|
By Ivan Chen  Water is an essential resource in sustaining life, and it’s important to conserve it for future use. (Credit: JonasKIM/Pixabay) Around 70 per cent of Earth’s surface is covered with water. Yet only about three per cent of Earth’s water is fresh, and roughly two-thirds of that is not readily accessible. In other words, only a small fraction of Earth’s water can sustain life. The other 97 per cent is saltwater. Saltwater can be made drinkable through desalination, a process that removes salt and other impurities. However, desalination is far more energy-intensive than treating freshwater. Desalination can also produce a byproduct of highly concentrated brine, which is often discharged back into the ocean. Elevated levels of salt within localized areas can disrupt marine ecosystems. Fortunately, Torontonians don’t need to worry about this particular issue. Toronto and other municipalities across Southern Ontario source their drinking water from Lake Ontario. The Great Lakes of North America — Ontario, Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie — collectively hold around 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater supply. But while it might feel as though this seemingly abundant access to freshwater will last forever, there are signs that it shouldn’t be taken for granted. In 2021, Lake Ontario registered some of its lowest water levels in decades, dropping roughly 30 centimetres below its average level. In prior years, Lake Ontario’s water levels reached record highs. 2019 saw a record 75.92 metres, but by 2021, levels dropped by over a metre to 74.7 metres. This abrupt shift, driven in part by climate change, underscores that Lake Ontario is subject to unpredictable swings. It’s unlikely that Southern Ontario will face severe water scarcity in the near future. But, as populations grow, human activities increase and the climate continues to change, it is important to act before problems arise. The good news is that small changes add up. Many water conservation habits are easy to build into daily life. Here are some steps to reduce your water use. 1. Turn off the tap when it’s not in use The easiest step in reducing water consumption is turning off the water when it is not being used. Whether you’re brushing your teeth, shaving or lathering on soap in the shower, turn off the water if you don’t need it — you can save several litres each time. 2. Thaw frozen food in the fridge If you know you’ll need a frozen ingredient in a day or two, move it to the fridge to thaw. Submerging it in water works too, but that leads to unnecessary waste. 3. Run full loads when cleaning dishes and textiles When using a dishwasher or laundry machine, ensure every cleaning cycle is run with a full load and set to the appropriate setting. This will maximize water and energy efficiency. Make sure to follow the owner’s manual for guidance. 4. Water vegetation in the morning Water your plants and lawn in the morning, especially during the hotter and sunnier months. This will ensure the water can be adequately absorbed without being quickly evaporated, so you can water less often. 5. Clean your property without water Consider sweeping or using a leaf blower to clean your driveway, steps, patio or deck instead of hosing it down. Even small changes like this can save hundreds of litres over time. 6. Know the location of your water shut-off valve In the event of a pipe burst or leak, knowing where your property’s water shut-off valve is located is essential. A pipe burst or leak can cause major property damage and waste a significant amount of water. Knowing where and how to shut the water off minimizes damage and wasted water. It’s easy to overlook water’s value when it flows freely from the tap, especially here in Toronto. But freshwater is limited, so being more mindful of how we use it protects our health, city and the future of our planet. By Ivan Chen  Many sustainability organizations are based in Toronto. (Credit: sputnik72/Pixabay) Toronto is home to numerous grassroots and community-driven sustainability organizations. From repairing damaged household items to advocating for stronger environmental policies, many groups and initiatives strive to help residents make greener choices in their daily lives. Here are five organizations helping to shape a more sustainable Toronto. 1. Repair Café Toronto Launched in 2013 by Torontonians inspired by a movement that began in the Netherlands, Repair Café Toronto aims to combat throwaway culture. The group hosts events each month across the city in community centres, Toronto Public Library branches and other local venues. Volunteers, known as fixers, teach people how to repair broken household and personal items, such as small appliances, computers, electronics, clothes and jewellery, for free. The goal is to extend the life of everyday items, reduce landfill waste, teach people new skills and encourage people to rethink and value their belongings. Since its first event, the group says thousands of items have been fixed and diverted from landfill. While volunteers always strive to do their best, successful repairs are not a guarantee. The process still fosters conversation, learning and awareness about how things are made and why repairing matters. Repair Café Toronto is a partner of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Waste Reduction Group’s REmarket event, bringing their invaluable service right to the community. https://repaircafetoronto.ca/ 2. CultureLink Bike Hub Based in North York, CultureLink Bike Hub is an initiative by CultureLink Settlement and Community Services. CultureLink Bike Hub seeks to support cyclists and promote a repair and reuse culture by offering services and workshops on bicycle repair and maintenance, like DIY hours and the Earn-a-Bike program. This teaches people practical new skills while promoting environmentally friendly transportation. The group also collects used bicycles, recovers usable parts and builds new bikes, which can be given away to those who need them. By promoting cycling as a low-cost, eco-friendly and accessible mode of transportation, CultureLink Bike Hub supports climate action while teaching Torontonians useful skills and knowledge. As another REmarket partner, it highlights how transportation and the circular economy can go hand in hand. https://www.culturelink.ca/bike-hub/ 3. FoodShare Toronto Food insecurity and waste are major issues in Toronto. One organization that seeks to tackle these issues is FoodShare Toronto. FoodShare advocates for the right to food, partnering with communities and organizations to ensure that marginalized groups, in particular, have access to affordable, fresh and mostly local foods that are also relevant to their needs. Some initiatives that FoodShare is a part of include Flemo Farm, a community farm in the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood, and Sunshine Garden, a recreational gardening program and market in collaboration with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). FoodShare also operates Toronto’s largest mid-scale compost program beside its urban farm at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute. Residents can drop off their food scraps to be composted. In 2019, the group diverted 56,088 lbs of food waste from landfill. FoodShare’s mission highlights how environmental health and human well-being are deeply interconnected. https://foodshare.net/ 4. Toronto350 Part of the international 350.org movement, Toronto350 is a volunteer-led group dedicated to climate action. The group works to push governments, corporations, banks and other institutions to divest from fossil fuels, accelerate the transition to renewable energy and support a more just, sustainable and equitable world for all. Toronto350 also engages people through education, advocacy and rallies, underscoring the need for both grassroots action and systemic change in addressing the climate crisis. By bringing together environmental protection, social justice and civic engagement, Toronto350 aims to build a more livable, sustainable and inclusive future. https://www.toronto350.org/ 5. Toronto Environmental Alliance For over three decades, the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) has served as the city’s environmental watchdog. With the goal of promoting a greener Toronto, TEA engages with residents, community groups, workers, professionals and city councillors to drive discussions and address local issues. TEA covers a wide range of issues, including climate change, waste reduction, environmental policies and sustainable transit. TEA’s work has influenced municipal decisions. For example, in 2017, amid plans to privatize garbage collection in Scarborough, TEA released a report that highlighted concerns about waste diversion rates being lower in areas with privatized collection. The report was shared with city councillors and the mayor and was featured in mainstream media. City Council later voted to defer privatization plans to gather more information. This work reflected TEA’s focus on accountability and data-driven policy, ensuring that Toronto’s sustainability goals are backed by evidence. TEA also leads an initiative called Reusable Toronto. Working with local organizations, businesses and community members, it strives to reduce single-use plastics and promote reusable alternatives through advocacy, policy change and community engagement. TEA and its efforts represent the policy aspect of sustainability, illustrating that collective advocacy can drive change across Toronto. https://www.torontoenvironment.org/ Summary Each of these organizations plays an important role in the sustainability movement. Together, they demonstrate how meaningful change starts small and locally, and that everyone has a role to play in building a cleaner, fairer and more resilient Toronto. By Ivan Chen  Many people may believe that donated clothing goes to other people in their community, but that’s not always the case. (Credit: PDPics/Pixabay) Dropping off clothing at a donation bin feels like the right thing to do: people can declutter their spaces, the clothes are seemingly diverted from landfills and the donated items can be worn again by someone else. Since clothing donation bins can be found around places like schools, parking lots and plazas, the good deed can feel effortless. But what happens after those clothes are dropped off is a bit more complicated than many people realize. Once clothes have been dropped off at donation bins, they are collected and sorted, with only clothes in good condition and with resale potential entering thrift stores. About half of donated clothes make it to stores, and only half of that will actually sell. In other words, only a small amount — less than a quarter — of donated clothes are resold and reused locally. A few things can happen to the remaining clothes. Clothes that are not suitable for use, due to factors like severe damage or stains, often end up in landfills. Some clothes might be repurposed into new products, like industrial rags, blankets, floor mats or car-seat fillings. Many others are sold to clothing graders who ship them abroad to buyers in countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. From there, the clothes go to local retailers and are sold to consumers. Canada plays a role in this system. In 2023, around $180 million in used clothing was exported to overseas markets from Canada. There are significant environmental impacts associated with these operations. Transporting all these clothes across continents contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, but the greatest impacts are seen in the countries that receive them. For example, in Ghana’s capital, Accra, millions of used clothes from Western countries arrive in the city each week, flooding its clothing market. However, upwards of 40 per cent of the clothes received are not suitable for use and are discarded in both legal and informal landfills or burned. Clothes can also end up clogging sewer systems or being dragged out to the ocean during the rainy season. Similar issues have arisen in Tunisia, where large amounts of used clothing enter the country’s local markets, but only a small portion ends up getting sold. The rest ends up in landfills or bodies of water. Compounding these issues, many clothes nowadays are partially or entirely made of synthetic materials, mainly plastic. When these clothes break down, they can release microplastics into the environment. A major factor in this problem is overconsumption. With fast fashion, clothes are mass-produced and more disposable than ever before. Not only are they cheap and tend to fall apart fast, but they also fall out of trend just as quickly. This model is unsustainable and will only worsen without change. So, what can be done? One of the most important steps is to be more mindful when buying clothes. Donated clothing that gets sold can help charity organizations fund their programs and services, but the reality is that they receive far more clothes than they can manage. It’s also clear that many donated clothes end up as trash elsewhere, which pollutes the environment. In many ways, donation bins have become the solution to people’s impulsive shopping purchases without confronting the problem of overconsumption. Buying less and being an overall more conscious consumer reduces demand and stops this environmentally harmful system at its roots. If a garment is damaged, make the effort to repair it on your own, at a repair café or through a tailor. Do clothing swaps with family, friends or with people in your community. If clothes have to be donated, consider looking for local thrift stores, shelters or hospitals — there might be a better chance that the clothes and funds generated from sales are allocated to those in need. Examples in Toronto include the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Suits Me Fine boutique, Double Take Thrift Store and Sanctuary. At the end of the day, the most sustainable garment is the one you already own. Donating clothes can still support a circular economy, but only if it’s paired with mindful consumption and greater consideration for where they might end up. By Ivan Chen  Food is a major source of waste. Being more mindful and sustainable with food is important in reducing our carbon footprint. (Credit: JerzyGórecki/Pixabay) Food has a big impact on the planet, from the way it’s grown to how it’s transported and disposed of. However, there are many ways to make more sustainable food choices. Here are some steps that can help you reduce waste and make your meals more eco-friendly. 1. Buy food locally Buying directly from local growers at farmers’ markets reduces the distance that food needs to travel and the emissions associated with it. Many goods from farmers’ markets also use minimal packaging. Markets in Toronto, like at St. Lawrence Market North, Dufferin Grove and Evergreen Brick Works, are great options for local shopping. 2. Use your own cups, utensils and containers Single-use plastics continue to be a major waste problem. Bring your own jars, containers and bags when grocery shopping or eating out, and use a reusable cup when ordering takeout drinks. If you have your own utensils, you can politely decline those disposable ones that often come with your takeout order. Bulk stores are also a great resource for stocking up on cooking essentials, and some, like Bulk Barn, even offer discounts when you bring your own containers. Skipping single-use plastics and using your own items can make a difference over time. 3. Plan meals Meal planning isn’t just good for your wallet; it’s also a great tool against food waste. By mapping out the week’s meals and buying only what you need, you avoid making impulsive purchases and ensure that ingredients are used up before they spoil. Similarly, check labels or research the best tips to properly store items. This further ensures food is preserved longer, which can reduce waste. 4. Rethink food scraps Most people are quick to toss out food parts they believe are not usable, like broccoli stems, corn cobs and peels from fruits and vegetables. Review the food scraps you usually throw away, do some research and try to consider how they can be used. Perhaps vegetable peels could be baked into snackable chips, while corn cobs could be added to vegetable stock. Food scraps still tend to have nutrients in them, so using them helps make the most out of every ingredient. 5. Compost your food Whenever food has to be discarded, make sure it goes in a compost or organics bin and not the garbage. Food that is thrown in the garbage and enters landfills produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, as it breaks down. Composting keeps more food out of landfills, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and essentially recycles food and its nutrients back into soil. Whether that be in your backyard or through municipal collection, composting is an effective, sustainable habit to build. 6. Look for sustainable certifications Not all food is produced the same. The production process for some foods may follow strict environmental and labour guidelines, while others may not. Labels like those from Ocean Wise, Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade can help identify products that were made following more sustainable and ethical practices. Learning about these certifications can help you make better-informed decisions at the grocery store. Eating sustainably is an important step in protecting the planet. Each container that’s reused, meal that’s planned and ingredient that’s repurposed is a small step towards a healthier world. |
Welcome to our blog!
This is where you can find more in-depth information on how to reduce waste in our local communities and live more sustainably. Categories
All
Community info below is related to the SLNA itself and not the WRG committee.
Archives
January 2026
|
RSS Feed
Community
|
|