Waste Management

The City’s waste management efforts are focused on three key areas:

Reduce and Reuse: Examples include reducing paper use and stationery orders; vendors and contractors are encouraged to submit invoices electronically.
Waste Diversion
No Waste Recycling Program

Waste Diversion Rates

The waste diversion rates, below, include the following City facilities: City Hall, Metro Hall, Scarborough Civic Centre, North York Civic Centre, Etobicoke Civic Centre, 703 Don Mills Rd., 277 Victoria St., 1530 Markham Rd., East York Civic Centre and York Civic Centre.

Year	Waste diversion rate	Recycling / Composting tonnes	Garbage tonnes
2021	77%**	308	89
2020	72%*	528	197
2019	88%	1099	153
2018	87%	1016	148
2017	76%	502	162
2016	90%	1,303	150
2015	89%	1,324	171
2014	89%	1,444	183
2013	88%	1,653	229
2012	86%	1,883	331
2011	84%	1,786	354
2010	85%	1,704	344

*Lower than usual recycling and waste diversion rates for 2020 are the result of COVID-19 restrictions, including a directive to put used paper towels in the garbage instead of the green bin.

**Waste diversion rates are improving as more staff return to the workplace, albeit on a staggered basis. Paper towels were accepted in the green bin mid-way through 2021.