Mayor's 70 per cent waste diversion goal beyond reach, but some GTA communities are coming close to meeting benchmark

Toronto is not expected to meet its goal of diverting 70 per cent of solid waste from landfills by the end of 2010, according to reports published in today’s Globe and Mail and Toronto Star.

The target of 70 per cent diversion was originally set by Mayor David Miller as an election campaign promise in 2006, according to the reports.

By the end of next year, it is expected that the city will be diverting about 50 per cent of its garbage away from landfills, reported the Globe and the Star.

Despite the overall 20 per cent difference, some parts of the GTA are meeting their waste diversion goals. According to the Star’s report, single-family homes will be close to the goal of 70 per cent waste diversion, but delays in a green-bin service for high-rise buildings as well as other construction hold-ups will keep the city from meeting its benchmark.

Toronto had hoped to divert 70 per cent of its solid waste away from landfills by 2010, according to reports filed by the Globe and Mail and the Star.

The city of Markham had a target diversion rate of 75 per cent by the end of next year. Their current rate is 73.9 per cent, according to the Globe.

“The system you design is going to get you your diversion more than any punitive fee,” said Claudia Marsales, Markham’s manager for waste management.

Markham has designed a system for solid waste management which focuses on removing the opportunity to generate garbage, Marsales told thedailyplanet.com. As a community, they have created a garbage pick-up program which picks up recycling and organic waste weekly, but garbage only twice a month.

“The switch to every-other-week garbage was really well received,” said Marsales.

In addition to the 75 per cent diversion goal, Markham has set a target to have zero waste for municipal buildings.

“We’re working on both programs,” said Marsales. “Our city hall has actually achieved zero waste. Our staff is not allowed to have garbage cans.”