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At Waste Solutions Canada, we’re dedicated to helping businesses achieve sustainability while reducing costs through innovative waste management strategies. We believe that building a brighter, more sustainable future thrives on collaboration and education. That’s why we’re thrilled to share our interview with the incredible University of Toronto Trash Team! This dynamic, science-driven community organization is leading the charge against plastic waste solutions and enhancing waste literacy through engaging education and outreach. Keep reading to learn more about their inspiring work!
Can you tell us about the mission and goals of the University of Toronto Trash Team?
We’re a science-based community outreach organization made up of undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, researchers, local volunteers and staff all working together with a common goal to increase waste literacy in our community while reducing plastic pollution in our ecosystems. We accomplish this through programming that encompasses education, community outreach and solutions-based research to deliver evidence-based solutions with the aim to connect people and increase waste literacy concerning material and waste with fun, creative and practical actions.
How did the University of Toronto Trash Team come to be?
Our origins date back to early 2017 when our co-founders first met with an idea to bring a large trash trap to Toronto, inspired by Baltimore’s charismatic Mr. Trash Wheel. We were captivated by the potential of not only removing trash from flowing into Lake Ontario but also capturing the public’s attention on the global issue of plastic pollution with a charismatic fixture along the waterfront. It was also, of course, a good excuse to create a raccoon themed trash trap! While a trash wheel is still very much a long-term goal of the U of T Trash Team, our organization formally launched and designed programming with a holistic approach to waste literacy, which of course includes a family of trash traps in the Toronto Inner Harbour.
What are some of the key challenges and obstacles you’ve faced in your efforts to reduce waste?
Above all else, the motivation for change may be the biggest obstacle. Our research has taught us that the actions we need to reduce pollution seem relatively easy, but the difficulty lies in large-scale scale and/or behaviour change. The barriers to implementation can lie at many levels of governance from the behaviour of each and every one of us, to changes within businesses and from the government. For example, cigarette butts are among the most common types of plastic pollution in our environment. This pollution can be prevented through less direct littering or changing the way cigarettes are made. Here, the solution lies in changed behaviour or the government removing the plastic filter from the cigarette. Another example is wet wipes. Wet wipes are also very common in the environment, and they enter due to flushed wipes flowing into our environment during sewer overflow. The solution can be changing the materials of wipes, to a degradable material that dissolves when flushed, as well as the public not flushing their wipes. Finally, construction foam makes up about half of the foam we see littered on Toronto’s shorelines. This can be prevented by industry taking measures to reduce the loss of foam as they construct buildings, or changing the materials of the insulation they use. Each of these actions are not complex, but change is hard.
What role do you see technology playing in waste reduction efforts, both now and in the future?
Both locally in Toronto and through our International Trash Trap Network which we run collaboratively with Ocean Conservancy, we use technologies called trash traps to capture and divert plastics and other waste from waterways and coastlines. Trash traps offer a unique way to increase cleanup efforts and to inform waste reduction efforts. By collecting data on the waste captured by trash traps, we can identify the most common forms of pollution and their sources. This information is key to informing upstream solutions for prevention such as local policies including bans on single-use plastics. Trash traps are unique in appearance (our WasteSharks in Toronto are remote controlled drones that skim the water surface – pretty cool!) and so they also provide a great platform for community engagement. These include events such as our Trash Trap Dive where members of the public get the opportunity to learn our techniques to characterize litter diverted by trash traps. By seeing the data firsthand, it provides people with motivation not only to reduce their individual waste, but also to push for broader action in their communities.
What inspired the University of Toronto Trash Team to focus on reducing waste from single-use materials and promoting reusable foodware in the restaurant industry?
We were inspired to focus on reducing waste from single-use materials and promoting reusable foodware in the restaurant industry because of the prevalence of these items in Toronto’s environment. In 2022, for example, the litter audit by the City of Toronto showed that single-use foodware represented 26% of all large litter items in the city, including items like cups, containers, straws, condiment packaging, and utensils. Additionally, these items frequently end up in trash traps, highlighting their contribution to local pollution. The overuse of single-use foodware, despite the availability of sustainable alternatives, further motivated us to address this issue and explore the challenges and opportunities the restaurant industry faces in transitioning from single-use to reusable foodware.
What have been some of the most successful strategies you’ve seen implemented by restaurants to promote reusable foodware and reduce waste?
To promote reusable foodware and reduce waste, many restaurants have implemented a range of successful strategies. One common approach is offering discounts or incentives for customers who bring their own reusable cups and containers. Additionally, restaurants are increasingly using signage and educational materials to open a dialogue with customers, raising awareness about the environmental impact of single-use items and the benefits of reusable alternatives. Another innovative strategy is the implementation of returnable takeout services, where foodservice businesses provide returnable durable cups and containers for customers to use and return either with or without a monetary deposit. These strategies can help foster greater customer participation in sustainability efforts.
Are there plans to expand the pilot program or develop similar initiatives in other industries or sectors?
There are initiatives happening in the city. For example, the City of Toronto is currently running a pilot program that is very similar to ours, aimed at testing returnable foodware for takeout services across various restaurants and organizations. This initiative could serve as inspiration for expanding waste reduction strategies into other sectors. By collaborating with different industries and organizations, this can create a more widespread shift towards sustainable practices, reducing waste and fostering a circular economy across the city.
Do you have any advice for businesses or organizations to start their own waste reduction initiatives in their communities?
Through numerous interviews and conversations with foodservice businesses over the years, one key takeaway has been the importance of engaging with customers to encourage the reduction of single-use foodware. Clear communication about adopting reusable alternatives can make a difference.
We also recommend considering the implementation of returnable takeout services. From the businesses we’ve worked with, we’ve seen that this change is often easier to implement than anticipated. The more businesses adopt reusable initiatives, the smoother and more effective the transition becomes. Collaboration is key, so consider partnering with other restaurants or organizations in your area to drive collective change. Working together can amplify your impact and make it easier for both businesses and customers to adapt to sustainable practices.
If you could wave a magic wand and make one type of single-use material disappear forever, which one would it be and why?
Plastic wet wipes – We find 1000s of these in our local river downstream of sewer outfalls. This is an unnecessary product, and thus there is no need for us to see this pollution in our waterways. In our pollution prevention project, Wipes Vs Pipes, we’ve been exploring this source of plastic pollution. Wet wipes can be made out of other materials that pass flushability standards and are less persistent in the environment. Doing away with the type of materials we find so commonly as pollution and as a nuisance to wastewater treatment plants seems a no-brainer.
Cigarette butts aka Cellulose acetate cigarette filters. Most people don’t know cigarette butts are plastic, but they are, a phenomenon that inspired our pollution prevention project, Kicking Plastic’s Butt! They are the number one item (>2.5cm) recorded by local groups in the International Trash Trap Network each year, and they are the most common item collected in community cleanups around the world, polluting everywhere from streets to beaches. In the environment, cigarette butts break down releasing microplastic fibers and leaching toxic chemicals that can also harm wildlife. It is possible to simply remove the filter or change the material. In fact, removing the filter completely is not worse for your health, and some data suggests it’s better. Hannah – Manager, International Trash Trap Network
Free sample sachets. These sachets are a common marketing technique to promote new products, and can be hard to resist, who doesn’t love a free sample? Unfortunately these generate a lot of unnecessary waste and further promote overconsumption. In addition, these materials are quite tricky to handle in the waste system with a mix of plastic, adhesives and cardboard, which likely become destined for the landfill. Instead, we suggest being thoughtful about purchases and considering the waste hierarchy. Is this a product you need, or can you do without and make use of items you already own or borrow from friends and neighbours, keeping existing products in the system for as long as possible. Susan – Program Lead of Volunteer Engagement and Community Programs
Single-use foodware for dine-in settings. When you sit in a coffee shop, restaurant, or food court, there’s no practical need for disposable cups, containers, or cutlery. These single-use items generate waste, which often ends up in landfills or pollutes the environment. By replacing them with reusable alternatives, such as real dishes, we can significantly reduce waste. Not only does using real plates, cups, and utensils reduce waste, but it also elevates the dining experience. In my opinion, food looks more appetizing when served on proper dishes, so why not enjoy a meal that’s both waste-free and visually appealing? Rafaela – Program Lead of Social Science and Educational Programs
We’re incredibly grateful to the University of Toronto Trash Team for sharing their time and insights with us. Their impactful work shows that real change begins with awareness, community, and action. By spotlighting their efforts, we hope to inspire others to take part in the fight against plastic pollution and embrace sustainable practices. Together, we can tackle these environmental challenges and build a cleaner, greener future. If you’re a business looking to improve your sustainability and waste management, Waste Solutions Canada can help you implement effective, hassle-free solutions. Contact us today and be sure to follow the Trash Team on social media to stay updated on their incredible work—you won’t want to miss what they’re up to next!
