About the No Waste program
The No Waste program takes a revolutionary approach to waste management in office workplaces by asking City of Toronto staff to be personally responsible for the waste they generate at work. Here's how it works:

• A desk-side paper recycling bin and a small, clip on, 'side saddle' garbage bin is placed at each desk
• Staff are responsible for emptying desk-side containers into the central bins
• Central paper recycling bins and central garbage bins are placed throughout the office
• Blue boxes/bins are placed in kitchens, serveries and lunchrooms
• Custodial staff no longer empty desk-side containers; they only empty central bins - garbage daily and recycling when necessary
• Custodial staff use the time they save going desk to desk to perform other duties such as dusting, vacuuming, cleaning, etc.

Why the No Waste program?
The No Waste program was created to address two major issues:

1. to reduce the large quantity of recyclable materials found in the garbage; when staff use a regular recycling program, with custodial going desk to desk emptying deskside containers, there is less 'personal' responsibility for waste management. And introducing the small garbage 'side saddle' reduced the ability of staff to put recycling in the garbage
2. to assist City staff to reach City Council's waste diversion target of 70% by 2010