Delegate comments following the December 2 and 3, 2009 Symposium held at the Airport Four Points by Sheraton in Toronto are in agreement that it was timely, well organized and brought together organics waste processing industry experts from the public and private sectors, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and OWMA member delegates to discuss industry challenges, present realistic solutions, suggest a practical action plan leading to industry success and the roles that the MOE and industry must play to reach it.

Using both plenary and small group discussion formats, professional facilitator Betty Muise confirmed the key issues for the industry as Economic Conditions, Policy, End Markets, Processing Capacity, Processing Issues, and Media/Communications. Delegates rotated among the single topic small group discussion of greatest interest and the group leaders created PowerPoint summaries of each of these small group discussions for further discussion. The final issues, action plan and recommendations for each topic will form the basis of OWMA’s comments on the Compost Guidelines which the Organics Diversion & Compost Committee is preparing for approval of the OWMA Board of Directors. Once this is finalized it will be posted on the OWMA website for viewing.

Thank you to the small group leaders who worked with delegates to identify possible solutions and next steps for the key issues and presented the summaries of their groups’ findings. These facilitators and the session notetakers who assisted them included: Peter Klaassen from AES International Environmental Consultants Inc. and Betsy Varghese from Dillon Consulting Limited; Mike Kopansky and Derek Sawyer from Miller Waste Systems; Jennifer Agnolin from Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP and Maryanne Hill from OWMA; Pam Russell and Meagan Wheeler Cuddihy from Golder Associates Ltd.; and Mike Deprez from Walker Environmental Group and Brian Nelson; and Paul van der Werf from 2cg Inc. and Alyssa Broadfoot from the County of Dufferin.

The important contribution made by symposium delegates whose collective wisdom about the organics processing industry in Ontario increased the knowledge for all who attended and resulting notes will form the basis of OWMA comments to the Ministry of the Environment on the Composting Guidelines which the Organics Diversion and Composting Committee will develop for approval of the OWMA Board of Directors. It will be shared with the membership when it is finalized.

Without the commitment and involvement of the OWMA members who volunteer to organize, deliver and sponsor the association’s activities we would not achieve the high level of success with our activities. Thank you to everyone for their ongoing support.

Our Symposium sponsors included the following OWMA members.

2cg Inc, AES International Environmental Consultants, Golder Associates Ltd., Miller Waste Systems, Orgaworld Canada Ltd., Toromont Industries Ltd., Walker Environmental Group, Wasteco, and Regional Municipality of York.