Item - 2021.IE22.8

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to negotiate, enter into, and execute an agreement and any ancillary documents with the Canada Plastics Pact, as an Implementation Partner, which would include the City's provision of in-kind support to further the goals of the Canada Plastics Pact and to support efforts towards the Canada Plastics Pact achieving agreed upon targets, on such terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to negotiate, enter into, and execute agreements, as may be required, with local, regional, national, and international non-profit, public, and private sector organizations to provide in-kind and/or financial support from the approved Solid Waste Management Services budget where it is determined that the project or initiative will advance the City's aspirational circular economy goals, on such terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.   

3. City Council authorize the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to seek out potential funding opportunities and negotiate, enter into, and execute agreements, as may be required, to receive funding from local, regional, national, and international non-profit, public, and private sector organizations to support the advancement of the City's circular economy goals, on such terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on key strategic City of Toronto (City) circular economy programs and initiatives, including local, national, and international collaboration activities to accelerate the City’s efforts to achieve a circular economy. The report outlines the crucial nature of leveraging strategic program partnerships, such as the Canada Plastics Pact, to achieving Toronto’s circular economy and climate action objectives and to delivering outcomes that benefit Toronto residents, industries, and communities. 

The report seeks authority for the Solid Waste Management Services Division to enter into an agreement to join the Canada Plastics Pact. The report also requests authority for Solid Waste Management Services to enter into agreements within the Division's approved budget that enable the City to maximize opportunities to work collaboratively on circular economy initiatives; and, to accept funding from non-profit, public, and private sector organizations that can support advancement of the City's circular economy outcomes.