Reduce
The easiest way to manage waste is not to create it in the first place.

Rather than purchasing new items consider repairing old ones, or renting them for short-term use.

Check out our waste reduction tips for easy reduction strategies and recycling symbols & environmental eco-labels for tips to help you make informed, responsible consumer decisions.

Benefits of reducing:

• Reducing the amount of waste we produce is the most effective way to minimize the amount of waste going to landfill.
• Often opportunities to reduce waste are greatest at the point-of-purchase. Packaging makes up about half of our garbage by volume and one third by weight.
• Reduction can be as simple as bringing your own bag to the store or choosing a product with less packaging.

Why should I try to reduce my waste?
Reducing waste is the best way to deal with garbage - it's the most effective of the 3Rs. By eliminating waste at its source - by bringing your own bag to the grocery store, purchasing products with minimal packaging, or buying quality durable goods - that waste does not end up in landfill and no extra energy is required to reuse or recycle it.

What is Extended Producer Responsibility?
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) and product stewardship are environmental management tools for businesses and governments to reduce their impact on the environment. The objectives of these approaches are to prevent pollution and promote waste minimization. These two terms are often used interchangeably.

EPR and product stewardship objectives aspire to:

• provide management systems that consider the life-cycle (cradle to grave) responsibility of products
• shift the physical and/or financial responsibility of the post-consumer product to the producer and/or manufacturer, away from municipalities and consumers
• promote waste minimization and/or diversion through expansion or implementation of reduce, reuse and/or recycling mechanisms
• promote products with design considerations for the environment that minimize or eliminate resource consumption and hazardous/non-hazardous waste generation

What regulations control product packaging?
Virtually all products and packaging eventually become waste. Municipalities, being at the ‘end of the pipe’, are responsible for its management. Legislation requires that municipalities manage the waste set out by their residents.

Unfortunately, municipalities have very little input or control into how products and packages are designed. Packaging legislation lies primarily with the Provincial and Federal Governments.

Poor initial design can result in packaging and products that cannot be reused or recycled and must be disposed of in landfill.

Federal and Provincial governments could enact legislation that requires end-of-life considerations to be taken into account when industry designs new products and packaging.

What is the City doing to help reduce unnecessary packaging?
A Working Group will be established to address the issue of excessive packaging. It will approach the other levels of government where packaging issues are in their jusidiction in this matter and devise strategies to approach packaging manufacturers to create strategies to encourage waste reduction, amongst other initiatives.

What can I do to reduce packaging?
Often opportunities to reduce waste are greatest at the point-of-purchase. Packaging makes up about half of our garbage by volume and one third by weight.

Don't buy items with excess packaging. Contact manufacturers and let them know that you find their packaging wasteful (possibly include the packaging from the product).

Whenever possible, buy refillable or reusable containers. If you are unable to avoid it entirely, choose products with packaging that is accepted into the Blue Box program.

Bring your own bags when you shop and try to buy in bulk as often as possible. Use a travel mug for your tea and coffee when you’re on the go.

How can I reduce my waste?
Purchase quality durable goods rather than disposable items. The cost may be higher initially, but in the long run you can save money. Get the longest warranty with the best repair service possible.

Don't throw anything away that can be reused or repaired. Fabric scraps, books, sporting goods, toys and clothing are always needed by non-profit groups.

Take all of your Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) to a depot. Try to compost your food and yard waste. Up to half of your household waste is compostable. It's a simple way to reduce waste and produce a nutrient-rich conditioner for your lawn, garden and houseplants. The City of Toronto has compost bins available at subsidized prices.

Participate fully in the City’s curbside collection programs: Green Bin, Blue Box, Yard Waste.

Where can I repair a broken item?
There are many repair services offered in Toronto for everything from automobiles and furniture, to shoes and jewellery. The YellowPages provide a comprehensive repair listing section.