Every year, the City manages close to 830,000 tonnes (close to two billion pounds) of waste. This requires money, energy, and resources and takes up limited landfill space. Waste reduction should always be top of mind as the less waste produced, the less there is to manage. Let’s make Toronto greener this holiday season to help keep items out of landfill and reduce our climate impact.
Do not take items unless you’re going to use them. Say ‘no’ to bags, receipts, extra napkins and cutlery. Avoid produce and other items wrapped in too much packaging.
Use reusable bags for shopping and gift giving, reusable bottles and mugs instead of disposables when on the go and real dishes and cutlery at events. Check the directory of business that have a reusable container program. When shopping, consider thrift stores and garage sales, as well as buying items in bulk using your own containers. Consider volunteering with a Reduces group in your neighborhood or start a new one!
Find new uses for things you would otherwise throw away. A few examples include using cookie tins for storage, turning old clothes into rags, using cans as pencil holders and using old jars as vases.
Attend a swap, whether virtual or in-person, or organize a swap with friends or neighbours.
Consider borrowing or sharing less frequently used items, such as tools, party supplies, camping gear, sports equipment, board games and toys. Lawn mowers and ladders can be shared with neighbours, while clothing can be rented for special events. Consider visiting the Toronto Tool Library and the Regenesis Borrowing Centre. You can create a neighborhood sharing group like Junction Triangle ThingShare or Plate Share.
Extend the life of items like clothing, appliances and electronics by repairing them and keep an eye out for repair events in the city. Learn about the City’s Bicycle Repair and Sewing Repair Hubs. See a list of Toronto repair shops, upcoming repair events and other resources at Repair Café Toronto.
Plan ahead, buy only what you need and consider the impact of packaging when making purchases.
Give clothing, books, toys and more a new life by donating them. Also consider donating ice skates that are in good condition but no longer fit or are not being used. Find non-profit organizations where you can donate unwanted clothing and other items. Find City-permitted clothing drop boxes. Consider donating to a community agency serving refugee claimants.
When you can’t reduce or reuse, remember to sort your waste properly.
Paper gift wrap and cards, plastic over-wrap, cookie tins, rinsed plastic disposable cups, plates, aluminum trays, roasting pans.
Fruit and vegetable scraps, meat (including bones), spoiled cakes and cookies. Food-soiled paper plates, paper towels and napkins (if soiled with chemicals such as cleaning products, place these in the garbage).
Mailer bags, bubble wrap, bubble envelopes, packing peanuts, foil/metallic gift wrap, ribbons and bows, wooden fruit crates, broken dishes, glasses and black plastics.
Check the Waste Wizard or download the TOwaste app to find out what item goes where.
Try one of these sustainable swaps to help reduce your everyday waste.
| Disposable Item | Sustainable Solution |
|---|---|
| Coffee cup | Reusable travel coffee mug |
| Disposable cutlery | Saying ‘no’ if you don’t need them or pack regular cutlery |
| Paper Napkin | Cloth napkin |
| Plastic or aluminum food wrap | Beeswax-covered cloth wrap or reusable container |
| Coffee pod | Brewed coffee or pour-over or reusable coffee pod |
| Plastic produce bag | Mesh or other reusable produce bag |
| Dryer sheet | Dryer ball |
| Paper towel | Tea towel or cloth rag |
| Single-use water bottle or carton | Reusable water bottle |
| Disposable bag | Tote or reusable bag |
| Parchment paper | Silicone baking mat |
| Disposable sandwich bag | Reusable silicone or fabric sandwich bag |
The average Toronto household throws out 17 kg (37 lb) of clothing and other textiles each year (based on City of Toronto household waste audits). That’s one trend that needs to end.
Textiles that are put into the garbage end up in landfill, where they take up valuable space and release greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. Manufacturing clothing also has a significant environmental impact from the raw materials and energy used to the pollution created in the process. Reusing or repurposing clothing extends its life.
Find non-profit organizations where you can donate clothing and other items. Find City-permitted clothing drop boxes. To get donation locations from your smartphone or tablet, download the TOwaste app.
Please note: the listing of these organizations is meant to be a helpful resource but is not a City endorsement.
You can also donate clothing and small household items at a Community Environment Day. Consider donating to a community agency serving refugee claimants and donating ice skates that are in good condition but not longer fit or are not being used.
Please check an organization’s website or contact them to confirm their location and hours, what items they accept and in what condition. Note that some organizations offer pickup and others require appointments for drop off. The condition of acceptable items varies between organizations, but none want items that are wet, mildewed or contaminated with hazardous waste. Please do not leave items outside of drop-off locations or donation bins.
Non-profit organizations use donations in various ways. Some resell clothing and household items to provide support and/or employment for those in need and fund their activities and research. Others distribute donations directly to their clients. You can support these organizations by donating reusable items and shopping at their retail operations.
If furniture or appliances are not accepted for reuse, they can be set out for collection as oversized items on garbage day. If you live in an apartment or condo, speak with your building manager about where to bring furniture and appliances.
Electronics that cannot be reused or donated can be put out on garbage day for pickup or brought to a Drop-Off Depot or Community Environment Day. If you live in an apartment or condo, speak with your building manager about where to bring your electronic waste.
Please note: the listing of these websites is meant to be a helpful resource but is not a City endorsement.
Single-use accessory items (such as eating utensils, straws, stir sticks, condiment packets, napkins, and beverage takeout trays)
Single-use cups and containers, foam (expanded polystyrene) cups and containers, black plastic containers, and plastic or plastic-lined items labelled as compostable or biodegradable
Shopping bags (paper and plastic)
Find information about the City’s Single-Use and Takeaway Times Reduction Strategy and Bylaw.
Many items that can be reused are thrown out every day. To help foster a culture of waste reduction, sharing, repairing and reuse in Toronto, the City is implementing five Community Reduce & Reuse Programs. Together, the programs will help to build sustainable communities and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
Food waste is a significant issue both locally and across the country. Over 50 per cent of food wasted in Toronto single-family households is avoidable. This includes leftovers and untouched food that could have been eaten at one point. Food waste often occurs when we buy too much, cook too much, or don’t store our food correctly. It’s estimated that avoidable food waste costs the average Canadian household over $1,100 per year.
Food waste reduction is a key part of the City’s Long Term Waste Management Strategy. Since food waste is not just a local issue, the City has partnered with the National Zero Waste Council, other government organizations and major retailers on the Love Food Hate Waste Canada campaign, a national effort to reduce food waste across the country.
Learn more about the issue of food waste and quick and easy tips to help you reduce food waste in your home.