Community Environment Days help reduce the amount of reusable or recyclable waste going to landfill and allow for safe disposal of household hazardous waste.
This year, Community Environment Days will be set up as drive-thru events at the City’s seven Drop-Off Depots. Residents will be able to drive to different stations to drop off items for reuse, recycling and safe disposal. Events will begin September 13 and run until November 1.
Events will follow Toronto Public Health guidelines for Drive-in and Drive-thru events with enhanced COVID-19 protocols in place. While attending Community Environment Days, please keep two metres (six feet) from others and wear a mask or face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
The City of Toronto is committed to protecting the health and safety of our residents and staff. In order to limit interactions, this year’s events will allow for residents to drive thru to different stations to donate or drop off items for safe disposal. Kitchen containers will not be available for purchase and non-perishable food items and hearing aids will not be accepted for donation.
Please do not bring:
Community Environment Days will be drive-thru events at the City’s seven Drop-Off Depots. Events will take place on Sundays from September 13 to November 1.
Find an event near you.
Residents are invited to pick up free bagged compost at a Community Environment Day event. Compost will come in 13 kg bags and will be limited to two bags per vehicle, while supplies last.
The compost was created from the yard waste and organic materials collected at the curb, throughout Toronto.
The majority of the finished compost comes from the yard waste program, while five-to-ten per cent coming from the Green Bin program. Various Ontario processors receive both of these materials and blend them with organic materials of different types and sources, producing optimum conditions for composting. Before leaving the facilities, the compost is tested to ensure quality and provincial requirements for safety.
The compost acts as an excellent soil amendment and is safe to use in gardens and on lawns, however, plants should not be placed in pure compost just as they should not be placed in pure fertilizer. One part compost should be mixed with six parts soil.
Compost is the product of a controlled, safe and efficient process. The process uses naturally occurring micro-organisms to convert materials that were once considered waste, into an excellent source of plant nutrients for gardens and lawns. Compost also improves the structure and water holding properties of soil.
For more information, read the What Happens to Organics page.
By donating your items, you’re helping Community Environment Days support local charities and keep items out of landfill.
Waste Diversion Statistics 2014-2019
| 2014 | 167,661 kg of electronics 310,845 kg of household hazardous waste 68,792 kg of reusable household goods 7,468 kg of arts & crafts supplies |
| 2015 | 111,185 kg of electronics 340,400 kg of household hazardous waste 56,470 kg of reusable household goods 13,535 kg of arts & crafts supplies |
| 2016 | 125,200 kg of electronics 320,390 kg of household hazardous waste 57,350 kg of reusable household goods 7,830 kg of arts & crafts supplies 123 kg of food donated |
| 2017 | 99,370 kg of electronics 290,260 kg of household hazardous waste 48,790 kg of reusable household goods 9,840 kg of arts & crafts supplies 105 kg of food donated |
| 2018 | 99,595 kg of electronics 263,695 kg of household hazardous waste 51,682 kg of reusable household goods 15,030 kg of arts & crafts supplies 109 kg of food donated |
| 2019 | 103,710 kg of electronics 354,890 kg of household hazardous waste 78,867 kg of reusable household goods 70 kg of food donated |
Non-Blue box materials include donations for reuse or recycling through community organizations and TDSB schools. Prior to 2009, the total non-Blue box amount listed here also included plastic shopping bags and polystyrene, which have since been included in the Blue Bin program.