The TransformTO Net Zero Strategy sets a target for City-owned buildings to achieve zero waste. This challenges City staff to divert between 90 per cent to 100 per cent of their workplace waste from landfill to recycling and organics.
To comply with the Province of Ontario’s 3Rs Regulations, annual waste audits are conducted on the City’s office facilities over 10,000 sq. m. The waste diversion rates below from 2010 to 2022 include quarterly waste tracking and annual waste audit results from 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.
Since 2023, the waste diversion rates are from annual waste audits conducted in City Hall, Metro Hall, Scarborough Civic Centre, North York Civic Centre, Etobicoke Civic Centre, 703 Don Mills Rd. and 1530 Markham Rd.
| Year | Waste diversion rate | Recycling and Organic tonnes | Garbage tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75% | 287 | 94 |
| 2023 | 75% | 319 | 107 |
| 2022 | 73% | 253 | 94 |
| 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. Paper towels were accepted in the green bin again mid-way through 2021.