Have your say about Toronto's Draft Waste Strategy!
The City of Toronto, in collaboration with the public and key stakeholders, has developed a Draft Waste Strategy to guide policy decisions to manage Toronto's solid waste over the next 30 to 50 years. Four upcoming public meetings and/or webinars are scheduled to receive public input on the Draft Waste Strategy, its recommended options and implementation plan. This is a “3Rs-First” Strategy, focused on reducing, reusing and recycling/composting waste to promote
Members of the public are invited to attend any of the following sessions to provide feedback. Online registration is requested via http://www.torontowastestrategy.eventbrite.ca. resource conservation and reduced environmental impact.
· Draft Waste Strategy Overview
Tuesday, March 29, 6 to 8:30 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m.
St. Paul’s Bloor Street Church, Cody Hall, 227 Bloor St. E. (Bloor/Yonge Station)
· Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: Waste Diversion in Houses, Apartments, and Condos
Monday, April 4, 6:30 to 9 p.m., presentation and workshop at 7 p.m.
Central YMCA, Auditorium, 20 Grosvenor St. (Wellesley Station)
· Diversion Opportunities: Businesses and Do-It-Yourself Home Renovators
Thursday, April 7, 2 to 3:30 p.m., webinar http://www.toronto.ca/wastestrategy
· Waste Recovery and Residual: How to Handle Remaining Materials
Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., presentation at 7 p.m.
City Hall, Committee Room 2, 100 Queen St. W.
In-person sessions begin with an open house format where attendees may view information boards and speak to project staff. This will be followed by a presentation, question and answer period and breakout sessions involving small group interactive discussions. Those unable to attend in person may review project information on the Waste Strategy's website and complete an online survey to provide their feedback from March 29 to April 27.
Staff will present a final Waste Strategy to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on June 20 and to City Council at its July 2016 meeting.
More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/wastestrategy. Those who use social media can join the conversation on Twitter via @GetInvolvedTO and the hashtag #TOwastestrategy.
Plastic Film Can Be Sorted into Blue Bin Starting June 1
Toronto's Blue Bin recycling program, one of North America's largest residential curbside recycling programs, will soon become even bigger and better with the addition of new types of soft plastic. The timing is perfect. The City uses the services of a state-of-the-art recycling processing facility located here in Toronto that is able to process these types of plastic. Another key factor is a stable market for selling soft plastic film is now established.
New acceptable items include:
- milk bags and outer bags;
- select types of bread bags (non-foil);
- sandwich bags (e.g. re-sealable type bags);
- bulk food bags (used for fruit, vegetables, nuts);
- dry cleaning bags;
- newspaper/flyer bags;
- fresh or frozen produce bags;
- over-wrap from toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, water/soft drink packaging, etc.
Please empty and rinse these plastic items to remove residue before placing in the Blue Bin.
This leaves only a few types of soft plastic material that cannot be recycled:
X All biodegradable plastic film materials
X Black plastic film
X Laminated plastic film (e.g. stand-up re-sealable pouch bags)
For more details, visit toronto.ca/recycling and to confirm where items go, check the Waste Wizard at toronto.ca/wastewizard
If you need more room for your recyclables, upsize your Blue Bin for free. Make a Service Request online at toronto.ca/311 or phone 311.
When we each do our part to recycle as much as we can, we help increase our waste diversion rate and save valuable landfill space. We can also take pride in knowing that the extra plastic we are recycling will be made into other items such as plastic bags and plastic wood products. It's a win-win all the way around.
Update on the City of Toronto's Long Term Waste Management Strategy
Thank you to everyone who shared their ideas on the City's Long Term Waste Management Strategy at the Public Consultation Sessions in June 2014, throughout the Summer, Fall, and at Community Events, and also by completing the first survey.
To find out what we heard from you and learn about more opportunities to participate as the Strategy develops, please read Project Update #2
