Waste Strategy

Waste management in a city the size of Toronto is a complex task. In 2023, the City managed close to 830,000 tonnes of waste. With a growing population, Toronto’s waste is anticipated to grow and landfill capacity in Ontario is estimated to run out in the next ten years. A long-term strategy is required to more accurately reflect Toronto’s current and future waste management needs and progress towards the City’s aspirational zero-waste goals.

The Long-term Waste Management Strategy (Waste Strategy) (Executive Summary, Full Report), which was 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 (Waste Strategy Update) as part of its consideration of the Residual Waste Management Work Plan. 

The City is working on updating the 2016 Long-term Waste Management Strategy to better anticipate future needs, identify options to reduce waste produced by a growing population and minimize the amount of garbage requiring disposal as the City’s Green Lane Landfill approaches its capacity by 2035. It is critical to start planning now, as planning, regulatory approvals and construction of new waste disposal infrastructure can take more than ten years. It will also include a work plan for the implementation period of 2026 to 2036.   

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

The first consultation phase sought feedback on how the City has done so far on implementing the 2016 Waste Strategy and ideas to further reduce and divert waste from landfill. 

Public opinion, along with technical and policy considerations, will be used to inform staff recommendations and decisions made by City Council.  

The City offered a survey, which closed on December 20, a public drop-in event at St. Paul’s Bloor Street on December 3 and two virtual public meetings on December 5 and December 11.

View the information panels from the public drop-in event.

Thank you to everyone who shared their feedback.

Contact Us

If you have additional feedback or questions about the Waste Strategy, you can email WasteStrategy@toronto.ca or call 416-392-9510.

In the first phase of the Waste Strategy Update, the City will:

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

 

Phase 1 consultation will focus on:

    • Gathering feedback on the vision and guiding principles of the Waste Strategy.
    • Soliciting ideas to reduce and divert waste from landfill.
    • Providing information to residents to inform them of landfill capacity challenges and considerations related to disposal options, including both landfilling and energy-from-waste.  More information on this work can be found on the Residual Waste Management webpage.

    In the second phase of the Waste Strategy Update, the City will:

    • Use the findings from the Phase 1 consultation to identify and evaluate options to address the waste management needs of the City and its residents.   
    • Develop an evaluation framework to evaluate options and determine the most viable paths to help the City achieve its long-term waste management goals.   
    • Outline potential waste management policies and programs to manage Toronto’s waste.   
    • Gather informed feedback regarding perceptions related to residual waste disposal options, including energy-from-waste as an alternative option to landfilling.
    • Better understand underlying values that influence perceptions related to residual waste disposal options, including those related to environmental, economic and social considerations.   

     

    Phase 2 consultation will focus on:  

      • Options the City should consider to achieve its long-term waste management goals.  
      • Criteria for an evaluation framework to identify the most appropriate and feasible options or system of options.  
      • Understanding perceptions of energy-from-waste compared to landfilling and the underlying values that influence these perceptions. More information on this work can be found on the Residual Waste Management webpage. 

       

       

      Following the completion of Phases 1 and 2, the City will:

      • Provide an updated ten-year (2026-2036) Waste Strategy implementation 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 Waste Strategy Update to Toronto City Council and the public.

       

      Phase 3 consultation will focus on:  

        • Collecting feedback on the proposed 10-year Waste Strategy Update.

        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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