, known as Towards a Model Community. Its primary goal is to surpass the provincial diversion target of 50% by the year 2000. Other goals are to be environmentally sustainable, acceptable to the community, and economically feasible. It was determined that the waste management system which best met these criteria would include aggressive backyard composter promotion, curbside collection of an expanded range of recyclable materials, curbside collection of kitchen and yard organics for composting at a central facility, and the use of an appropriate 3 stream collection vehicle to accommodate dry recyclables, organics, and garbage. After 6 months, town officials note that the public's response is generally positive.