Solid Waste Management Services
Mission Statement
To be a leader in providing innovative waste management services to residents, businesses and visitors within the City of Toronto in an efficient, effective and courteous manner, creating environmental sustainability, promoting diversion and maintaining a clean city.
Responsiblities
The division is responsible for collecting, transporting, processing, composting and disposing of municipal and private sector solid waste and recyclables, as well as household hazardous waste. Solid Waste Management Services has four sections: Collections Operations; Transfer and Disposal Operations; New Infrastructure Development and Contracted Services; and Policy and Planning. Together, these sections oversee and manage: 13 maintenance and operating yards; one composting facility; seven transfer stations and household hazardous waste depots; two materials recovery facilities and Green Lane Landfill.
Overview
Responsibilities of the Solid Waste Management Services Division (presentation)
Responsible for:
- 1 Landfill (Green Lane Landfill)
- 7 Transfer Stations
- 2 Material Recovery Facilities (Processing Recyclable Material)
- 1 Green Bin Processing Facility
- 1 Reuse Centre
- 4 Collection Yards
- 6 Household Hazardous Waste Depots
- 734 Vehicles
Our customers
- 452,000 multi-family units
- 450,000 single family homes
- 20,000 small commercial/institutional
- 6,000 litter/recycle bins
- 1,000 Special Events per year
- City Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Divisions
- Private commercial and industrial waste accepted at Transfer Stations and Landfill
Current situation
- Residual waste to Green Lane Landfill
- Projected Green Lane Landfill lifespan
- 2026 at current diversion
- 2034 with 70% diversion goal
- Waste/Diversion Statistics
- Manage over 1 million tonnes of waste annually
- Recycle/Compost 47% of all waste generated
- 63% single residential homes
- 18% multi-residential homes
Collections Operations
Provides curbside garbage, recycling, organics, yard waste and white goods collection services to single family, multi-family, the City's Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Departments, institutions and small commercial establishments. Provides litter cleaning operations and collection (emptying) of litter receptacles throughout the City.
New Infrastructure Development and Contracted Services
Responsible for the management of all Processing (Planning and Operations) and Multi-Family Collections.
The Processing operation is responsible for the management of all recyclable and organic materials delivered to the City’s recycling plants and transfer stations. Presently facilities manage over 460,000 tonnes of various materials. It is also responsible for the marketing and sales of these materials and continues to work on new materials market development.
The primary focus of Operational Planning is the development of new infrastructure for approved waste diversion programs. This will be accomplished by carrying out technology assessment studies, site selection and the development and management of the contracts associated with these new facilities.
Multi-Family Collections is responsible for containerized collection of waste, and recyclable materials collected under contract by a private company. This contract also includes townhouses, agencies, boards, commissions, departments, schools and related facilities.
Policy and Planning
Responsible for monitoring trends in the solid waste industry and providing advice on new programs, program enhancements and new technologies to the operating units and Council. Provides the technical review and comments on internal and external regulations, legislation and statutes. Researches, designs and drafts harmonized policies, eligibility criteria and bylaws in support of operations and design, and executes Request for Proposals and Tenders for services and capital projects.
Coordinates the development and submission of Solid Waste Management Services operating and capital budgets, monitors and reports on budget variances and provides analytical support on financial issues. Responsible for the effective planning, organizing, management and control of residential programs and services related to the billing and accounting of the Solid Waste Management Services rates.
Transfer & Disposal Operations
Responsible for the management and the transfer of all waste and various recyclable materials (including recycling materials, leaf and yard waste, source separated organics, tires, dry wall, scrap metal and white goods) from the City's curbside and multi-family residential collection programs, the City's Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Divisions, industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) materials, and from Toronto residents. This material is transferred to landfill and processing facilities.
Transfer stations
A network of seven facilities strategically located to allow efficient management of materials. These sites also accept:
- Household hazardous waste – Six sites accept for drop-off and lab pack hazardous materials
- E-waste and tires for recycling
- Collection bins for exchange and repair
Stations are responsible for the tractor trailer haulage of all materials to the various processing facilities located in and around the Greater Toronto Area as well as residual materials (garbage) requiring disposal.
Reuse Centre - Recycles e-waste, durable goods, mattresses, porcelain, clean wood, box springs, etc.
Disposal
The City of Toronto closed its disposal operations on December 31, 2002, when the Keele Valley Landfill site stopped receiving waste. The City acquired the Green Lane Landfill effective April 2, 2007, securing the City’s long term disposal requirements. The City began sending all its residential garbage to this site in January 2011.
Disposal Technology
Energy from waste, including incineration technologies are not considered waste diversion as part of the Ministry of the Environment's policies. In order for the City of Toronto to reach its diversion objective it must consider non-disposal technologies.