Find out how TEA talked trash this week and accept our invitation to the craziest greenwashing event of the year - Ecobunk!
TEA's Executive Director uncovers his 'bin sins'
TEA's Executive Director, Franz Hartmann, discovered that his family still has a thing or two to learn about taking out the trash! On a Sunday morning with the help of TEA’s Waste Campaigner, Emily Alfred, Franz ripped open his garbage bags to kick off our new waste project.
"I was surprised how much stuff we threw in the garbage didn’t belong there!"
"We could benefit from more educational tools about waste diversion.”
Like most Toronto households, Franz’s family threw away waste that didn't belong in the garbage, things like animal waste from their pet bird (Green Bin) and coated cardboard packing (Blue Bin). In all, about 25% of what was in their trash could have been diverted. The remainder was plastic packaging from food products, which the City is currently unable to recycle.
TEA talks trash at City Hall
City statistics and TEA's own waste studies show that most households still put far too much recyclable, reusable and compostable materials in the garbage. That’s why TEA's Waste Campaigner was at City Hall this week.
TEA spoke at the Budget Committee meeting on November 6th to urge more investment in Waste Education and Support for Torontonians for the 2014 Waste Budget. Learn more about the City's Budget.
TEA acknowledged that progress had been made in getting Green Bins into condo and apartment buildings across Toronto (thanks in large part to TEA’s continued call for better Green Bin service). This year, the City tripled the sign up for Green Bin collection from 1,000 to 3,000 buildings, thanks to a dedicated city staff team!
What’s needed now is City-run training and support services for building managers & residents to ensure Green Bins reach their full
potential.
Ecobunk 2013
Join us as we poke fun at the most outrageous corporate greenwashing from the previous year with a night of good laughs and great entertainment!
In doing so you will be celebrating TEA's 25th Anniversary and supporting us to campaign locally to find solutions to Toronto's urban environmental problems. You can also pick out some holiday gifts at our Silent Auction!
When: Wed. December 4th 8:00 pm.
Where: Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West
Tickets are $40 each. Buy now!
Best Enviro Group
TEA was nominated for Best Enviro Group and ranked as 'Runner Up'.
Congrats to our friends at Environmental Defence for winning this year's award.
Natural Heritage Symposium
TEA's Executive Director, Franz Hartmann, will be speaking at Heritage Toronto's symposium on Nov. 12th. The event examines our city's rich natural heritage, the challenges it faces, and what we can do to preserve it.More info
Nuclear 'safety' meeting
Dec. 11-12thJust east of Toronto are aging nuclear reactors. In Toronto's west-end we have a uranium processing facility.
Thanks to enormous public pressure, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has agreed to hold a public meeting in Toronto this December. Residents can send comments or sign up to speak at the meeting if they sign up by Nov. 15th. Learn more!
Haunted by candy wrappers?
Unfortunately, most tiny Halloween candy wrappers are not recyclable!
The packaging choices of these companies have an impact on how much trash residents have to handle. Ontario is considering a new Bill that would make those companies responsible for their packaging waste, taking the burden off municipalities and ratepayers!
Take action
For regular transit riders a fare hike could add up to an extra $100/year, while service remains woefully inadequate.