What Happens to Toronto’s Garbage?
SECTION A: The Bad News about Garbage
General Facts about Toronto’s Garbage:

In 2005, an average of 86 truck loads per day of solid waste went to
Michigan landfill …down from 142 trucks a day in 2003. This includes waste
from residents, ICI (Industrial, Commercial, Institutional), ABC&Ds (Agency,
Boards, Commissions, Divisions) and schools.

Toronto sent approximately 750,100 tonnes of waste to Michigan landfill in
2005.

24.3% of the Ontario waste trucked to Michigan is from Toronto. (The
remainder comes from private industrial companies, and the regions of Peel,
Durham and York).
Solid Waste Management Services has the following facilities:

Seven Transfer Stations

one Organic Processing Facility

six HHW depots (Household Hazardous Waste)

one MRF (Material Recovery Facility for sorting recyclables)

one Maintenance Yard
Facts from website: http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/facts.htm
It is estimated about
350 trucks
carry garbage from
Ontario to Michigan
every day!!!
Answer the following questions:
1. What is a Landfill?______________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2. What are the possible negative effects a landfill site can have on the
surrounding environment? (Be sure to look up the following words:
leachate, toxic liquid, groundwater, and leakage)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
3. Identify at least 3 steps involved in getting garbage from someone’s
boulevard in Toronto to a landfill in Michigan.
 ______________________________________________
 ______________________________________________
 ______________________________________________
4. List some of the costs required to ship Toronto’s garbage to Michigan.
 _______________________________________________
 _______________________________________________
 _______________________________________________
5. In 2010, Michigan will no longer be receiving Toronto’s garbage.
Determine where the new landfill will be and what concerns there are.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
SECTION B: The Good News about Recycling and Compost!
General Facts about Recycling and Composting:
Green Bin

The Green Bin Program, which collects and processes household organic waste so it
can be turned into finished compost, is now available to 510,000 single-family
households across Toronto.

With city-wide single-family household participation, approximately 100,000 tonnes
of waste will be diverted from landfill annually (resulting in 2,750 fewer trucks to
Michigan each year).

30% of all residential garbage is "wet" waste or organic waste.

The Green Bin Program sees a 90% participation rate.
Blue Box (Blue/Grey combined)

Effective Spring 2005, Toronto residents may combine Blue Box and Grey Box
recyclables together in one container for more efficient collection and processing.

In 2005, multi-unit dwellings (apartments) recycled only 13% of their garbage. The
City is looking to improve that statistic and is piloting various waste diversion
programs in selected multi-unit buildings.

In 2005, the Blue Box program expanded to include tubs and lids (e.g., margarine
containers and yogurt tubs).

In 2005, Toronto recycled 158,116 residential tonnes of blue/grey box recyclables
(resulting in 4,650 fewer trucks to Michigan).

75% less energy and 50% less water is used to make paper from recycled paper
versus raw wood fibre.

Recycling one tonne of old newspapers saves 19 trees (Toronto typically recycles
100,000 tonnes of newspapers annually giving more than two million trees a
tomorrow).

30% less energy is used to make glass from recycled crushed glass (cullet) versus
new resources.

A 33% energy reduction is seen when new products are made from recyclable
plastics.

95% less energy is used to make new aluminum cans out of old ones. Throwing away a
single aluminum can is like pouring out six ounces of gasoline.
Facts from website: http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/facts.htm
Answer the following questions:
1. What does the word diversion mean when referring to waste?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2. Give a few examples of “green bin organics” that might be created in
your house.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
3. Composting is taking green bin organics and allowing them to fully
decompose into soil. How can this “finished compost” be used?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4. a) Why do you think apartment buildings recycle and compost less than
those living in houses? ___________________________________
_______________________________________________________
b) What could be done to change this? _______________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
5. Why do you think we are encouraged to recycle materials instead of
putting them in the garbage? ______________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
6. The government is working hard to help our garbage problem by
establishing alternative options to shipping all our waste to landfills.
What difficulties might they face that may make the progress slower
than expected? ________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
7. List 3 specific actions you can take to help reduce the amount of
garbage going to the landfills
a.
when packing your lunch:
____________________________________________________
b.
when shopping:
____________________________________________________
c.
at school:
____________________________________________________
Helpful Websites:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
www.ejnet.org/landfills/
www.concernedcitizens.homestead.com/FAQ20.html
www.nwri.ca/threatsfull/ch12-1-e.html
www.ec.gc.ca/science/sandemay99/article1_e.html
www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/08/31/trashmichigan.html#skip300x250
6. www.cbc.ca/news/background/municipalities/citystates_garbage.html
7. http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/facts.htm
8. www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/09/19/trash-talk.html
9. http://www.thestar.com/article/225222
10.
www.rco.on.ca