Every year, Councillor James Pasternak and City Staff organize two Environment Days in York Centre. Community Environment Days help reduce the amount of reusable or recyclable waste going to landfill and allow for safe disposal of household hazardous waste.
The second annual Environment Day is confirmed for Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
Downsview Park, North-West parking lot (35 Carl Hall Road, North York ON M3K 2E2).
If you are planning to participate, please register below!
Register for our next Environment Day
on Tuesday, August 22, 4:00 - 8:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick up for free:
- Bagged leaf compost (limit of two bags per vehicle, while supplies last)
Drop off for recycling or proper disposal:
Donate items in good condition for reuse:
- Sporting goods
- Books (excluding textbooks)
- Cameras, CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays
- Dress-up clothing and costume jewelry
- Clothing, linens, etc.
- Small household items
- Musical instruments, board games
- Eyeglasses, walking aids, etc.
Please do not bring:
- non-perishable food for donation
- hearing aids
- ink cartridges or toner
- construction waste
- air conditioners
- garbage and Blue Bin recycling
- wood
- cassette and videotapes
- commercial/industrial hazardous waste
- tires and scrap metal
Residents are invited to pick up free bagged compost at a Community Environment Day event. Compost will come in 13 kg bags and will be limited to two bags per vehicle, while supplies last.
The compost was created from the yard waste and organic materials collected at the curb, throughout Toronto.
The majority of the finished compost comes from the yard waste program, while five to 10 per cent comes from the Green Bin program. Various Ontario processors receive both of these materials and blend them with organic materials of different types and sources, producing optimum conditions for composting. Before leaving the facilities, the compost is tested to ensure quality and provincial requirements for safety.
The compost acts as an excellent soil amendment and is safe to use in gardens and on lawns, however, plants should not be placed in pure compost just as they should not be placed in pure fertilizer. One part compost should be mixed with six parts soil.
Compost is the product of a controlled, safe and efficient process. The process uses naturally occurring micro-organisms to convert materials that were once considered waste, into an excellent source of plant nutrients for gardens and lawns. Compost also improves the structure and water holding properties of soil.
For more information, read the What Happens to Organics page.