Alternative Waste Management Options:

In 2000, 25% of Toronto's residential waste resources was diverted from landfill. In 2001, our diversion rate increased to 27%. In 2004 we achieved 32% (49% from single-family homes, 12% from multi-family dwellings). We can do better! Here's some links to get you started.

Information about Landfills:

• Recycling and waste research: review of the environmental and health effects of waste management This is an extensive report by DEFRA, The department of the environment, food and rural affairs, in England. This extensive report was written in May 2004. The purpose of this report is to "bring together the literature and evidence on the relative health and environmental effects of all the different waste management options; relative both to each other and to other activities affecting health and the environment."
• Resources -- Not Garbage: Municipal Solid Waste in Ontario Report By John Jackson, Prepared for The Environmental Agenda for Ontario Project, March 1999

Waste Management Information:

• Product Policy Project
• Ontario Government Bill 90 An Act to Promote the Reduction, Reuse and Recycling of Waste, 2001
• The Green PagesLinks about Waste Management
• Links from Sustainable Communities Network The SCN has gathered links here relating to waste management issues.
• Environmental Protection Agency (USA) Links to papers and agencies dealing with Waste issues.
• Solid Waste & Recycling Management Magazine about Selection, Hauling,
• Stewardship Ontario The municipal blue box and blue bag program Industry Funding Organization (IFO)
• Take it Back Campaigns
• Extended Producer Responsibility and Stewartship Program
• California Integrated Waste Management Board Integrated Waste Solution Innovations

Recycling Information:

• Organizations to contact about recycling computers/electronics in Toronto Computation, Reboot Canada, Technology Learning Alliance
• Grassroots Recycling Network
• Recycling Council of Ontario
• Earth 911Information about recycling centres
• Global Recycling Network
• Blue Box Basics From the Bluewater Recycling Association
• Canadian Association of Recycling Industries
• Corporations Supporting Recycling
• SUBBOR Super Blue Box Recycling Corp., a subsidiary of Eastern Power Limited (EPL), of Toronto has developed an innovative approach to the beneficial treatment of unsorted municipal solid waste. Non-recyclable waste (kitchen waste, yard waste, waste paper) are processed through an enhanced multi-stage anaerobic digestion unit where microbes will break down the material. Outputs from this process will be methane-rich biogas, directed to energy uses and solid residue which can be used as compost or for soil enhancement. The process will reduce the number and size of landfill sites needed for municipal waste and provide sustainable energy, resulting in a significant reduction in the greenhouse gases generated by landfills. For more information, see "Advanced Anaerobic Digestion: Utilization of Waste Biomass Avoids GHG Emissions and Provides Alternate Energy" at
• Biodegration won't solve the landfill crunch A paper from the Environment and Plastics Industry Council
• Plastics Recycling Overview A paper from the Environment and Plastics Industry Council
• Ground Glass: How far will the provincial Liberals' waste-diversion plans go? An article by Jennifer Prittie in Eye Magazine, November 7, 2002

Environmental Organizations:

• Toronto Environmental Alliance
• Planet Friendly
• The Green Pages Resources collected by/for Environmental Students
• The Composting Council of Canada
• Sustainable Communities Network "Linking citizens to resources and to one another to create healthy, vital sustainable communities."
• Citizen's Network on Waste Management Site last updated in 1999 but includes some good information.
• Ontario Environment Organization
• Canadian Environmental Organization

Toronto Specific Information:

• Recycling Information from Toronto City Hall
• Status Report on Waste Task Force, June 2001
• Metro's Giant Slop Heap Inspires Composter Envy Eye Magazine, 12.12.91

Check back, or volunteer to help find the information to include here by contacting us at info@csetoronto.org