It’s Spring!

Community Environment Days are held every year from April to September to help reduce the amount of reusable, recyclable or household hazardous waste going into landfill.

Do your part to create a cleaner, greener and more liveable Toronto. Drop off reusable and recyclable items such as clothing, small appliances, non-perishable food items and electronics. You can also drop off household hazardous waste for safe disposal and pick up free compost for your garden.

It is spring after all, and the perfect time to get rid of your old stuff.

Free Compost

We look forward to this each year. We have a garden in the back yard and like to add compost to the garden each year.

Resident are invited to pick up free compost at all Community Environment Day events. The compost was created from the yard waste and organic materials collected at the curb, throughout the City of Toronto.

The majority of the finished compost comes from the yard waste program, while five to ten per cent may come from the Green Bin program. Various Ontario processors receive both of these materials and blend them with organic materials of different types and sources, producing optimum conditions for composting. Before leaving the facilities, the compost is tested to ensure quality and provincial requirements for safety.

The compost acts as an excellent soil amendment and is safe to use in gardens and on lawns; however, plants should not be placed in pure compost just as they should not be placed pure fertilizer. One part compost should be mixed with six parts soil.

Compost is the product of a controlled, safe and efficient process. The process uses naturally occurring micro-organisms to convert materials that were once considered waste, into an excellent source of plant nutrients for gardens and lawns. Compost also improves the structure and water holding properties of soil.

For more information, read the What Happens to Organics page.

 

Items  for drop off and pick up

Pick up for free:

  • Leaf compost: *New for 2019 – compost will come in 15 kg bags (limit of two bags per household, while supplies last)

Products available:

  • Kitchen container ($5 each)

Drop off for recycling or proper disposal:

Donate items in good condition for reuse:

  • Sporting goods
  • Arts and crafts supplies
  • Books (excluding textbooks)
  • Cameras, CDs and cases
  • Dress-up clothing and costume jewelry
  • Clothing, linens, etc.
  • Small household items
  • Musical instruments, board games
  • Eyeglasses, walking aids, hearing aids, etc.
  • Non-perishable foods

Please do not bring: ink cartridges or toner, construction waste, air conditioners, garbage, wood, cassette and videotapes, commercial/industrial hazardous waste and scrap metal.

Please click here to find out more about Community Environment Days in Toronto. If you live in another city, check your local website for details in your community.