City of Toronto is asking the public to share input on the City’s Long-term Waste Management Strategy through public events and an online survey that runs between now and Friday, December 20.
The City is working to update the 2016 Long-term Waste Management Strategy. Key initiatives to come out of this strategy have included the Single-Use and Takeaways Items (SUTI) Reduction Strategy and bylaw, accelerating planning for organics processing, supporting community-based waste reduction projects and implementing five new Community Reduce and Reuse Programs. With a growing population, the changing nature of waste and limited landfill space, a Waste Strategy update is needed to further guide Toronto’s long-term waste management needs.
The timing of these public consultations is important as the City’s-owned Green Lane Landfill, a state-of-the-art facility that manages the majority of Toronto’s garbage, will approach capacity in 2035. Last year alone, the City managed close to 830,000 tonnes of waste. It is critical to start planning now, as planning, regulatory approvals and construction of new waste disposal infrastructure can take more than 10 years.
The City is committed to waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting, and undertaking activities that promote resource conservation, reduce environmental impacts and minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy.
This first phase of consultations will focus on gathering feedback on the vision and guiding principles of the Waste Strategy, soliciting ideas to reduce and divert waste from landfill, and providing information to inform the public of landfill capacity challenges and considerations related to disposal options.
Torontonians can get involved by participating in the online survey or attending one of the three consultation sessions:
Learn more, register for consultations and fill out the online survey by visiting the Waste Strategy webpage.
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