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Collections & Litter Operations

This section provides curbside collection of garbage, recycling, organics, yard waste and white goods for single family, multi-family, the City's Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Departments, institutions and small commercial establishments. It also provides litter cleaning operations and collection (emptying) of litter receptacles throughout the City's streets and parks.  New responsibilities in this section include the collection of large front-end containerized waste, recyclable and organic materials from multi-residential apartment buildings.  A 'Customer Service and Waste Diversion Implementation' unit has also been established in this section to support the division in its goal of improving customer service and implementing new diversion initiatives. Environment Days are also now provided by this section.

Infrastructure Development & Asset Management

The section is responsible for the division's physical assets throughout their complete lifecycle, from initial design and construction; to commissioning and start-up; to meeting major maintenance and rehabilitation requirements during the life of the asset; to the eventual retirement and disposal of the asset. SWMS has over $600M in assets consisting of thirteen (13) maintenance and operating yards; seven (7) transfer stations & household hazardous waste depots; one (1) Materials Recovery Facility (MRF); two (2) organics processing facility; the Green Lane Landfill; over 750 vehicles and heavy equipment vehicles; and, over 1,500,000 bins and carts.

Asset Management supports the division through developing and implementing strategies that establishes asset hierarchies, inventories and valuations; addresses condition and performance evaluation/modelling and risk management, all while optimizing decision-making.  Activities also include the development and executing of documents related to the various phases of an asset during its lifecycle.

Capital Delivery is responsible for the conceptual design; detail design; construction and project management of new infrastructure for approved the Solid Waste Management Program. This is accomplished by carrying out technology assessment studies, site selection, securing the necessary approvals/permits and the development and management of contracts associated with these new facilities.

Closed Landfill Operations maintains all of the City's closed landfills requiring perpetual care. This includes the maintenance of engineered systems and monitoring and reporting on surface water, groundwater and landfill gas.

Facilities & Equipment Maintenance has the responsibility of maintaining all of the Division's assets.  This includes the maintenance of engineered systems, buildings and process facilities, closed landfill sites requiring monitoring and reporting on surface water, groundwater and landfill gas.

Policy, Planning & Support

This section is 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. It provides technical review and comments on internal and external regulations, legislation and statutes. The section researches, designs and drafts harmonized policies, eligibility criteria and bylaws to support operations as well as designing, and executing Request for Proposals and Tenders for materials and services.  In addition to coordinating the development and submission of the operating and capital budgets, this section monitors and reports on budget variances and provides analytical support on financial issues. Finally, it is 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.

Processing & Resource Management

This section is responsible for the management and processing of all recycling, organics, and residual waste from the City's collection programs. The material is transferred to various facilities for processing or disposal at the Green Lane Landfill. The City's network consists of 7 Transfer Stations as well as a Reuse Centre for durable goods. These facilities are located strategically across the City to allow efficient management of materials. In addition, this section is also responsible for the operation of the Green Lane Landfill.

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.