Item - 2021.IE20.20

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, to report back to the April 28, 2021 meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee with a safety plan for Environment Days, including the option for a drive-through format at City of Toronto Transfer Stations.

Environment Days are an essential part of the City of Toronto’s TransformTO policy and solid waste management plan.  These events embrace the participation of thousands of residents who donate and dispose of various household items that would not go into the weekly pick up.  The events promote recycling, reusing and diversion and gets potentially toxic an dangerous chemicals out of individual households.  The clothing and other donations help thousands of disadvantaged families and the whole event provides an important educational purpose in getting households to think about the environment on a very personal basis.  

In 2020,   the City of Toronto, along with Councillors hosted “drive through” Environment Days, at the city’s transfer stations.  These turned out to be a great success.  They were safe and effective.   However, recent correspondence has led many to believe that these will not be organized in 2021, or at least delayed.   In order to have a plan ready for late spring or early summer a strategy should be put in place.