Our Favorite Tips
Are you a member of the Zero Waste Pilot Facebook group? Members are already sharing great tips and advice. Here are some of our favourites so far.
Biggest Bang for Your Buck
Drink Tap Water: Drink tap water in your own water bottle instead of buying single-use plastic bottles—it's healthy and cheap.
Reusable Tumblers: Bring your own reusable tumbler/cup to coffee shops; some even offer discounts.
Reusable Shopping Bags: Always keep reusable shopping bags in your backpack or car trunk.
Takeout Cutlery: When ordering takeout or delivery, avoid single-use cutlery and straws.
Reusable Containers in Restaurants: All coffee shops and restaurants must accommodate your reusable cups and containers as of March 2024.
Recycling and Waste Management
Blue Box Recycling: Put these items in the Blue Box instead of trash:
Ice cream cartons
Paper coffee cups (as of July 2024)
Green Bin Composting: Put these items in the Green Bin instead of trash:
Used pizza boxes
Kleenex and paper towels
Plant cuttings
Diapers
Grey Bin for Receipts: Put shiny receipts (e.g., VISA) in the Grey Bin.
Black Plastic Recycling: Black plastic cannot go in the blue bin, but you can recycle it! Drop it off at Plastic Flux, located in the 6 x 8 Market, 184 Baldwin Ave in Kensington Market. Must be recycling symbol #2 or #5. Plastic Flux
Food Waste Reduction
Freeze Leftovers: Freeze leftover food cuttings and chicken bones to make soup stock.
Buy Less, Waste Less: Avoid buying food in large quantities to reduce waste.
Contact Manufacturers: Encourage manufacturers to use less packaging.
Grow Your Own: Grow your own garden or even just herbs.
Compost Food Scraps: Put food scraps in a composter—your plants will love it.
Bulk Barn Savings: Shop at Bulk Barn on Sustainable Sundays to earn 15% off your purchase when you bring your own reusable containers (and ask if there are any coupons as they often have them).
Smart Shopping and Reuse
Less Packaging: Buy items with less packaging—e.g., dishwasher tabs, laundry tabs. Bulk food stores allow you to bring your own containers.
Reuse Clothes Hangers: Bring unwanted clothes hangers to your nearest dry cleaners; they'll reuse them.
Go Paperless: Change your paper mail to electronic—e.g., charities, bank statements, etc.
Eat Me First Bin: Keep an "Eat Me First" bin in the fridge to reduce food waste.
Reuse Plastic Bags and Wraps: Reuse plastic bags and wraps for garbage liners. Reuse plastic food bags instead of buying sandwich bags; you can even wash them when you do the dishes.
Reuse Plastic Containers: Reuse plastic containers instead of buying new ones.
Donate Items: Donate clothing, books, and toys to non-profit organizations. Donation Locations
City-Permitted Clothing Drop Boxes: Find City-permitted clothing drop boxes. Drop Box Locations
Turn from a Beginner to Eco-Expert
Here are some resources to help and inspire you!
ConsciousCass - Recycle Right
Recycle Right with Tips from ConsciousCass.
TerraCycle
Recycle the Unrecyclable with TerraCycle. Join now
City of Toronto Community Environment Day
Drop Off Waste and Pick Up Free Compost at Community Environment Day. Learn more
Clothes Donation Locations
Donate Your Used Clothes: Find a Donation Bin Near You. See locations
Farmers' Markets in Toronto
Shop Sustainably at Toronto's Farmers' Markets. Find markets
Furniture Bank
Donate Your Used Furniture to Furniture Bank. Donate now
University of Toronto Trash Team - Tips
Discover Practical Waste Reduction Tips from UofT's Trash Team. Get tips
The REmarket
Prevent Waste: Donate Unwanted Goods at The REmarket. Learn more
Too Good to Go App
Save Unsold Food at a Discount with Too Good to Go. Find out more
RepairCafeToronto
Get Your Broken Items Fixed at RepairCafeToronto. Visit now
Nada Toothbrushes
Switch to Nada Toothbrushes: Recyclable Heads and Dentist-Approved Hygiene! Learn more
The High-End Hippie Shampoo
Elevate Your Haircare with The High-End Hippie: Salon-Quality, Zero Plastic! Discover more
Habitat ReStore
Give Your Furniture a Second Life with Habitat ReStore. Learn more
Toronto Tool Library
Borrow Tools and Repair Items at Toronto Tool Library. Join now
100 Tips to Get To Zero - Bea Johnson
Discover Zero Waste Tips from Bea Johnson. Get tips
Muuse
Borrow Reusable Cups and Dishes for Your Events with Muuse. Learn more
Suppli
Order Food in Returnable Containers with Suppli. Find out more
Fenigo
Discover Fenigo: Fast-Shipping Eco-Friendly Lunch Gear and Reusables! Find out more
PlateShare
Throwing a party! By offering reusable dining ware sets for free, they promote waste reduction and help keep plastic out of landfills and oceans. Find out more
Hey Zero Heroes, Ready to Refill and Reuse? Here’s Where!
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Location: 192 Spadina Ave.
Need a tool that you don’t have? Want to repair an item instead of throw it away? You can join the Toronto Tool Library .
What People Are Saying
T.O. The Good Swap is a great monthly clothing swap in downtown Toronto.
- Jen K
H&M accepts used textiles for recycling, items must be bagged.
— Nicole S
Zero waste vanilla extract is available at Strictly Bulk on Bloor west of Ossington.
—Madeline K
Great coffee for sale in refillable mason jars at Voodoo Child Coffee on College Street
— Stuart L
Contact Us
Have a Question or Tip? Let's Chat and Go Green Together!
Send Us an Email
zerowaste@palmerstonara.ca