The SM4RT Living Plan (Integrated Waste Management Master Plan) identifies more than 60 initiatives that set the stage for waste management in York Region over the next 25 to 40 years. 32 have been initiated over the last five years (2014-2018), focussing on the 4 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover; working toward zero waste.

Check out some of the reuse and waste reduction initiatives generated out of the SM4RT Living Plan:

• Good Food — Tips and tools to help reduce food waste
• Participate in Curbside Giveaway days in your community
• Bring your broken items to a Repair Café to bring them back to life
• Purchase a subsidized backyard composter (limited to specific times only)
  
• Start a recycling program in your apartment or condo building
• New! The Lendery — Library of Stuff coming to a community location near you
• Help your school become a York Region Trash Blaster!
  

What's in it for You? 

A more sustainable future for your family. Here's what we want you to accomplish by 2031:

• 166,000 estimated tonnes of waste reduced in the first 18 years of the plan
• 62,000 estimated tonnes of waste reused in the first 18 years of the plan

View the SM4RT Living plan documents:

• 2017 SM4RT Living Scorecard
• Main Report
• SM4RT Living actions in your community poster
• SM4RT Living At-A-Glance Overview
• SM4RT Living Strategies - highlights

SM4RT Living Plan Review and Update

York Region and its local municipal partners are reviewing and updating the SM4RT Living Plan to provide further direction for the next five years.

Together we will look at work done to date, how stakeholders, including community groups and school boards, were involved in the SM4RT Living initiatives, and seek out innovative yet practical approaches to reach our waste reduction goals.

During the review, we will look at what strategies and initiatives should be continued, how they can be improved, and what the priorities are for the next five years of the SM4RT Living Plan.

The review and update will take place during 2018-2019 and will include three phases:

Consultation in the form of surveys, workshops and meetings is planned for each phase and will inform the review and recommendations.

If you would like to be involved in this review or share your feedback on the SM4RT Living Plan, please contact us for more information:

Lindsay Milne

Manager, Sustainable Waste Management, Environmental Promotion and Protection

905-830-4444 ext. 75714

Meet John and Emily and find out how they are making a difference

Meet John and Emily; neighbours living in York Region.  John shares with Emily some very interesting facts about the SM4RT Living Plan; a master plan developed to guide York Region over the next 40 years towards a goal of zero waste, focusing on waste reduction, reuse and influencing change.

The success of the SM4RT Living Plan relies on the collaborative efforts with community partners, and resident participation.

To learn more about the plan and how you can get involved, listen in on Emily and John’s conversation in the video below.

Technical Strategies

• Alternative Financing Strategy
• Blue Box Materials and Monitoring Strategy
• Community Environmental Centres and Public Drop-off Facilities Strategy
• Construction and Demolition Strategy
• Food Waste Reduction Strategy
• Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Strategy
• Leaf, Yard Waste and Composting Strategy
• Mixed Use Strategy
• Multi Residential Waste Strategy
• Curbside Garbage Management Strategy
• Reuse Repair Repurpose Strategy
• Organics Strategy

Related Resources

• 2016 SM4RT Living Scorecard
  
• 2015 SM4RT Living Scorecard
  
• 2014 SM4RT Living Scorecard

• 2017 Annual Waste Diversion Report
  
• 2016 Annual Waste Diversion Report
  
• 2015 Annual Waste Diversion Report
• 2014 Annual Waste Diversion Report
• 2013 Annual Waste Diversion Report
• 2012 Annual Waste Diversion Report