Efforts in Protecting and Revitalizing the Community
Each year, an estimated 10,000 metric tons of plastic waste enters the Great Lakes, threatening wildlife, aquatic plants, and water quality. In addition to plastic pollution, Toronto also faces challenges with greenhouse gas emissions, which reached 15.5 megatonnes (MT) of CO2 equivalent in 2022. However, many innovative solutions are underway to address both waste and emissions, ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable waterfront.
As Toronto works toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the city by 2040, the waterfront area plays a central role in showcasing and implementing sustainable solutions.
Here’s a look at some of the efforts in action:
Tackling Plastic Pollution
The Clean Streets Team
Innovative Green Transportation
Sustainable Green Spaces, Architecture and Other Infrastructure
Tackling Plastic Pollution on the Waterfront
Efforts to tackle plastic and other waste on Toronto’s waterfront have been underway through a variety of initiatives. Most notably in recent years, the University of Toronto’s Trash Team has been leading the way. This group collects, sorts and identifies sources of plastic pollution, tracks the waste using data, and advocates for policies to promote sustainability.
These trash collection systems are designed to capture floating plastic waste, which can then be analyzed, categorized (plastics, metals, organic materials, etc.), and properly disposed of.
There are four main ways of trapping trash in Toronto’s harbour:
Seabins: Fighting plastic pollution in Toronto's harbour
WasteSharks: A Roomba-like cleaner for larger debris
LittaTraps: Catching debris before it reaches the Lake
Skimming: Hands-on cleanup for visible waste
Seabins
Seabins are like floating vacuums, sucking in 92, 891 pieces of microplastics and debris from Lake Ontario over just four months. Just one Seabin can collect an estimated 3.9 kilograms of debris in a day!
Seabins were first installed on Toronto’s harbour in 2019 by The Waterfront BIA, City of Toronto, Ports Toronto, Nieuport Aviation, the Toronto Zoo, Harbourfront Centre and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). The Seabins are managed by the U of T Trash Team who sort through the microplastics and identify the debris.
Seabins have been deployed at six locations on the Toronto waterfront and the Outer Harbour Marina. If you're walking by the Toronto Music Garden you can spot a Seabin by the western waterfront, near the base of the marina.
2024 Impact:
Collected over 100 kilograms of waste (close to the weight of a full-sized fridge!)
Captured microfibres and plastics as small as 2 millimetres
Collected hydrocarbons like fuel and oil with the help of a filtration pad
WasteSharks
WasteSharks are floating aquadrones that glide along the water's surface, picking up waste with their catch basin. Similar to a Roomba, these aquadrones float around, collecting garbage and debris in their path.
Named Ebb and Flow, Toronto’s outer marinas are home to two aquadrones. WasteSharks can be operated manually, by remote control, or programmed to run autonomously along a set route for up to six hours.
WasteShark Facts:
Responsible for collecting 5.9 kilograms of small and large debris from Lake Ontario in 2024
Can collect up to 1,100 pounds of waste everyday!
Ebb and Flow have an Instagram! Follow their journey here
LittaTraps
LittaTraps are essentially strong nets placed underdrains, manholes, and grates to filter out debris before it can enter the storm drain system. This helps reduce the amount of waste that reaches the lake, keeping our waterways cleaner.
2024 LittaTrap Facts:
LittaTraps collected 6.6 kilograms of debris.
That’s 2,872 items that could’ve ended up in the water. Pretty impressive, right?
Skimming
Skimming is a hands-on method for collecting debris, and it’s one of the most effective methods to remove waste, garbage, and plastic from Lake Ontario. Using long hand-held nets, the U of T Trash Team has found it's perfect for grabbing visible debris like bottles, containers, and cups.
In total, they collected 528 kilograms of debris through skimming in 2024. That’s like the combined weight of 3 average-sized adult bears!
Check out the full 2024 Trash Trapping results here and discover more about the U of T Trash Team's approach to collecting and sorting waste in Toronto's waterways
The Clean Streets Team
The Waterfront BIA has launched The Clean Streets Team, in partnership with Progress Place. The Clean Streets Team works hard to keep the area as clean as possible for visitors and the environment. The Clean Street Team works daily during the warmer seasons and two days per week as the weather gets colder.
The team plays a crucial role in maintaining the waterfront. In 2024, the team cleaned or removed 3,459 items including:
Removing garbage and handling overflowing bins
Tackling graffiti, tags, and posters
Addressing stickers and other street issues as they arise
The Clean Streets Team initiative is made possible by our partnership with Progress Place - a community centre supporting individuals with mental health challenges.
With unemployment rates as high as 70-90% for people facing the toughest mental health challenges (according to CAMH), Progress Place plays a key role in helping these individuals find stable work.
The Waterfront BIA is proud to work with Progress Place and appreciates the teams’ effort to maintain a beautiful and clean waterfront.
Innovative Green Transportation: Reducing Emissions and Promoting Sustainable Transportation
Unfortunately, waste isn’t the only environmental challenge we face on the waterfront. In 2022, the City of Toronto reported that the city's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions hit 15.5 megatonnes (MT) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), a slight increase from the 14.8 MT CO2e in 2021.
But there’s good news! Transportation is a major contributor to these emissions, and there are exciting, innovative strategies in the works to help reduce this impact and make the waterfront even greener.
Toronto Island Ferry Fleet Replacement
The four primary ferry vessels in Toronto serve approximately 1.4 million passengers annually. These vessels are essential for transporting residents and visitors to the Toronto Islands. Despite being well-maintained, they range in age from 61 to 114 years, which exceeds the typical lifespan for vessels in the industry.
Requested in 2023 and anticipated to be delivered by 2027, Toronto has allocated funding for two fully electric ferries. Replacing the existing ferries with a fully electric fleet is projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2,800 tonnes (that’s like removing 600 cars from the road!)
The customer experience will also be improved with multiple upgrades, including:
Newly added enclosed areas with temperature control
Increased passenger capacity
A fully open upper deck (for those sunny days!)
Accessible washrooms
And more!
Billy Bishop Marilyn Ferry
The Marilyn Bell ferry connects passengers, vehicles, and supplies to the Billy Bishop Airport from the City of Toronto. The scenic trip is 90 seconds long, and is officially the shortest ferry ride in the world!
The Marilyn Bell ferry operates regularly, running every 15 minutes from 05:15 AM to 12:07 AM daily.
And the Marilyn Bell ferry is 100% electric, Canada’s first truly zero-emission, lithium-ion electric ferry. This reduces the airport’s direct emissions by approximately 530 tonnes per year!
Sustainable Green Spaces, Architecture and Other Infrastructure
Toronto's waterfront is making significant strides in sustainability through several innovative projects, including new green spaces, biodiversity efforts, and eco-friendly infrastructure. From flood protection initiatives to energy-efficient building designs, these efforts are helping pave the way for a more sustainable city, for everyone.
But there’s good news! Transportation is a major contributor to these emissions, and there are exciting, innovative strategies in the works to help reduce this impact and make the waterfront even greener.
The Port Lands Flood Protection Project
The Don Mouth Naturalization and Flood Protection Project is a major flood prevention effort led by Waterfront Toronto. The goal is to prevent flooding during extreme weather events by reconnecting the Don River to Lake Ontario. It’s one of the largest infrastructure projects in Toronto’s history.
This project is also implementing important ecological and infrastructure features, like 25 hectares of public greenspace, wetlands, marshes, and fish-friendly coves along the shoreline. Plus, there will be four new bridges and new roads as part of the plan.
The Port Lands: Signs of Success
This bryozoan, a jelly-like blob, was recently found in the new mouth of the Don River by the Waterfront Toronto team and partners at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Typically found in freshwater around the world, stuck to boats, rocks, and docks, this little creature is actually a sign of thriving water quality. Bryozoans are made up of thousands of tiny invertebrates that help clean the water by feeding on bacteria, algae, and plankton.
This bryozoan isn’t the only sign that the water is improving. Before the Port Lands Flood Protection project, the areas around the old mouth of the Don River had very few fish. But according to Waterfront Toronto in 2024, 29 different fish species were spotted in the area!
The Portlands have truly become a hub for sustainability-driven projects, supporting Toronto’s growth while also helping to protect and nurture the local ecosystem.
Billy Bishop Airport's Commitment to Bullfrog Power® Energy
Since 2010, PortsToronto has been working hard to reduce its environmental footprint by switching to 100% clean, renewable electricity for all its operations. The entirety of the Billy Bishop Airport is powered by renewable wind and solar energy, making it a zero-emission facility. This makes Billy Bishop Airport the first and only port authority and airport in Canada to make this switch.
Here’s a look at the impact:
It’s like taking 4,500 cars off the road for one year.
Or powering 766,000 homes with energy-efficient lighting for an entire year!
Billy Bishop Airport continues to lead in sustainability with its use of compact, battery-powered electric security vehicles and its anti-idling policy across all of its properties. Bravo Billy Bishop Airport!
Wavedecks
You’ve probably noticed the wavy, wooden decks along Toronto’s waterfront, but did you know they’re actually helping support our local fish?
Completed in 2009, the Spadina, Simcoe, and Rees Wavedecks are not just beautiful waterfront features, they also play a key role in supporting local wildlife. By integrating fish habitats into their design, these wavedecks provide shelter and better feeding and foraging opportunities for lake fish.
Together, they’ve created 1,780 square metres of diverse and high-quality fish habitat, helping to improve the ecological health of the waterfront!
LEED Certified Buildings
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings are globally recognized for their sustainability in the building and construction industries. Many buildings along Toronto's waterfront have earned this certification, highlighting their commitment to sustainable building practices.
A notable example is the eastern waterfront’s new addition, The Waterfront Innovation Centre, which received a LEED Platinum v4.1 certification. This building is home to prominent companies such as MaRS, WPP, and the Score. Additionally, the T3 Bayside building is currently in progress toward its certification, intending to achieve LEED Gold.
These buildings feature several eco-friendly innovations, including:
Use of greywater for plumbing and irrigation
Lighting sensors that automatically turn lights on and off
Solar panels that provide energy
Green roofs
EnWave’s district cooling and heating system uses lake water
George Brown Waterfront Campus
Another leader in sustainability, George Brown College’s eastern waterfront campus is home to numerous eco-driven initiatives. From green building designs to innovative waste management systems, the campus is dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact and setting a positive example for its students and community.
George Brown's Limberlost Project
As part of the Waterfront’s Green Building Requirements (GBR), large buildings are increasingly adopting innovative approaches to energy conservation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Named after the Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve near Huntsville, Ontario, Limberlost is a groundbreaking 10-storey mass-timber, net-zero building at George Brown College’s eastern waterfront campus.
Mass timber is a key innovation in sustainable construction. It reduces carbon footprints by producing less CO2 compared to traditional building materials, helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, its natural insulating properties make buildings more energy-efficient, reducing the need for excessive heating and cooling.
Limberlost Place will house the School of Architectural Technology.
Features include:
Sunlit learning landscape
Large shared classrooms
Timber bridge connecting to the Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences
A new Indigenous space will be included, focusing on cultural events and programming
The building will also feature the college’s third permanent fitness centre
It’s the first of its kind in Ontario, breaking traditional building regulations by allowing a mass-timber structure that exceeds six stories in height.
OscarSort The AI Recycling Assistant
OscarSort is an AI-powered waste bin designed to gamify recycling by using a monitor with creative prompts that encourage better waste management habits. It also helps with waste pickup by analyzing what’s inside and sending a heads-up to staff if the bins are filling up quickly or need attention.
OscarSort bins will be implemented at Limberlost Place at George Brown College to increase waste diversion efforts and educate users on the importance of proper waste management.
Discover more about the sustainable initiatives taking place at George Brown College. Click here to learn how they're making a difference!
The Future Of Toronto's Sustainable Waterfront
Toronto’s waterfront is becoming a leader in sustainability, thanks to the many innovative initiatives aimed at reducing emissions, protecting our waterways, and promoting eco-friendly practices. These efforts are reshaping the waterfront into a cleaner, greener, and more eco-conscious space for everyone.
We invite you to visit the waterfront and experience these positive changes firsthand. Take a walk, enjoy the green spaces, and see the sustainable initiatives in action. Whether it's participating in local environmental programs, or being mindful of your own environmental impact, everyone can play a part in protecting our environment.
A huge thank you to our partners who invest in environmental initiatives and are committed to sustainability and protecting the environment. Stay connected and follow ongoing sustainability efforts by keeping up with local initiatives and projects:
Toronto Waste Sharks | @sharks_to