For immediate release March 01, 2022

Incineration, often called “energy-from-waste” or “thermal treatment”, is a toxic and harmful way to deal with waste. A report in front of City Council could allow waste to be sent for incineration in neighbouring communities in Peel and Durham - but this is counter to Toronto’s climate goals and further burdens communities facing multiple sources of pollution. Our Waste Campaigner Emily Alfred spoke to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee last week to share five reasons why Toronto should reject incineration and focus on reducing and diverting waste. Next, City Council will vote on this report May 5th.

Will Ontario consider a ban single-use plastics? We combed through their Provincial Discussion Paper Reducing Litter and Waste in Our Communities line-by-line. Here’s what you need to know - and what you should tell the Ontario government.

Toronto is developing a Long Term Waste Plan for what to do with our city's waste over the next 30-50 years. This is an important environmental decision, and we need to push for a focus on Reducing, Reusing and Recycling our waste.

At TEA's request, the City finally released the Air Quality Impact study for Highland Creek's sewage treatment plant. Now we know how incineration 'stacks up' against pelletization and it's not good news.

The Highland Creek Treatment Plant is the only remaining sewage incinerator in Toronto and is one of the top polluters in our city. Attend an upcoming consultation on the future of Highland Creek Treatment Plant on November 19th.

Just east of Toronto, the “state-of-the-art” incinerator built to burn the garbage for Durham and York Regions is already going over toxic air emission limits in the testing stage.

After hearing from TEA, residents and other community groups, Peel Council changed their Long Term waste plan and voted to cancel a costly incinerator, voting instead for better recycling and composting.

Burning or destroying resources instead of recycling, reusing or composting them wastes energy, releases harmful greenhouse gas emissions and other toxins into our air and water.