Today, Toronto City Council approved the Residual Waste Management Work Plan, which outlines short- and medium-term plans to extend the lifespan of the City of Toronto’s Green Lane Landfill and planning activities to manage garbage, also known as residual waste, in the long term.
The City manages approximately 450,000 tonnes of garbage every year. Based on current tonnage and waste volumes, the City’s Green Lane Landfill is expected to reach capacity by 2034/2035.
While the City has a number of successful waste reduction and diversion programs in place to support the Long Term Waste Management Strategy’s goals of zero-waste and moving towards a circular economy, long-term solutions for garbage disposal beyond the lifespan of Green Lane Landfill are still required. Toronto’s increasing population, economic growth and housing commitments will also impact the amount of waste that will need to be managed.
It is critical that the City continues planning for the future, long-term disposal of Toronto’s garbage, as building new waste disposal infrastructure can take more than 10 years to complete. The Residual Waste Management Work Plan provides time to study, develop and operationalize long-term options.
Short- and medium-term actions as part of the plan include:
As developing a new landfill is not feasible within the boundaries of Toronto, the City will begin a process to engage and, where there is interest, negotiate with existing Ontario landfill owners for the purchase of a landfill to meet the City’s needs. City staff will issue a request for expression of interest for municipalities in Ontario to identify their interest in becoming a host for the City to build a new landfill. City staff will report back to Council before entering into procurement processes or negotiations related to energy from waste. All long-term options will be assessed through an environmental, social and financial lens for their potential impacts.
The Council-adopted staff report also includes direction for staff to:
The City has one of the most comprehensive integrated waste management systems in North America and manages close to 900,000 tonnes of waste each year. In 2022, the City diverted a total of 377,825 tonnes of residential waste from landfill through its Green Bin organics, Blue Bin recycling, yard waste and Christmas tree collection programs, Community Environment Days and collection and proper disposal of household hazardous waste, appliances and electronic waste.
It’s also important for residents to do their part to help reduce waste, by participating in City programs and taking a few other simple actions such as:
More information about ways to reduce waste is available on the City’s website.
Quote:
“We all have a role to play to keep items out of landfill. I am pleased that the City is taking active measures to secure long-term solutions to manage Toronto’s garbage, while continuing to encourage actions that everyone can take to reduce our waste, both now and in the future.”
– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park)
Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Media contact: Media Relations, media@toronto.ca