Integrated Waste Management Master Plan

York Region’s Integrated Waste Management Master Plan, known as the SM4RT Living Plan, sets the stage for waste diversion and prevention in York Region to 2059 and beyond with a visionary goal of a world in which nothing goes to waste and committed to the “4Rs”:

  • Reduce the amount of waste generated in the Region
  • Reuse items instead of discarding them
  • Recycle as many materials as possible into new products
  • Recover energy from waste that cannot be managed in other ways

York Region’s successful waste management programs have resulted in the Region being recognized as a leader in waste reduction, diversion and innovative programming that supports a circular economy.

A circular economy designs out waste and pollution, so the resources needed to make products and packaging are continuously reused, rather than used once and discarded.

Some of the SM4RT Living programs developed to reduce waste include:

What's in it for You?

A more sustainable future for you and your family. Here's what we can accomplish together:

  • 166,000 estimated tonnes of waste (roughly 1,185 blue whales!) to be reduced in the first 18 years of the plan
  • 62,000 estimated tonnes of waste (over 13,700 adult elephants!) to be reused in the first 18 years of the plan

View our 2023 Annual Waste Management Report to see our progress to date.

SM4RT Living Plan Review and 2020 Update

The master plan was originally developed with a 25 to 40-year time horizon to extend from 2039 to 2054. The initial plan outlined specific actions for the first five years, at which time progress would be assessed and an update prepared. With this update, the plan now extends to the years 2044 to 2059 and outlines actions for the next five years.

View Summaries and Appendicies

SummaryAppendices
Appendix AA. Partnerships and engagement: from waste to well-being
Appendix BB. Long-term source separated organic waste processing plan
Appendix CC. Single-use plastics and litter reduction strategies report
Appendix DD. Multi-residential diversion/reduction in York Region memo
Appendix EE. New and emerging initiatives and technologies in waste management
Appendix FF. Residual waste processing plan
Appendix GG. Initiating a circular economy
Appendix HH. Data measurement report

Recognizing the critical role of local cities, towns and community partners, York Region engaged stakeholders through several workshops focusing on:   

  • Waste diversion and reduction in multi-residential buildings
  • Single-use packaging and litter
  • Implementation planning
  • Reporting and data measurement

A partnership forum brought together a range of community partners with an interest in SM4RT Living goals. Local municipalities, conservation authorities and other external groups were invited to take part in the Forum which helped to identify potential new relationships and synergies among partners and with municipalities. Three engagement events were designed to conduct community-based research, get a glimpse into the changing dynamics of people’s lives and understand ways to motivate them to make a shift in their consumer habits.

Workshops were supplemented by working groups with Regional and local municipal staff and with one-on-one meetings with Mayors and York Regional Councilors as the update was finalized.

SM4RT Living Plan Initial Strategies and Annual Reports

View the 2013 SM4RT Living Plan reports

View the 2013 technical strategies

Annual reports

Annual Waste Management Reports

Annual Solid Waste Diversion Reports summarize York Region’s integrated waste management system. The report is submitted annually to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to satisfy the Durham York Energy Centre Environmental Assessment condition for diversion reporting.

View the Annual Waste Management Reports