Waste Strategy Update: Reduction & Diversion Plan

September 2025 Update: City staff presented an update on the City’s Residual Waste Management Work Plan to the Infrastructure & Environment Committee on September 26, 2025. View the staff report at IE 24.7.

Waste management in a city the size of Toronto is a complex task. In 2024, the City managed close to 850,000 tonnes of waste. With a growing population, Toronto’s waste is anticipated to grow and landfill capacity in Ontario is estimated to run out by 2034.

The Long-term Waste Management Strategy (Waste Strategy) (Executive Summary, Full Report), approved by City Council in 2016, provides a roadmap on how to manage our waste for the next 30 to 50 years. In June 2023, City Council directed Solid Waste Management Services to update the Waste Strategy as part of its consideration of the Residual Waste Management Work Plan.

An updated plan is needed to progress the City towards its aspirational zero-waste goals by further reducing and diverting waste. It is important to start planning now, as planning, regulatory approvals and construction of new waste disposal infrastructure can take more than ten years.

The Waste Strategy Update is being prepared in three phases. Each phase includes public consultation and input from the public and interest groups. 

Phase 3 consultation

Public consultation for Phase 3 will take place in 2026. Details will be provided as they become available.

Contact us

If you have additional feedback or questions about the Waste Strategy, you can email WasteStrategy@toronto.ca or call 416-392-3760.

In Phase 1 of the Waste Strategy Update, the City:

  • reviewed reduction and diversion targets, goals and vision to work towards achieving the City’s aspirational zero-waste goals
  • updated the baseline information established in the development of the Waste Strategy to reflect the current state of Toronto’s waste management system
  • completed a status update on implementation of 2016 Waste Strategy recommendations
  • undertook a jurisdictional review of best practices in policies and programs.

Phase 1 public consultations sought feedback on how the City has done so far on implementing the 2016 Waste Strategy. It was also an opportunity for:

  • sharing feedback on the vision and guiding principles of the Waste Strategy
  • sharing ideas to further reduce and divert waste from landfill
  • providing information to residents to inform them of landfill capacity challenges and considerations related to disposal options.

The City offered a survey, a public drop-in event and two virtual public meetings. View the Phase 1 public drop-in information panels.

Overall, public consultation participants expressed:

  • general agreement and support for the existing vision and guiding principles adopted by City Council in 2016; current programs, services, initiatives and participation in City programs and services; outreach, education and community engagement efforts to keep items out of landfill; creating new waste management programs and services
  • strong interest in protecting the community’s health and the environment by managing our waste, addressing barriers to waste diversion in multi-residential buildings and having stronger accountability and enforcement measures.

Read the full Phase 1 consultation report.

Phase 2 public consultations gathered feedback on:

  • preliminary options the City identified to address Toronto’s waste management needs based on findings from Phase 1
  • criteria for an evaluation framework to determine the most viable options to help the City achieve its long-term waste management goals

As part of broader consultation on the Waste Strategy update, the City also sought feedback on topics related to the Residual Waste Management Work Plan, including:

  • perceptions related to residual waste disposal options, including energy-from-waste as an alternative option to landfilling
  • values that influence perceptions related to residual waste disposal options, including those related to environmental, economic and social considerations.

The City offered a survey and hosted a public event at City Hall that was also livestreamed on YouTube.

Download the Phase 2 public event presentation slides:

Overall, public consultation participants:

  • showed strong support for producer and contractor accountability
  • preferred an evaluation framework that reflects equal values for environmental, social and financial considerations
  • identified multi-residential buildings as high-priority areas for intervention
  • saw widespread enthusiasm for community-based waste reduction and reuse programs, and a focus on upstream solutions including the five Rs.

    Phase 3 consultations will focus on collecting feedback on the proposed ten-year Reduction and Diversion Plan, which includes proposed actions the City is considering to reduce waste, increase waste diversion and improve waste services, and how to implement these proposed actions.

      Following the completion of Phase 3 consultations, the City will:

      • provide an updated ten-year (2026–2036) Reduction and Diversion Plan that builds upon the 2016 Waste Strategy and identifies policies and programs to reduce and manage waste over the long term to maximize waste diversion and align with the TransformTO Net Zero Strategy.
      • present the final Reduction and Diversion Plan to Toronto City Council for approval.

        The 2016 Long-term Waste Management Strategy was developed over two years and was supported by extensive research, guidance from key interest groups and a comprehensive public consultation and engagement plan. The strategy was approved by City Council in July 2016, and recommended waste reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery and residual disposal policies and programs.

        Executive Summary

        City Council Report

        Final 2016 Long-term Waste Management Strategy

        2016 Public Consultation and Engagement Overview and Record

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