Waste Reduction

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What's Ahead for 2014

In 2014, TEA will focus on getting Toronto residents and communities talking about waste solutions. We want to help Toronto residents get involved in the City discussion about waste management. We'll also continue to work with other environmental organizations to make sure that producers take responsibility for the environmental impacts of the products they sell - including e-waste, batteries, and packaging!

TEA's Waste Free Challenge

The Waste Free Toronto Challenge is a list of 10 simple actions that any Torontonian can take to help move us toward a Waste Free Toronto. Whether you reduce reuse and recycle everything you can, or if you're not sure where to start, the Waste Free Challenge will challenge you to do one more thing to reduce waste at home and in your community.

Take the challenge, share your stories and if you complete all 10 by July 15, you'll be entered in a draw for great prizes - including a TTC Metropass or a waste-free picnic for 4. www.wastefreeto.ca

Latest news:

On May 7th 2014, TEA launched our Waste Free Toronto Challenge! Take 10 simple actions to move us toward a Waste Free Toronto.
In June 2013, the Ontario Government proposed a new Waste Reduction Act and Waste Reduction Strategy that could increase waste diversion in Ontario.

Toronto City Council is creating a Long Term Waste Strategy throughout 2014 looking at a long term disposal strategy for Toronto, and unfortunately, not a long term diversion strategy.

Reducing what we consume would create sustainable jobs and wealth, and re-using goods would send less garbage to landfill.

TEA works for policies and programs that help us to reduce waste and to manage our waste in a way that is safe for the environment and our health.

Push for excellent waste services in Toronto to ensure a range of waste services have good diversion targets, and are monitored closely to ensure that our waste is handled safely.
Support Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) - laws and programs that ensure manufacturers and retailers take full responsibility for the products and packaging they design and sell. This gives companies a reason to reduce the amount of waste created and its environmental impact.
Focus on composting to return organic matter to the soil rather than burying it in landfills as garbage. Organics programs should be available to all residents and businesses in Toronto, whether they live in high-rises, or buildings with private waste collection.
Oppose garbage and sewage incineration in all its forms, including ‘thermal treatment’ and ‘energy-from-waste’ schemes, that create air and water pollution, and a dis-incentive to reduce or recycle waste.

Some of our past waste campaigns and successes:

TEA pushes Toronto Council to ensure that privatized waste collection contracts must meet high environmental monitoring and performance standards
TEA works with residents to push Council to shut down Toronto’s last sewage incinerator at Highland Creek in 2011
TEA pushes for a packaging by-law in Toronto to reduce the waste going to landfill -- this leads to the Plastic Bag Fee on all retail bags in the City and a 70% reduction in single-use bags!
TEA leads a campaign asking the LCBO to introduce a deposit-return program for all wine and liquor containers, based on the successful Beer Store deposit-return program.
TEA outlines a green-bin organics program for the City - in 2002 Toronto is one of the first cities in North America with a curbside organics program.