Zero Waste Policy
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In 2009, City Council approved a waste reduction strategy focused on two main goals:
- Reducing waste by using fewer disposable items and reusing materials whenever possible.
- Ensuring waste is properly diverted through recycling and composting.
The strategy included actions like adopting a Zero Waste Policy for food services and staff events, replacing individual waste bins with centralized stations, expanding these practices to more facilities, creating clear waste disposal signage, adding bottle refill stations, and eliminating bottled water sales in most City facilities, supported by a “Thirsty? Try the Tap” campaign.
In 2024, the Zero Waste Policy was updated to apply to all City property, both indoors and outdoors. Meeting the policy’s goals relies on the efforts of both staff and facility patrons.
View the Zero Waste Policy Guide
The Zero Waste Policy applies to:
- Waste management operations in City facilities and parks;
- Corporate food services; and
- Public and private meetings and events organized by staff or an external/third party on City property, including catered events.
The Zero Waste Policy does not apply to:
- Joint Ventures though they will be encouraged to adopt zero waste practices in their operations.
- Hazardous waste. A reminder that hazardous waste should not be mixed in with the regular waste stream, as this may pose a hazard to the environment and workers. For confirmation, check out the Put Waste in its Place online tool at halton.ca/waste
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Electronic and household hazardous waste
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While electronic and household hazardous waste cannot be disposed of in the regular waste stream, the following options are available.
- The Burlington Fire Department has teamed up with Recycle My Electronics to recycle end-of-life electronics, keeping harmful materials out of landfills. Acceptable items can be dropped off between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week to:
The proceeds generated by the Recycle My Electronics program will be used to support the Burlington Fire Department's Vehicle Rescue Team.
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Green procurement
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In November 2011, Council adopted a green procurement policy and added these policies to our procurement bylaws (By-law 004-2022).
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Household battery and cellphone recycling
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Drop off containers
Collection criteria
Follow these guidelines when recycling your batteries and cellphones.
- Lithium batteries and rechargeable batteries, including cell phones, must be protected from short-circuiting by covering the battery terminals with tape or individually bagging the lithium battery
- Only household batteries, each weighing less than two pounds are accepted
- Truck/car batteries or batteries larger than two pounds are not accepted. Please take these to the Halton Waste Management Site
- All cell phone makes and models are accepted
- Household cordless phones, mobile installed or bag phones, two-way radios, walkie-talkies or pagers are not accepted
- If your phone has a SIM card, remove it
- Phones should be deactivated before you deposit them into the collection box
- Please terminate your phone service and erase your personal data
Collection statistics
See the volume in kilograms of batteries and cellphones recycled each year:
- 2019: 2,458 kilograms
- 2018: 3,651 kilograms
- 2017: 3,624 kilograms
- 2016: 3,119 kilograms
- 2015: 2,775 kilograms
- 2014: 2,501 kilograms
- 2013: 2,909 kilograms
- 2012: 2,684 kilograms
- 2011: 2,946 kilograms
- 2010: 3,016 kilograms
- 2009: 2,034 kilograms
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Recycling at city facilities
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In 2009, Council approved a Zero Waste Policy.
To reduce garbage, we have:
- Installed high capacity side by side recycling/waste stations in major parks near picnic areas and sports fields
- Introduced centralized waste stations in most facilities for the Blue Box, GreenCart and garbage materials
- Introduced GreenCart and centralized waste stations at City Hall, which reduced daily garbage output by 50 per cent
- Removed individual garbage cans from work stations to encourage waste reduction
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Thirsty campaign
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We developed the Thirsty campaign to promote the use of tap water and decrease the sale of bottled water at City facilities. Tap water is convenient, inexpensive and tested for safety by Halton Region. Some things we have done to encourage people to use tap water instead of bottled water include:
- Adding floor and wall decals in facilities to guide people to water fountains with bottle fillers
- Discontinuing the use of water coolers in office areas and water bottles at Council and staff meetings
- Discontinuing the sale of water bottles where there are water fountains available (e.g., water fountains) and where contracts permit
- Retrofitting or replacing indoor and outdoor water fountains
- Removing bottled water products from vending machines and city operated concessions
- Adding two "water bars" at outdoor City events
- Not allowing sports teams to sell bottled water for fundraising on city property and encouraging them to bring their own refillable water bottles
- Linking all municipal sites that have indoor and outdoor water bottle fillers to the City's mapping system and open source data pilot project
In 2011, Council endorsed that Burlington became a Blue Community.
Permit holders at City facilities
- There are some exceptions to the restriction of the sale of bottled water in City facilities for certain permit holders
- While the sale of bottled water has not been restricted at outdoor events and festivals, we are working with organizers to promote drinking tap water where possible
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Waste reduction tips
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There are many ways you can reduce waste in our community, including:
- Organizing a neighbourhood clean-up
- Properly disposing of your cigarette butts
- Securing your waste and recyclables after you put them out for collection to keep them from being blown away
- Taking a moment to pick up garbage in your neighbourhood, by your business or your school
- Taking your wrappers or beverage container home with you if you don't see a garbage or recycling bin nearby
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Water efficiency tips
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You can use water more efficiently both indoors and outdoors.
Indoor water efficiency tips
There are many ways you can increase your water use efficiency indoors, including:
- Avoiding running the tap when brushing your teeth, cleaning, shaving, and bathing
- Fully loading your dishwasher before each wash cycle
- Installing an aerator on all faucets in your home
- Keeping a container of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap to wait for cold water
- Partially filling a container with water to wash fruits and vegetables
- Replacing your 13-litre toilet with a high efficiency 4.8-litre toilet
- Using water-efficient shower heads in your bathroom
- Using front load washing machines
Outdoor water efficiency tips
There are lots of ways to increase your water use efficiency outdoors, including:
- Adjusting sprinklers so that only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street
- Adjusting your lawn mower to a higher setting. Longer grass shades root systems and holds soil moisture better than a closely clipped lawn
- Aerating your lawn to improve water absorption
- Directing downspouts and other runoff towards shrubs and trees, or collecting it to use for your garden
- Grouping plants with the same watering needs together to get the most out of your watering time
- Installing a rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering
- Reducing the amount of grass in your yard by planting shrubs and ground cover with rock and granite mulching
- Using a screwdriver as a soil probe to test soil moisture. If it goes in easily, don't water
- Using a soaker hose to prevent wasteful runoff when watering grass on steep slopes
- Watering during the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter to minimize evaporation
- Watering your plants thoroughly but less frequently
- Weeding your lawn as weeds compete with other plants for water
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