Kelleher Environmental Services

Environmental Research & Policy Development

Kelleher Environmental carries out research projects on environmental topics for a range of clients. We use a variety of techniques to collect the information needed:

- In-person, e-mail or telephone surveys and interviews;
- Specialized literature searches;
- Extensive in-house library of reports and publications, and
- Web based research.

Some recent environmental research projects are described below.

Lifespan Assessment and Research on Flourescent Lighting, Waste Diversion Ontario (2007)
Researched and created a model to identify the amount of fluorescent lighting which will be discarded in Ontario between 2008 and 2015. Estimates take into consideration the market transformation to new lighting designs which will result from higher lighting energy efficiency standards at federal and provincial levels.

Increasing Waste Diversion for Multiple Family Buildings, Greater Vancouver Regional District (2007)
As sub-consultant to Sheltair Consulting Group team, identified innovative and practical policies, programs and technologies to increase waste diversion in multi-family buildings throughout the Region. Researched and wrote a best practices paper documenting innovative programs and policies to increase waste diversion in MF buildings in communities throughout North America and Europe and providing input and feedback to a number of focus groups undertaken with waste haulers, property managers and City staff.

Description of the IC&I Solid Waste Management System (2004) in Ontario and Description of IC&I Waste Diversion in Ontario, for Ontario Waste Management Association (2007)
Prepared a background paper for the OWMA describing the current infrastructure for management of IC&I waste in Ontario, and regulatory and other barriers to increased diversion and landfill siting in Ontario in 2004. Prepared a description of the current IC&I waste diversion activity in Ontario (2007).

Characterization of Solid Waste Management System in Canada, Environment Canada (2004)
Prepared a summary report describing solid waste management practices and policies throughout Canada as background information for regulation development (2004)

3Rs Report, GTA Waste Management Strategy Team (2003)
As part of communication package with the State of Michigan, prepared a detailed description of all 3Rs related activities carried out by municipalities in Greater Toronto Area, and explained the background to export of waste from Ontario.

Incentive Approaches to Increase Recycling in Single Family Households, City of Calgary (2007)
Carried out a research project for City of Calgary to identify a variety of incentive based approaches to encourage increased participation in waste diversion programs by single family households. Options identified and profiled included rewards (i.e. RecycleBank and Berkley’s Cash for Trash program), rebates (i.e. Lethbridge’s policy of rebating residents for any excess revenues from recycling), outreach (i.e. Seattle’s Friends of Recycling program) feedback (Portsmouth report card) and pledges (Toledo’s pledge program). The report will be used to develop a strategy to encourage greater participation in the City’s curbside recycling program.

Best Practices to Address Illegal Dumping of Waste at Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) Properties, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (2007)
Carried out a research project identifying the key issues surrounding illegal dumping on TCHC properties, researched, identified and evaluated best practices employed in various communities throughout North America and Europe to tackle illegal dumping, and recommended actions which should be taken by TCHC to reduce the illegal dumping problem.

Environmental Impacts of Different Management Options for Insulating Foam, Ontario Power Authority (2007)
Identified environmental and other impacts of a range of options for managing polyurethane insulating foam from retired refrigerators generated in a province-wide refrigerator retirement program.

Best Practices in Refrigerator Retirement and Replacement Programs (2006)
For the Conservation Bureau of the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), carried out research on best practices in refrigerator retirement and replacement programs in Canada and the US, to provide models which Ontario(population 13 million) could adopt.

Best Practices for Diversion of Paper and Organic Waste, Calgary Regional Partnership
As sub-consultant to CH2M Hill, researched best practices for management of paper and organics as part of a larger strategy to achieve high diversion of waste in Calgary and the surrounding area.

Soil Industry Report – Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) (2006)
SDTC hired Kelleher Environmental to develop a profile of the soil industry in Canada. Fifty members of the soil clean-up and groundwater clean-up technology industry and related stakeholders were interviewed. A profile was developed and a report was prepared describing the various players in the industry, and identifying drivers and barriers to placing research funds within the sector.

Use of Forest Biomass To Produce Energy, Friends of the Earth, Canada (2005)
Researched and prepared a paper identifying the amount of forest biomass produced in Canada and how it is currently used to produce energy. Identified technical barriers to increased use of forest biomass, and technologies currently available or being researched (gasification, pyrolysis, black liquor gasification) to increase forest biomass utilization and make the Canadian pulp and paper industry a net energy exporter.

The Links Between Public Policy, Public Awareness and Social Change – Lessons for Development of Climate Change Policy in Canada, for Public Education and Outreach Table of Canadian National Climate Change Strategy Development Process
Author of paper “Public Policy, Public Awareness and Social Change”, an analysis of the interaction of these three factors for eight public policy issues (acid rain, BC forests, Canada Pension Plan, smoking and teenagers in Florida and Quebec, Participaction) to identify lessons learned which could be applied to climate change.

Environmental and Economic Benefits of Recycling in the Greater Vancouver Regional District (2001), British Columbia, Canada
With Sheltair, carried out research to identify economic and environmental benefits of GVRD efforts to promote and support recycling in the local community.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Anaerobic Digestion of Green Waste (2005)
Carried out a comprehensive study of anaerobic digestion systems in Europe, Asia and North America. Identified AD technologies to process garden waste and other sources of biomass to produce biogas and green energy.

Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance – Business Plan for Ontario Component of a National Fleet Challenge (2004)
Identified technical and other options used by fleets throughout North America to reduce fuel usage, and reduce greenhouse gases through a range of measures (technology changes, fuel switching, increased use of biofuels, use of hybrid engines, staff training, procurement specifications, etc). Identified leading edge approaches which could be applied in Canada and developed a business plan and budget for a 3-year Ontario program.

Waste Management Strategy, National Energy Policy of Thailand
Carried out research for case studies of 30 different technical and community approaches to waste management, and assessed applicability to Thailand.

Waste Management Technology Review Manual and Solid Waste Guidance Manual and Workbook, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Carried out research and developed a technology review manual (with RIS and Earthtech), which describes existing and emerging technologies for diverting and managing municipal solid waste.