PW11.2.1

ZERO WASTE A VISION FOR OUR CITY NOW IS THE TIME.

February 2016 green jobs, all while dramatically Right now, we are facing a major cutting our greenhouse gas decision that will affect our emissions and conserving natural environment, our economy and resources. It means more support our city. In the next six months, for the innovative businesses and City Councillors and Torontonians community groups that are already will discuss, debate and decide demonstrating the success of zero what Toronto’s Long Term Waste waste strategies. Management Strategy will be. This sets us on a path for how The good news is that the City of we will deal with our city’s waste Toronto has taken some important for the next 50 years. The path steps towards a zero waste future. we choose reflects the vision we share for our future. In this report, we celebrate the waste-free steps we have already This report outlines a vision for zero taken in our city and we identify the waste - a future where there is no steps we still need to take towards waste, where everything is designed a zero waste future. Using examples to be reused or to become the from our own communities and materials and resources to create from other leaders around the something new. This vision world, this report points out key is about eliminating waste and opportunities and wrong turns we taking responsibility for our actions. need to avoid.

Around the world and right here This report provides innovative in , communities are adopting ideas and concrete examples that zero waste. ’s new provincial can help as our city discusses what waste strategy clearly articulates a kind of future we want and what goal of zero waste, supported with path we will choose to take on new programs and regulations aimed waste. Our intention is to inspire to eliminate waste and create a Torontonians and Councillors with strong circular economy. this vision of zero waste for Toronto, and demonstrate how achievable it Toronto’s Long Term Waste really is. Management Strategy is our chance TORONTO to choose a zero waste path for our city, a path that will help our ENVIRONMENTAL environment, our communities, and our economy. ALLIANCE Emily Alfred is the Waste Campaigner Zero waste strategies grow the at Toronto Environmental Alliance economy by keeping resources and and the principal author money circulating locally with good of Zero Waste Toronto.

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TABLE OF The Toronto Environmental Alliance practitioners, attending community wants to thank the Toronto Civic meetings, and communicate our Employees Union (CUPE) Local findings and solutions to our CONTENTS 416 for the donation that made this supporters, to waste experts, to report possible. business decision-makers and to elected officials at City Hall and 6 VISION: A ZERO WASTE FUTURE CUPE Local 416 and the Toronto Queen’s Park. Environmental Alliance (TEA) have 8 PROFILE: MAYFAIR ON THE GREEN - A ZERO WASTE SUCCESS STORY a long history of working together This report (and the thousands to promote environmentally of hours of work that it embodies) 10 THE BENEFITS OF ZERO WASTE responsible approaches to waste is a testament to CUPE 416’s management in Toronto. In 2000, commitment to creating a more 14 TORONTO WAS ONCE A LEADER IN ZERO WASTE we collaborated on Green Future, sustainable waste management 16 BURYING AND BURNING RESOURCES ARE NOT PART OF A ZERO WASTE FUTURE Green Jobs, a report that made system in Toronto. We are the business case for the City of extremely grateful. 18 ZERO WASTE + ORGANICS Toronto to start separating and collecting organics rather than send The content of this report 19 ZERO WASTE + RECYCLABLES it to landfill. The report led the way reflects the views of TEA, and to the City’s highly successful Green not necessarily those of CUPE 20 ZERO WASTE + HAZARDOUS WASTE Bin program. Local 416. 21 ZERO WASTE + REUSABLES CUPE Local 416 members work night and day to manage 22 ZERO WASTE + THE “LEFTOVERS” Toronto’s waste in environmentally 24 ZERO WASTE IS A JOURNEY responsible ways. TEA invests many thousands of hours every year 26 CREDITS + ENDNOTES doing research, talking to waste

4 5 ZERO WASTE is an approach to waste that works to eliminate VISION: A ZERO the harmful environmental, RETAIL + SHOPPING health and economic impacts of WASTE FUTURE wasting resources. All over the world, people are adopting a zero waste vision of a future without waste. In this vision, anything wasted is seen as a sign of environmental and economic failure.

A zero waste future is one in compost 85% of the waste coming THE PILLARS OF ZERO WASTE: which goods are shared, designed out of our homes.1 Improving access to last and be easily recycled and and education will help more people 1. Commit to zero waste with MANUFACTURING USE + REPAIR repurposed. Zero waste uses get to 85% - then we can look at targets and timelines a hierarchy that focuses on the simple and creative ways to reduce 2. Ensure equal access for highest and best use of a resource: the other 15%. everyone to the tools to reduce, reuse and recycle (in that reduce, reuse and recycle order). Disposal or destruction of Community groups and businesses 3. Prioritize education and resources is waste that we need to right here in Toronto and around effective communications avoid and design out of our system. the world are showing that 4. Tap into community creative zero waste solutions excitement and innovation 5. Use incentives to keep Zero waste is about building a prevent pollution, support healthy moving forward vibrant circular economy, where communities and drive a circular 6. Keep learning unwanted materials are not economy. REUSE + RECYCLING disposed in a landfill or incinerator, but become the raw materials Zero waste is a journey. for something new. A strong The path to zero waste requires circular economy keeps valuable investing in people and nurturing a resources circulating in the local value almost all of us share: taking economy, supporting good green responsibility for our own actions jobs, benefiting the community, and and not being wasteful. It requires reducing harmful environmental communities and governments to impacts. understand waste management is not a disposal problem to be solved Zero waste is possible. by machines rather, it is a resource Right now in Toronto, our City recovery challenge to be solved by waste diversion services mean empowering people. NATURAL RESOURCES DISPOSAL + DESTRUCTION we can reduce, reuse, recycle or

6 7 MAYFAIR ON “It’s good for everyone. THE GREEN: It’s easy. It’s not hard to do.” A ZERO WASTE - Mayfair on the Green resident. SUCCESS STORY

Located in Scarborough, a 25 year hazardous waste like cleaners, • Located in the Malvern neighbourhood of Scarborough old condominium is showing how batteries and old paint. zero waste is possible: with over 1000 residents, this building is Residents place old household • Transformed garbage chute into Green Bin organics chute generating only one dumpster of goods, books and clothes they no garbage per month. longer want on a designated sharing • Ground floor recycling room also collects cooking oil, shelf. If another resident hasn’t hazardous waste and reusable items The residents of Mayfair on the taken it within a few weeks, the Green are reducing, reusing, goods are donated to a local charity. • Door-to-door outreach educated residents on proper recycling and composting over 85% of their waste, far above the Using City waste signs, posters and waste sorting and got buy-in from building residents average high-rise building that brochures in multiple languages, diverts only 26%. the building staff went door-to-door to explain the benefits of the new Soon after it was initiated by the program and answer questions. building superintendent, Princely $20,000 TO $5,000 Soundranayagam, both building staff As a result of their hard work, the per year per year and the condo board committed building has saved thousands of waste fees waste fees to reducing waste. The goals dollars in waste fees and donated were to both save on rising waste hundreds of bags of goods to fees, and to do their part for the charity. Residents are proud of environment. Using the City’s what they’ve accomplished and full range of waste services and they’re happy to share the story of 20 1 educational tools, the building was their success. Their commitment is TO able to make dramatic changes in strong as they continue to look for 20 garbage 1 garbage 2 dumpsters per month dumpster per month just a few years. ways to reduce waste further. The building’s garbage chute has The City can play a key role been transformed into a Green in helping multi-residential buildings Bin chute, collecting organics and develop zero waste strategies like 40 food waste only. Residents drop off Mayfair on the Green through 1000+ recycling and garbage downstairs, incentives, access to recycling and 40 bags / reusable goods 1000+ residents where they can also recycle diversion services, and educational donated per month in 282 units electronic waste, cooking oil and support and feedback.

8 9 ZERO WASTE BENEFITS OUR ENVIRONMENT

THE MANY 20 X BENEFITS OF less energy to create an aluminum can from ZERO WASTE recycled materials than to create one from raw materials4 Zero waste protects the environment, benefits communities and supports a strong local economy.

Zero waste reduces our Zero waste conserves In contrast, a zero waste approach climate impact. resources and minimizes conserves natural resources and Reducing, reusing and recycling can pollution. reduces pollution from extraction, be a key part of a climate change Our current culture of consumption manufacturing and disposal. strategy to reduce our greenhouse is unsustainable. Extracting raw Reducing and reusing means fewer gas emissions. materials from natural spaces products are made, as people buy requires large amounts of energy less and as products are made The U.S. EPA has estimated roughly and causes pollution, whether it is to last. Recycling keeps waste 42% of all greenhouse gas emissions logging a forest, mining for minerals out of landfills and incinerators are caused by the production or drilling for oil. Processing these and provides manufacturers with and use of goods, including food, materials requires more energy recycled instead of raw materials to products and packaging.3 Reducing, and causes more pollution. Once make new goods. reusing and recycling will conserve they’re used, the goods are simply that energy and dramatically reduce dumped in a landfill or destroyed in our carbon emissions. an incinerator.

10 11 ZERO WASTE ZERO WASTE BENEFITS BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITIES OUR ECONOMY

VS

10 X REDUCING, REUSING and RECYCLING creates 10 times more jobs than disposal.

Zero waste promotes Community-based zero waste Zero waste supports a Reducing and reusing materials that import or make products and social equity and builds strategies like composting at a local circular economy and create even more jobs in rental and packaging take responsibility for the community. community garden, tool sharing creates jobs sharing businesses (e.g. car-sharing, waste from those products. Called and skills sharing to reuse and tool rental), repair and tailoring, and ‘extended producer responsibility’, A zero waste approach can build repair, build capacity to reduce A zero waste Toronto builds a reuse businesses. Local money is this gives companies an incentive to community capacity, support waste and costs. circular economy, where one spent on local jobs and stays within reduce packaging, and make their marginalized communities and person’s “waste” is a resource the community instead of leaving products more durable, or easier to protect community health. A zero waste strategy needs to for something new. This creates the community to buy imported recycle. This will drive innovation ensure everyone has access to good, green jobs as resources are products. for a circular resource economy and Community groups, and small tools to reduce, reuse and recycle endlessly recirculated through our save residents money. businesses have solutions to help waste where they live, work economy instead of being used once Zero waste needs businesses Toronto get to zero waste while and play. This allows everyone In 2015, The Furniture Bank and then disposed or destroyed. to play a key role On Blue Bin materials alone, also building community capacity to participate in protecting our extended producer responsibility and addressing social inequities. environment. collected more than 61,000 pieces Ontario’s recycling, composting and Right now, Torontonians pay most will save the City of Toronto up to of donated furniture from Toronto diversion programs create 10 times of the costs of our waste system $30 Million each year on collecting, Community projects focused on A zero waste approach also more jobs than disposal.6 Green through waste fees. The Province’s sorting and processing materials.7 reuse help redistribute useful goods protects the health of communities residents to redistribute for free jobs are created in collecting and new Waste Free Ontario Strategy to those in need, from leftover food by reducing pollution in the air, to more than 7,600 families and handling recyclable materials and sets a clear “zero waste” goal and donated to shelters, to furniture for water and soil by keeping toxics processing at local recyclers, waste new rules that will build a circular refugees, to business clothing for and waste out of landfills and people in need - including refugees depots and compost facilities. economy and eliminate waste. A key those entering the job market. incinerators. and formerly homeless individuals.5 part of this is requiring companies

12 13 TORONTO WAS ONCE A LEADER IN ZERO WASTE

Toronto was on the zero waste path, but we lost our way.

More than 15 years ago, Toronto of waste is collected by City and If we used Toronto’s existing Outside the home, the situation Most have minimal recycling and 60% of the waste in Toronto faced a garbage crisis with rising contracted workers, and just under is worse. few have organic waste collection.10 disposal costs and fewer places to half went to landfill. At this rate, waste diversion tools properly, comes from private buildings, send our garbage. Residents and the City-owned Green Lane Landfill we could cut residential waste The garbage bags from where Construction, renovation businesses and institutions. City Hall agreed that we needed to will be full by 2029.8 we work, study and play typically and demolition waste is a take responsibility for our waste. sent to landfill by 300,000 have even more recyclable and significant category of waste, This sector is poorly regulated, The City committed to a target Looking at our garbage bag, tonnes per year. This alone could compostable waste in them. Known with an estimated 380,000 does not report its diversion 11 of diverting 70% of our waste we can see that most of what extend the life of the Green Lane as the IC&I (industrial, commercial tonnes generated each year. rate and has an estimated away from landfill by focusing on we throw away isn’t waste, and institutional) sector, these Unfortunately, though much of this 9 12 comprehensive recycling, and but valuable resources that Landfill by 18 years. mostly privately-owned spaces waste is reusable or recyclable, a lot diversion rate of 11%. launching the first major Green Bin can be reused, recycled and are poorly regulated and do not of it is just sent for disposal. program in North America. composted. With the right report on their recycling, diversion zero waste plan, we can get those and waste statistics. Estimates say Though our diversion rate climbed resources out of the garbage bag. Toronto’s IC&I sector generates at first, it’s now stalled at 53%, and 840,000 tonnes of waste annually. we’re falling behind many other cities. More than 1,000,000 tonnes

14 15 ..

Some people talk about “zero waste to landfill” and then simply dispose of waste in an incinerator or energy-from-waste facility. This is not zero waste, and is not a circular economy, because resources are being destroyed and wasted. BURYING AND

BURNING RESOURCES DID YOU KNOW? Some places, like Sweden, Germany and Norway, built too many large energy-from- waste incinerators. They are now scrambling to import other people’s garbage to keep the incinerators ARE NOT PART OF A running. This means that no matter how successful the residents are in recycling and zero waste, they still have to deal with the air pollution, toxic ash and truck traffic from someone else’s unsorted ZERO WASTE FUTURE. garbage to create dirty, inefficient energy.16

Most of what Torontonians put in resources, like logging forests, Impacts of landfill Impacts of incineration expensive way to dispose of the garbage doesn’t belong there, drilling for oil, or mining for metals. Currently, Toronto’s garbage is sent Incinerators and “energy-from- waste. and most of it can be easily reused, This creates significant pollution and to the City-owned Green Lane waste” facilities include pyrolosis, • It locks us into wastefulness, as recycled or composted. All of greenhouse gas emissions. Landfill, but that is filling up. Unless gasification, plasmification facilities need a constant flow of this means we are throwing away our diversion rates improve, our and others - these are all about garbage - all day and every 35% valuable resources. This is bad for Focusing on disposal takes attention landfill will be full by 2029. destroying waste resources and day. Cities often sign contracts the environment, the community and resources away from lower cost are worse than landfill. guaranteeing steady waste and is a waste of money. zero waste solutions. The simple Landfills occupy natural spaces and • Incinerators and “energy-from- volumes - if they reduce waste fact is that burning things or burying they also waste and trap valuable waste” creates toxic pollution. they pay a financial penalty.14 When we waste resources, all of resources in landfills is bad for the recyclable material. When organics Pollution controls can’t eliminate • “Energy-from-waste” facilities Incinerators need landfills: the energy and money that went environment, harms the economy are sent to landfill they create all pollution, including dioxins burn garbage to generate only a into processing that material is and is very expensive. It is not part methane, a greenhouse gas 23 and ultra-fine particulate that are small amount of expensive energy. Burning waste creates ash wasted. Companies that need of a true zero waste future. times more harmful than carbon harmful to human health, even in Most incinerators are as dirty as that can be up to 35% of the materials - like paper, plastics and dioxide. Fortunately, Toronto’s small amounts. coal.15 metals for their products and landfill captures and destroy this • Air pollutants build up in the soil waste put into the incinerator. packaging - have to start from methane so it is not released to and in wildlife and vegetation for Sometimes this is toxic and scratch and rely on raw materials. the atmosphere, and is looking at a generations. That means extracting natural better solution. • “Energy-from-waste” and needs to go to a special incinerators are the most hazardous waste landfill.13

16 17 ZERO WASTE ZERO WASTE + ORGANICS + RECYCLABLES

More than half of all waste Zero waste requires equal Zero waste strategies reduce While Toronto residents are fairly Zero waste strategies Zero waste needs companies produced by Toronto residents access to Green Bin organics food waste at the source, good at using the City’s Blue Bin, provide equal access to to do their part by reducing is food, plant, and yard waste. collection for all buildings donate unwanted food to over 20% of a typical residential Blue Bin recycling for all packaging and redesigning While Toronto offers the Green where we live, work, study social programs, garbage bag is filled with recyclable buildings. products to be more Bin and Yard waste composting, and play. and compost at the materials. That means up to 84,000 Not all buildings in Toronto recyclable. 182,000 tonnes of organics are The Green Bin is widely used by community scale. tonnes of recyclable resources are recycle the same materials. This New Provincial waste rules will put in the garbage and sent to residents living in houses, but most While no one wants to waste food, landfilled every year.23 makes things confusing, as what make all companies that import or landfill every year.17 residents living in apartments and the average Canadian household you can recycle at home may not make products and packaging in condominiums are not yet using this spends $28 per week on food that Zero waste strategies be recyclable at school or work. Ontario responsible for the cost Zero waste values organic service. Most offices, restaurants isn’t eaten.20 Food waste is a big recycle as many things Businesses and institutions have an of recycling those products. Called materials as a resource. and businesses do not separate problem at the commercial scale, as possible, and work to average diversion rate of only 11%. “extended producer responsibility”, By recycling organics, Toronto organic waste at all unless they are a especially for warehouses, grocery reduce packaging and reuse Many only recycle a few materials, it gives companies an incentive to produces compost that enriches small business with City collection. stores and restaurants. Community things instead of choosing like paper and cans, and some don’t reduce packaging and make their soils, replaces chemical fertilizers, groups in Toronto are responding disposables. recycle at all. products easier to recycle. This and reduces greenhouse gas to the challenge with innovative A big portion of our waste is will save the City of Toronto up to emissions. Most of Toronto’s Green solutions that improve social equity. single-use disposable products and $30 Million each year on collecting, Bin waste ends up at two City- packaging made of paper, plastic, sorting and processing these owned anaerobic digesters, which metal and glass that can be recycled. materials.25 turn organic material into compost SECOND HARVEST - Their and will soon capture the methane Food Rescue & Delivery program Many businesses around the world to use as a renewable energy. Leaf collects over 3,700 tonnes of are showing how this can happen. and yard waste is collected by the unwanted food from restaurants, City and turned into a nutrient-rich stores and warehouses and delivers compost that residents can pick up it to food banks and shelters across for free at Community Environment SAN FRANCISCO - All of their Toronto. 21 AUSTIN, SAN FRANCISCO HARMONY DAIRY & THE Days. buildings, including businesses, & VANCOUVER - These cities BEER STORE - These companies offices and stores must collect ZOOSHARE - North America’s require businesses to collect all the have created business models where HALIFAX - This city banned organic waste for composting. first zoo-based biogas plant is same materials that are recycled at they take full responsibility for organics from their landfill as a way Some businesses divert more than funded by community bonds. Its home and school. their product packaging. They use to increase diversion. 80% of their total waste.18 anaerobic digester will recycle refillable beverage containers and manure from the TORONTO - Small businesses deposit return programs to ensure TORONTO - Our city was the FOODSHARE - Their community and food waste from local grocery that use City waste collection the containers get returned to them first major North American city to composter turns more than 22 stores into high-quality fertilizer and services have an average diversion and therefore never end up in our roll out a major residential Green tonnes of institutional food waste electricity, diverting 14,000 tonnes rate of 64%, six times higher than municipal waste system. Bin Program in 2002. into rich compost each year.19 from landfill each year.22 the average business in Ontario.24

18 19 ZERO WASTE ZERO WASTE + HAZARDOUS WASTE + REUSABLES

While hazardous and electronic Zero waste strategies Batteries make up only 1% While you may not be throwing Zero waste strategies Zero waste requires waste make up a much smaller require equal access to of landfilled waste, but are these items out every day, reduce the need for new companies to play their portion of Toronto’s waste they can hazardous waste and responsible for 88% of the Torontonians have a lot of reusable goods by repairing and part to make goods more still cause environmental and health e-waste recycling services toxic heavy metals found items that get tossed in the garbage, restoring things in ways that durable. problems if not carefully handled. in all buildings so that in landfill.26 such as clothing, toys and furniture. foster a circular and sharing Many products sold in Ontario have Household hazardous waste residents, students and Reusing items is even better than economy. no warranty, break down easily and (HHW) includes fluorescent bulbs, employees can contribute. recycling, as it conserves the energy Community groups and repair are difficult to repair. Companies batteries, paints, oils, cleaners, and Currently, it is not easy for and resources that went into businesses are helping people save need to be held responsible to medical waste. Electronic waste businesses, schools or others making those products. Reuse has money and make their goods last improve the life span of what (e-waste) like computers, cell to safely recycle or dispose of social benefits as it makes affordable longer with skill and tool sharing to they sell. phones, and televisions also have hazardous and electronic materials goods available to the community maintain and repair durable goods hazardous substances and precious in Toronto. There are some and supports small businesses and like clothing, appliances, computers metals in them that need to be recycling programs run by small social enterprises. and furniture. handled and recycled properly. businesses and community groups or offered through special service Zero waste strategies reuse Zero waste strategies safely contracts, but much more needs durable materials to benefit handle toxic materials and to be done to provide consistent, the community socially and support the transition to transparent and reliable service. economically. non-toxic alternatives. The City of Toronto collects TORONTO TOOL LIBRARY Residents can drop off hazardous reusable goods for donation at - They have loaned out more than and electronic waste at Community annual Community Environment 25,000 tools since 2013, so people Environment Days held in every Days and has an online Reuse don’t have to buy their own. They ward each year, or at a City- Guide of places to donate goods. have 4 locations - including one run HHW Depot. Residents can Many Toronto charities and small in a and a call the Toxic Taxi to have City businesses collect reusable clothing, downtown express location.29 workers collect hazardous materials reBOOT - This charity refurbishes furniture and other goods to from their home, and can rely on second hand computers to re-sell donate, sell or swap, giving items a REPAIR CAFE TORONTO - E-Waste pickup as part of their or provide at low cost to non-profit second chance. In 2015, they have mobilized more regular waste pick up. organizations.27 than 72 volunteers to teach more KIND EXCHANGE - This than 1,000 people how to repair EUROPEAN UNION & CITY OF TORONTO - XEROX - Companies that lease consignment shop buys, trades and their own goods, keeping more QUEBEC - Consumer protection City-run HHW Reuse Centres large office equipment like printers, sells gently used clothing, footwear than 1,050 items out of Toronto’s laws in these places require longer allow residents to drop off and sometimes have return programs and accessories in Toronto. Part landfill. Expansion plans include warranties on all durable goods. pick up unused paint, oil, cleaners for used printer cartridges, which of their proceeds go to charitable holding more community events This puts an expectation on and other products. can be toxic and difficult to recycle. partners and in only a few years and collaborating with The Toronto companies to make products that they have opened 10 locations.28 Public Library.30 are more durable, and repairable.31

20 21 ZERO WASTE + THE “LEFTOVERS”

Toronto’s recycling and compost Zero waste requires Zero waste strategies need system means that 85% of companies and businesses governments to take the residential waste can be recycled, to do their part to reduce lead and use incentives like composted or otherwise diverted waste. fines, rules and rewards to from disposal. The 15% “leftover” While some companies are making reduce waste and deal with includes items like unrecyclable big steps, new Provincial rules will problem wastes. ONLY 15% OF WHAT disposable products, packaging, help reduce waste even further. Some special types of waste cause broken toys, furniture and Companies that import or make big problems, or need unique construction materials. Fortunately, products like furniture, carpets, solutions. Experience in other cities other cities are showing that these textiles and appliances may soon show that restrictions, deposits WE CURRENTLY THROW materials don’t need to end up in be responsible for the waste from and incentives can help get to zero the garbage bag. their products and packaging. This waste. Cigarette butts, gum, and type of producer responsibility law coffee cups are small, but they make AWAY IS GARBAGE. Zero waste strategies is already used in Ontario to ensure up a large part of Toronto’s litter increasingly reduce, reuse electronics and tires are recycled problem. Construction, renovation and recycle so that we’re properly. and demolition waste such as wood, moving towards a day when drywall, brick, and plastics are easy WITH A LITTLE BIT OF there is no waste left. to recycle, but they often end up in Toronto regularly adds new landfill.34 materials to the list of what can be recycled in the Blue Bin, and CREATIVITY, WE CAN is finding other ways to reduce waste. In 2013, 3,000 tonnes of bulky waste such as mattresses, CUT THIS NUMBER furniture and large appliances were SAN FRANCISCO - There is a dismantled and recycled at the 40 cent fee charged on all cigarette City’s Durable Goods Centre.32 packs sold in this city, which helps cover the $11 Million spent on litter DOWN TO ZERO. ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - In and beach clean up of cigarette this city, unwanted and unwearable butts every year.35 clothing and textiles are picked up at the curb with other VANCOUVER - This historic city recyclables. INTERFACE CANADA - This requires that 75% of demolished company built recycling into their pre-1940 houses are recycled or OWEN SOUND - This small design. Customers can replace reused. That increases to 90% for Ontario city collects household carpet tiles as needed (instead of buildings with heritage character, pots, pans and cutlery in their the whole carpet) and old carpet and the City plans to expand to Blue Bin. tiles are recycled into new ones.33 newer buildings.36

22 23 ZERO WASTE IS A JOURNEY. Toronto is ready for a zero waste future. We have the programs and infrastructure to reduce, reuse and recycle almost all of our waste. We have an excited and robust group of businesses and communities ready to scale up with creative solutions that support a circular economy. Now is the time to continue our zero waste journey, and the 6 Pillars of zero waste will help governments and businesses take the next step. THE PILLARS OF ZERO WASTE ONE TWO THREE Commit to zero waste with Ensure equal access to the Make Education and targets and timelines for tools to reduce, reuse and Effective Communications Toronto recycle a Priority We need to commit to a zero waste To reach zero waste, we need More than 85% of our residential vision for our city. Targets and to ensure that reducing, reusing waste stream can be reused, timelines provide accountability and and recycling waste is easy and recycled or composted in existing a way to measure our progress. accessible for everyone. Everyone programs in our city, but we’re only Targets are best designed by has the right to the same waste diverting 53%, far below that target. FOUR FIVE SIX residents and city politicians diversion services, regardless of Better education will help everyone Tap into community Use incentives to influence Keep learning Zero waste is a journey. To keep together. The City can develop where they live, where they work understand the tools available. excitement and innovation behaviour and keep pushing Zero waste thrives on partnerships. moving ahead, it’s important to targets and timelines to address and how they move around the city. Effective communication also includes for zero waste The City needs to take a leadership Incentives such as rewards, fines build in opportunities to step back waste directly under the City Currently, this equal access does listening - to identify what works (and role, but also partner with and regulations can push zero waste and evaluate our progress. control, as well as what residents not exist: what doesn’t), to answer questions, residents, community groups, and even further, encouraging diversion Ongoing data collection and and businesses can do. • Many people who live in and to hear new ideas. businesses. Every day thousands and reducing waste. research into how diversion apartments do not have access to of City employees interact with programs are working and what’s Targets can focus on a timeline for green bins.37 Currently, communications and Torontonians. These employees The City can increase garbage fees, left in the garbage, can help us eliminating all divertable goods from • Most places of work have only education make up just 1% of the are all potential zero waste set disposal bans for recyclable identify how to get to zero waste. garbage, and a timeline for reducing basic recycling and no green bin city’s total solid waste management ambassadors. and organic materials, and use the overall waste generation per service. operating budget. The City needs other regulations to reduce For instance, the City could form a capita. to invest in research and tools to Residents and businesses across our waste. Businesses and community committee of residents, community The City can expand waste understand the best way to reach all city have innovative and exciting groups can provide incentives groups and businesses to share diversion programs and create Torontonians and then provide better ideas for reducing waste. They to their own building users with best practices and identify new policies so all residents and communications and education. The often create solutions unique to rules, competitions and prizes for opportunities to move towards businesses have the same access. City also needs to invest in front-line their community. Community increased waste diversion. Green zero. This will support a local resource workers who are dealing with waste groups and schools host clean up policies can be adopted by the City, recovery economy, green jobs, and recycling everyday to empower days and competitions and share businesses and institutions to buy and help residents save money and them to observe, evaluate and creative ideas to reduce waste. recycled products, choose suppliers reduce waste sent for disposal. contribute to constant learning. Small businesses sell used clothing, with zero waste policies and avoid repurpose old furniture and recycle disposables. Businesses, schools, and the goods. All of these groups have a companies that design and sell wealth of knowledge and capacity to products all need to play a role in help us get to zero waste. communicating recycling and zero

24 waste strategies. 25 CREDITS ENDNOTES

Thank you! 10. City of Toronto Long Term Waste Management Strategy on-site therefore it is not counted in the diversion statistic. TEA would like to thank our principal author, Emily Alfred, for her tireless (LTWMS) Technical Memo 1, Appendix G, August 2015. Source: Correspondence with Frances Darwin, and Project efforts as TEA’s Waste Campaigner. We would also like to thank our staff 11. Ibid. Description: Toronto Zoo Anaerobic Digester, Aug 2013. team who made this report possible including Angela Tran, Dusha Sritharan, 12. LTWMS Technical Memo 1, App G Estimates privately managed 23. Based on 2014 Toronto Residential Waste Diversion totals, Franz Hartmann, Heather Marshall, Holly Thomson, and Jolene Cushman. ICI waste at 840,000 tonnes annually. Statistics Canada and TEA’s analysis of City waste audits that show 20% of single Thank you to our principal designer, Jason Ulrich, and volunteer copy editor “Waste Management Industry Survey, 2010” estimates the ICI family (36,280 of 181,404 tonnes) and 24% of multi-residential diversion rate is 11%. (47,796 of 199,148 tonnes) waste waste in the Garbage Silvia Wineland. 13. The Regions of Durham and York revised their agreement stream is material that could go in the Blue Bin. with Durham York Energy Centre in January 2016 to increase 24. Based on City waste tonnages in LTWMS Technical Memo No We would also like to thank the dedicated Torontonians who are proving the permitted ash to up to 35% weight, see Notice of DYEC 1, Appendix C. August 2015 zero waste is possible by changing how they handle resources at home, Acceptance Test Certificate. Incinerators also also create fly 25. City of Toronto Solid Waste Management Services Operating work and in our communities. ash that often contains toxic substances and requires disposal Budget 2016 shows the City spends a net $20 Million in a special hazardous waste landfill - as occurred with to process just over 200,000 tonnes of recyclables, or Lastly, to acknowledge the great photos used in this report, we have listed Vancouver’s Burnaby incinerator since 2012 - Globe and Mail approximately $100 per tonne. Assume another $8.4M photo attribution by page: “Costs adding up as incinerator ash being shipped to Alberta”, potential savings if recyclable material currently in the garbage F/Cover Derivative of “Food” by szczel / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Page 17 Infographic by Holly Thomson for TEA Dec 5, 2012. stream (average of 20% based on TEA’s analysis, or 84,000 Page 2 Derivative of “ with Colorful Sunset” Page 18 Derivative of “Organic Wastes On Wooden Chopping 14. ‘Put-or-Pay’ provisions are common, and can mean high tonnes) were put in the Blue Bin and not the garbage. by MikeCphoto / BigStock.com Board With Knife” by oocoskun / BigStock.com financial penalties. Detroit Michigan residents spent more than 26. Raw Materials Company, www.rawmaterials.com/page/ Page 7 Infographic by Holly Thomson for TEA, inspired by European Page 19 Derivative of photo by Silvia Wineland $150/tonne for waste disposal but those from outside Detroit technology/additional-benefits/ Environment Agency’s circular economy infographic Page 20 Derivative of photo by Heather Marshall paid only $15/tonne to help the City meet minimum waste 27. reBOOT Canada redistributed or recycled 100,000 kgs of Page 8 Derivative of photo by Holly Thomson Page 21 Derivative of “Piles of Clothes” by Oriol Salvador volume agreements.Toronto Star “Incineration: a recycling computers and related materials in 2015. www.rebootcanada. Page 11 Derivative of photo courtesy of City of Toronto / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. killer?”, Apr 3, 2012. ca/news/archives/12-2015 Page 12 Derivative of “Goodwill” by Brad.K / CC BY 2.0 Page 22 Derivative of photo by Silvia Wineland 15. Energy Justice Network, www.energyjustice.net/incineration/ 28. Kind Exchange http://kindexchange.ca/our-story/ Page 13 Derivative of photo courtesy of CUPE Local 416 Page 23 Derivative of “Landfill Landscape” by PN Photo / worsethancoal and Environmental Integrity Project “Waste- 29. Toronto Tool Library is also looking to start a Sharing Depot Page 15 Infographic by Holly Thomson for TEA BigStock.com (right) To-Energy: Dirtying Maryland’s Air by Seeking a Quick Fix on to loan out games, camping and sports equipment, party Page 16 Derivative of “Landfill in Danbury” by United Nations Page 25 Derivative of photo courtesy of CUPE Local 416 Renewable Energy?”, Oct 2011. supplies and more. http://torontotoollibrary.com/our-story/ Photo / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 B/Cover Derivative of “Toronto” by paul bica / CC BY 2.0 16. Germany, Sweden and Norway are just three EU states that 30. Repair Cafe Toronto http://repaircafetoronto.ca/thank-you- have been importing garbage from other countries to feed the for-a-strong-year/ many energy-from-waste incinerators. Guardian “Trash to cash: 31. Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act, article 38 provides an Norway leads the way in turning waste into energy”, June14, automatic minimum Legal Warranty on all goods requiring that 2013. Also see Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives they are usable for a reasonable amount of time depending “Incineration overcapacity and waste shipping in Europe: the on the good and cost. European Union directive 1999/44/EC ENDNOTES end of the proximity principle?, Jan 2013. requires companies to honour a 2 year warranty for goods 17. Based on 2014 Toronto Residential Waste Diversion totals, sold in member states. 1. Based on TEA’s analysis of City of Toronto household waste to process just over 200,000 tonnes of recyclables, or and TEA’s analysis of City waste audits that show 41% of single 32. City of Toronto, LTWMS Technical Memo 1, August 2015. audits. Diversion rate from City of Toronto website “All about approximately $100 per tonne. Assume another $8.4M family (74,374 of 181,404 tonnes) and 54% of multi-residential 33. Interface Canada - http://www.interface.com/CA/en-CA/ Toronto waste” www.toronto.ca/wastestrategy potential savings if recyclable material currently in the garbage (107,540 of 199,148 tonnes) waste in the Garbage stream is about/modular-carpet-tile/ReEntry-20-en_CA 2. 430 Mayfair on the Green at McLevin Avenue. Details stream (average of 20% based on TEA’s analysis, or 84,000 material that could go in the Green Bin or Leaf & Yard waste 34. City of Toronto LTWMS Technical Memo 1, App G, estimates established at site visit, report and presentations from building tonnes) were put in the Blue Bin and not the garbage. program. there are 380,000 tonnes of C&D waste managed by private staff Princely Soundranayagam between July 2015 and Feb 8. The City of Toronto collected 1,024,425 tonnes of waste and 18. Case studies show some businesses saving more than waste companies annually. 2016. Resident quote from CBC “Toronto condo goes green, sent 524,000 to landfill in 2014. City of Toronto website “All $100,000 annually and divert more than 80% of their waste. SF 35. The Cigarette Litter Abatement Fee was passed in 2009 with cuts garbage to 1 bin a month”, May 12 2015. about Toronto waste” www.toronto.ca/wastestrategy Environment - “Business Recycling & Composting: Zero Waste a 20 cent fee per pack. The fee went up to 40 cents in January 3. US EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, 9. Based on City Residential Waste Diversion numbers for 2014, Toolkit for Successful Participation”, 2010. 2016. San Francisco Examiner “San Francisco to double litter “Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions through and TEA’s analysis of City waste audits that show 71% of 19. Foodshare, 2012 Annual Report. fee on cigarette sales” Dec 18, 2015. Materials and Land Management Practices”, Sept 2009. single family (128,797 of 181,404 tonnes) and 86% of multi- 20. Toronto Food Policy Council - Food Waste by the Numbers 36. Vancouver’s Green Demolition Bylaw outlined on City website 4. The Aluminum Association, “Aluminum Recycling” www. residential (171,267 of 199,148 tonnes) waste put out as http://tfpc.to/food-waste-landing/food-waste-theissue#_edn5 “Demolition permit with recycling requirements”; Impacts aluminum.org/sustainability/aluminum-recycling garbage is material that could be diverted. City of Toronto 21. Second Harvest 2014/15 Annual Report notes 8,200,000 explained in Globe and Mail “Heritage properties: A sad end 5. Furniture Bank, 2015 Annual Report website “Residential Waste Diversion” www.toronto.ca/ pounds of food was collected in the Food Rescue & Delivery for once-proud homes in Vancouver” December 11 2015. 6. AECOM, “The Economic Benefits of Recycling in Ontario”, garbage. Based on projected capacity at current diversion rate, program in 2015. 37. Of the approximately 5,800 apartments and condo buildings 2009. decreasing 300,000 tonnes per year could extend the life of 22. ZooShare will have an estimated input of 14,000 tonnes of in Toronto, 1,300 do not receive City waste services and are 7. City of Toronto Solid Waste Management Services Operating Greenlane by 18 years. commercial food waste per year and an additional 3,000 not required to collect Green Bin waste. Budget 2016 shows the City spends a net $20 Million tonnes of animal manure. This manure is currently composted

26 27 All over the world, people, businesses and cities are adopting a vision of zero waste. A zero waste path for Toronto will protect the environment, benefit the community and support good green jobs and a strong local economy.

Most importantly, it stops wasting resources, and allows Toronto to take responsibility for our own waste.

We have the tools, the ideas and the opportunity: together, we can push forward for a zero waste future for Toronto.

#zerowasteTO February 2016