As of Fall 2014, TTC users pay more for operating our public transit than riders in any comparable city in North America, about 73% of the cost (see the table on page 9 of this Transit Commission Report here).

Over ten weeks in 2014, TEA's Waste Free TO Challenge asked Toronto residents and communities to take ten steps to reduce waste, share their ideas and stories, and win prizes. Thousands of people participated, and hundreds took the Challenge online - what we found surprised us.

The TV cameras and bright lights were turned on. The packed room went silent. Then, Olivia Chow and John Tory walked on to the stage, followed by the debate moderator, Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of Ontario’s Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

In this issue, we reflect on the power of people joining together to demand action on the environment, at the global and local level.

On Sunday, September 21, over 3000 Torontonians gathered in Nathan Phillips Square, while hundreds of thousands of people gathered in cities around the world with the same message: we want action on climate change.

On Sunday, more than 70 people gathered for a presentation, meal and celebration of a new Waste Free Daawat Guide developed by the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA)'s leadership development program with TEA's help. 

In this issue, we have some exciting updates about our debate and our nomination as Toronto's Best Enviro Group! And we provide you with the resources you need to help elect a green council. 

Looking for some examples of Toronto companies that have successfully found ways to prevent pollution? Check out Chapter 4 of the Toronto Toxic Reduction Tool Kit! 

All five crematoriums in Toronto release mercury but that's about to change! TEA recently toured Mount Pleasant Crematorium's new equipment, which eliminates all mercury emissions. 

TEA is proud to say that NOW magazine is the media sponsor for our upcoming mayoral debate on September 23rd!  Watch for ads in the next two issues of NOW magazine, and be sure to check for their coverage of this debate and other election news.   

In this issue, TEA invites you to join us for our Mayoral Debate and we provide an overview of our election work.

In this issue, TEA asks you to reach out to your candidates about the Green Action Agenda and we give you an update on the battery recycling program in Ontario. 

Many of Toronto's dry cleaners are using toxic chemicals to clean our clothes. ChemTRAC shows us where these shops are and how much we're exposed to.

TEA recently hosted a training session for over 25 volunteers to help them get engaged in environmental issues and the upcoming municipal election. 

The City of Toronto’s Sewers By-law makes sure that local industries are responsible for the contaminated water they dump into our shared sewer system. 

In 2014, volunteers took TEA's Waste Free Toronto Campaign to Community Environment Days around the city. 

Toronto City Council has moved ahead, reaffirming its commitment to bring public ravine lands into the Greenbelt.   See TEA's Press Release. 

In this issue, TEA celebrates what Council has been doing to tackle climate change and toxics, and we'll tell you how you can have an impact on waste diversion.  

Thanks to TEA, the Medical Officer of Health is taking the first step to reduce the top 8 toxic chemicals released into Toronto’s air! 

Product ingredients like triclosan in soap are supposed to kill germs. But a report released today by CELA & CPA comes clean about how toxic triclosan is to our health and the Great Lakes!