PW11.2.1 ZERO WASTE TORONTO 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 Canada, communities are adopting ideas and concrete examples that zero waste. Ontario’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.