Trash Trap Dive

On Saturday July 25, dive into our trash traps without taking a step in the lake to take a peek behind the scenes and learn how we characterize litter diverted by trash traps on the Toronto Waterfront.

You’ll have the unique opportunity to:

• Learn about floatable litter and the types of plastic pollution we find in Lake Ontario.
• Get hands-on experience with our team of Fighting Floatables researchers and learn how we characterize all sizes of plastic pollution collected by trash traps.
• Learn how trash trap data informs upstream solutions to prevent plastic pollution we find downstream.
• Meet organizations of the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy and learn more about our collective work at info tables throughout the event.

Event details:

• Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026

• Where: Marina Quay West (539 Queens Quay W, Toronto). View map
• Time: Please arrive by 9:45 am to check in! We will begin promptly at 10 am and conclude at noon, but encourage you to stick around and visit our outreach displays.
• What to bring: All supplies will be provided, please dress for the weather and bring water to stay hydrated.

Cancellation policy:
The event will run rain or shine, but will be cancelled if there is a greater than 70% chance of thunderstorm or other hazardous weather. Registrants will be emailed by 8:00 am on the morning of the event if there is a cancellation.

This important work contributes to the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy, a collaborative strategy to reduce plastic pollution and other floating litter in the harbour. It is led in partnership with the U of T Trash Team, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Toronto Port Authority, City of Toronto, Swim Drink Fish, Waterfront Business Improvement Area, Harbourfront Centre, and Waterfront Toronto.