City of Toronto launches first round of public consultations on developing a Long Term Waste Management Strategy

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  June 4, 2014                       

City of Toronto launches first round of public consultations on developing a Long Term Waste Management Strategy

The City is developing a Long Term Waste Management Strategy for Toronto to provide a framework for solid waste management policy decisions over the next 30 to 50 years. To keep pace and meet future needs, planning must begin now.

Three rounds of public consultation sessions are planned to get input on the development of the new strategy. The first round, taking place this month, focuses on: 

- the purpose and goals of the Long Term Waste Management Strategy

- the City's current waste management practices

- creating awareness of the reduction, reuse and recycling waste management policies and technology options that will be considered.

Members of the public are invited to attend any of the following sessions to provide feedback in person and to speak with staff (no registration required):

- Monday, June 9: Scarborough Civic Centre, Rotunda, 150 Borough Dr., 6:30-9 p.m.

- Monday, June 16: North York City Centre, Memorial Community Hall (Burgundy Room),

  5110 Yonge St., 6:30-9 p.m.

- Tuesday, June 17: Metro Hall, Rotunda, 55 John St., 6:30-9 p.m.

- Wednesday, June 18: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 3819 Bloor St. W., 6:30-9 p.m.

Residents of all ages are welcome to attend the public consultation sessions. At each information station, participants will learn more about the project and be able to share their ideas and opinions. There will be a "Kids Zone" with waste-related activities for children. 

Previous waste management strategies focused only on managing residential waste, which accounts for just 53 per cent of the waste delivered to the City's landfill. The new strategy will also consider non-residential sources of waste that the City is responsible for managing and take into consideration Toronto's growing population, space limitations at the City's landfill and the changing nature of our waste.

The strategy will recommend waste reduction, reuse and recycling policies and programs. It will also include options on how to manage any leftover garbage remaining after making every effort to maximize diversion. All options and industry best practices for waste diversion and disposal methods will be considered and evaluated. The goal is to find solutions that are cost-effective, socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable.

Visit http://www.toronto.ca/wastestrategy for more information and to subscribe to the mailing list. Join the conversation on Twitter with @GetInvolvedTO and #TOwastestrategy.

This news release is also available on the City's website at http://bitly.com/1mahB0e.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Pat Barrett, Strategic Communications, 416-392-4716, pbarrett@toronto.ca