Increasing Waste Literacy to Fight Plastic Pollution
We host and participate in a variety of events, from community cleanups, eco-fairs, public presentations and everything in-between.Â
Interested in bringing the U of T Trash Team to your next event? Contact us.
A public dialogue between activists, scholars, scientists, and policy experts tackling the issues at the forefront of plastics pollution policy. The panel will focus on activating resistance to mechanisms of petro-chemical pollution affecting human health and ecosystems. The known and unknown effects of plastic as a matrix for chemical accumulation, the dangers of its circulationContinue reading "Plastic Pollution, Toxicity, and Policy Change"
Celebrate the International Coastal Cleanup with the U of T Trash Team by joining one of our community cleanups. Hosted in neighbourhoods in and around the Toronto area, we'll prevent litter in our watershed from entering Lake Ontario and its connected tributaries! Volunteers will collect data on type and amount of litter collected, which contributesContinue reading "Urban Litter Challenge (Socially Distanced Edition)"
Join Samantha Santoro this Science Literacy Week to learn more about single-use plastic and its impact on our watersheds, how to reduce your own plastic usage in your day-to-daye routines with some ecofriendly swaps, and more about the University of Toronto Trash Team. Samantha is a graduate and former research student from the University ofContinue reading "Science Literacy Week: Ecofriendly Swaps for Plastic"
Without a question, we're drowning in plastic, and it's not just the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that we have to worry about. According to the Plastic Lakes Project, 22 million pounds of plastic enters the Great Lakes every year. Of that unbelievable amount of pollution, three million pounds of plastic ends up in Lake Ontario annually. In thisContinue reading "Climate – The Plastic Lake: Fighting Plastic Pollution in Lake Ontario"
Floating litter… where does it go? How does it end up on our local beaches, slips and docks? Why does it accumulate in certain areas and not others? As part of our Fighting Floatables Initiative, the Tagging Trash Project aims to answer these questions. Join the University of Toronto Trash Team and collaborators to learn more about the TaggingContinue reading "Tagging Trash in the Toronto Harbour"
Hear more about our Fighting Floatables initiative in the Toronto Harbour this Thursday at 7 pm EST, with a presentation by researcher and Master's Student Cassandra Sherlock. Hosted by Spadina-Fort York Greens
Start off the new year with the University of Toronto Trash Team! It's the start of a new year, are you wondering how you can increase your waste literacy and circularity? Back by popular demand, you can join our Home Waste Audit and challenge yourself to reduce your waste as you increase your waste literacy!Continue reading "Home Waste Audit"
Microplastic Scientist for a Day! Participants will explore and learn about the sources and fate of microplastics in our watershed and explore potential solutions to plastic pollution. Learn how researchers in the Rochman Lab identify and categorize microplastics! We will also share examples of our solutions-based research, including research to track and record items captured byContinue reading "Science Rendezvous"
Come celebrate World Oceans Day with an evening of learning and conversation about all things water! Joined by: Rochelle Bryne the Executive Director and Founder of A Greener FutureJordan-na Belle-Isle: Year-round Great Lakes paddleboarder, Paddle Canada instructor , writer, Community Builder, Team member for Taiga Board and co-rganizer for Lake SurfistasRobin Pacquing: Local Filipina SUPsurfer and OntarioContinue reading "Clean Water Kickoff – World Oceans Day"
Each online seminar will be 75 minutes in total and feature cleanup technology practitioners and plastic pollution researchers who will present and engage in dialogue about what we do know about the benefits and unintended consequences of these technologies and what role they play in global action toward plastic pollution reduction.
In response to concerns over increases in plastic pollution and to the federal government's decision to ban single-use plastic items, the City of Toronto is pushing ahead with a Single-Use Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy focused on reducing disposable, unrecyclable waste. Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and tips related to switching from single-use to reusable foodwareContinue reading "Ditching Disposables: How to Reduce Plastic Pollution From Single-use Foodware"
Reduced water quality has the potential to impact our use and enjoyment of the Toronto and Region waterfront. Although we have made great progress addressing issues such as floatable trash, beach closures, and increased growth of potentially harmful algae, these continue to be a cause for concern. Knowing how water circulates can help address theseContinue reading "Lake Ontario Evening – How Circulation Patterns Affect Water Quality Along the Toronto Waterfront"