Mayor John Tory has challenged Toronto's apartment and condo buildings to go greener, with his Mayor's Towering Challenge. The voluntary competition is aimed at encouraging Torontonians—particularly multi-residence dwellers—to reduce their waste and increase their waste diversion rates.
Toronto Condo developments, photo by Flickr User BRJ INC., via Creative Commons
Toronto multi-residential buildings have improved their waste diversion rates in recent years, moving up 7 per cent since 2011, but the Mayor says there is still a long way to go. The goal for Toronto is to achieve a 70 per cent waste diversion from landfills, a category that single-family homes do better in than multi-residence homes, with a 65 per cent diversion rate according to city statistics. Waste is the third largest greenhouse gas emission contributor in Toronto, making up 11 per cent of total emissions. The mayor told CBC that if people do not start to make strides towards the 70 per cent waste diversion goal, there will be regulations to ensure that the goal is met.
For six months beginning in September of 2016, buildings will have to measure their waste management reduce garbage and increase diversion, including the collection of recycling, organics and garbage. The towering challenge includes all multi-residence building units, and will allow buildings to save money as well as make a positive environmental change.
Garbage pick-up in a building, photo by Flickr User Brendan Lynch via Creative Commons
Buildings will pay for garbage pick-up but not for waste diversion, and Solid Waste Management Services will provide additional resources for registered buildings that require assistance. The building that demonstrates the biggest change in their waste reduction and diversion will be officially recognized at an event next spring. Mayor Tory is looking to once again assert Toronto's place among environmentally-friendly cities around the world.
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