Environment
Toronto’s community-wide greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. That trend jeopardizes the City of Toronto being able to meet its net-zero target for 2040 — and this after emissions decreased during the first two years of the pandemic. Conversely, total residential waste production is down, driven by significant decreased waste per person.
Toronto’s greenhouse gas emissions are rising each year, after the height of the pandemic.
- Total emissions were up by 10% in 2022, driven by a 24% increase in transportation emissions, which accounted for 33% of the city’s emissions.lviii
Torontonians are producing less waste per person, but diversion rates remain stagnant.
- Per person garbage waste has decreased by 12%, from 121 pounds per person in 2019 to 106 pounds per person in 2023.lix
- In 2023, more than 381,000 tonnes of waste were diverted (54% of total waste), in line with the diversion rates of the past 10 years. Green bin organics accounted for 34% of diverted waste, blue bin recycling accounted for 24% and yard waste accounted for 22%.lx
ENDNOTES:
Infographics:
1. City of Toronto, Solid Waste Reports & Diversion Rates, https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/recycling-organics-garbage/solid-waste-reports/. Notes: Previous data was accessed via the Wayback Machine. Per-person garbage rates were calculated by dividing total garbage collected by the city’s population.
Data:
- lviii Carbon Emissions Inventory Report, Regional Emissions Toronto, https://carbon.taf.ca/regions/toronto
- lix City of Toronto, Solid Waste Reports & Diversion Rates, https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/recycling-organics-garbage/solid-waste-reports/. Notes: Previous data was accessed via the Wayback Machine. Per-person garbage rates were calculated by dividing total garbage collected by the city’s population.
- lx City of Toronto, Solid Waste Reports & Diversion Rates, https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/recycling-organics-garbage/solid-waste-reports/