Subcommittees are smaller groups in which we work collaboratively with staff to take 3Rs Working Group (3RWG) projects step-by-step from ideas to reality.
We meet informally in these groups to have detailed discussions, gather needed information, draft documents and develop informed recommendations to the 3RWG about specific projects and issues.
Subcommittees are not permanent bodies, and may change as the 3RWG identifies new priorities.
The 3RWG has formed three subcommittees to work on specific priorities and projects:
“The One”
“The One” is a waste reduction promotion and education campaign focused on one product. At its January 2009 meeting, the 3Rs working Group selected disposable coffee cups as its focus for a public education campaign, designed to help drive down usage. Disposable coffee cups are a hot topic in the City of Toronto and “The One” team is working with the City of Toronto staff to design a comprehensive, complementary strategy to encourage consumers to opt for reusable versus disposable paper cups when they purchase hot drinks.
Let us know what makes you use your reusable cup, and share any suggestions on what motivates you to keep using it!
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Ambassadors
What is the 3Rs Ambassador Volunteer Program?
The 3Rs Ambassador Volunteer Program, initiated by the 3Rs Working Group (3RWG), encourages citizens of the City of Toronto to directly influence waste reduction in the areas that they live. At its core is an understanding that waste reduction in multi-residential buildings requires a new and different approach to that of single-residential homes. All of the City’s apartments and condominiums, both big and small, each have their own unique challenges that make waste reduction challenging. With over 5000 multi-residential buildings in the city, there are over 5000 solutions to these challenges. The City of Toronto and the 3RWG believe one way to address these challenges is from the ground up, and to engage citizens to help implement what’s best for their particular building.
The long-term goal of the program is to have a 3Rs Ambassador in every multi-residential building across the City who is willing and determined to make a difference in their community. The role of the 3Rs Ambassador is to teach their neighbours the value of waste reduction, as well as to provide the tools that will help them reduce, reuse and recycle as much of their waste as possible. To become a 3Rs Ambassador, one will first have to complete a training session where useful techniques and City waste reduction program details will be taught.
A 3Rs Ambassador could set up a lobby display to communicate to fellow residents about the importance of waste diversion, walk door to door to talk to neighbours one-on-one, do a newsletter, organize a goods exchange or an interactive games night, etc. The fundamental principle is that it is the 3Rs Ambassador’s efforts and ideas that will be the driving force behind the movement to inspire and motivate change within the community that they reside.
What is the 3Rs Ambassador Project Team working with staff on now?
- Gearing up to launch the program in late November
- Finalizing a training curriculum for the first group of 3Rs Ambassadors in early 2010
- Mapping 3Rs Ambassador Volunteer locations across the City
- Engaging and developing partnerships with other organizations, such as Toronto Community Housing Corporations, Metro Tenants Association, Greater Toronto Apartments Association, and the Mayor’s Tower Renewal Office
How do I get involved?
The Ambassador’s Project is continually looking for new volunteers to keep the program growing and evolving to reach our multi-residential waste diversion goals. If you are currently a resident of Toronto, living in a multi-family building and and at least 16 years of age, please contact the Program Coordinator, Charlotte Ueta at cueta@toronto.ca or 416-392-9961. Please provide the following information: name, address, if above 16 years of age, building type, and the reason why you’d like to become a 3Rs Ambassador.
Questions/Comment?
Program Coordinator
Charlotte Ueta
cueta@toronto.ca
416-392-9961
Websites
The Websites subcommittee is dedicated to enhancing the www.toronto.ca/3rwg and www.toronto.ca/garbage webpages, so they are more accessible, interactive and citizen-friendly.
Our websites team has started drafting recommendations for improvements to the 3RWG webpage. For both our webpage and other city pages with 3Rs content we are exploring multi-lingual, mapping, video, social media and other interactive capabilities. Let us know your suggestions for improving the city’s garbage and 3Rs webpages!
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Beyond Diversion initiative
Investigate and develop 3Rs (reducing and reusing, not just recycling) measurements and goals for the City.
- Review, report on and communicate existing City waste generation and reuse data
- Research ways other jurisdictions have measured reuse and reduction
- Identify best measurement practices and establish 3Rs goals for City of Toronto
This by far is a long term intensive goal that illustrates good and bad examples of what the whole picture looks like, and what success looks like. We can make a difference, let’s see how to make it work.
We are very anxious to get these great initiatives out there and for the City to look at these initiatives from a citizens point of view. Together we can make great changes towards the 3R's and we hope you will follow our progress.
If you have any suggestions to offer to any of our subcommittees, please contact:
3RWG Chair
Email: vinguy@rogers.com
Tel: 647-235-0732
or
City staff
Email: 3rwg@toronto.ca
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