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REMarket's REmarkable Success!

One event I am always happy to promote is the great work the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association's Waste Reduction Group (WRG) does with their regular REmarket events! Operating out of the St. Lawrence Market Tent at 125 The Esplanade, the WRG has done incredible work to reduce Toronto Centre's environmental impact. While they won't be returning until October 21 and 22 of 2026, I wanted to give them a special shoutout and opportunity to promote their own work.

In 2019, a determined group of St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association (SLNA) volunteers decided to tackle waste reduction. A recent City of Toronto presentation had highlighted the stubborn problem of recycling contamination, and the need for public education and action to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. The aptly named Waste Reduction Group was born.

Communities in Toronto’s Centre ward contain a high number of multi-residential buildings (MRBs). These MRBs divert waste to organics and blue boxes at lower rates than single-resident homes – 27% compared to 61% according to a 2024 City of Toronto waste audit. 

Apartment and condo dwellers are thwarted by distinct recycling challenges. Many do not have cars and live in small spaces, making it difficult to store recycling and transport items for exchange or donation. With thrice annual REmarket community events and other projects, The SLNA Waste Reduction Group makes it easier for neighbours to recycle and divert waste from landfill. 

REmarket also features a homegrown recycling drop-off service for items that might otherwise go into landfill. Hard-to-recycle items like eyeglasses, bread tags, used pens and pencils, cannabis packaging, and cosmetics containers can be dropped off at REmarket in one convenient trip. The rapid growth of REmarket as a one-stop donation and recycling destination attests to the need for waste reduction strategies tailored to a multi-residential urban community.ActionButton

In addition to REmarket events, the Waste Reduction Group (WRG) tackles cigarette waste. Butt Out St. Lawrence is a partnership with TerraCycle Canada and local restaurants. The effort provides 40+ cigarette butt receptacles for butt recycling. The WRG also works with neighbourhood businesses to reduce single-use plastics, encouraging customers to bring their own reusable cups and containers.

The Waste Reduction Group has terrific support from Councillor Moise, the St. Lawrence Market, Old Town Toronto BIA, the City of Toronto, the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association, and plenty of dedicated volunteers. Valued partnerships with a growing number of sponsors are helping the WRG to expand its efforts, and the support of area small businesses captures the neighbourly vibe of WRG outreach.

You can find out more about REmarket and other WRG projects by visiting the group on its St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association web page. The group is always looking for fresh ideas, creative partnerships, sponsorships, and volunteers. 

 

For a sample of the great work the WRG does, here are the stats from their February 2026 REmarket event:

The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood community and 69 volunteers continued on their success this year. 
  • 45 skids (totalling 16,875 lbs) Donated to Salvation Army
  • 5 skids of electronic e-waste to RCT (1005 kg)
  • 7 Bike Repairs by Culture Link
  • 144 items brought in to the Repair Café by 111 visitors
For recycling, reuse and disposal the WRG collected:
  • 235 pairs of glasses collected for Optic Zone for redistribution
  • 23.9 kg of oral care items to TerraCycle
  • 6x 50L blue bins of household hazardous waste and 1 bin light bulbs
  • 165 water filters to TerraCycle
  • 1,215 pens/pencils, 5,113 batteries, 13.9 kg of ink/toner cartridges to Staples
  • 1,425 prescription bottles
  • 2,646 single use masks to Canada Strong
  • 325 disposable razors and packaging to TerraCycle
  • 5,297 cigarette butts to TerraCycle
  • 441 Black Take out containers to Plastic Flux
  • 711 coffee bags and 2062 coffee pods to TerraCycle
  • 16,630 plastic bread/milk tags to Danielle Cares for Chairs
  • 14,647 aluminum can tabs to The Robert Hampson Tabs for Kids Fund
  • 1,825 plastic mesh bags to K, There Co.
  • 36 Glucose monitors for electronic waste
  • 3,133 disposable contact lenses & blister packs to TerraCycle
  • 7.1 kg of plastic cannabis packaging back to Value Buds
  • 2074 Non-synthetic corks for REuse by the Toronto Public Library - St. Lawrence branch for art projects and for REcycling at Jelineck Cork Group
  • 6800 Elastic Bands for REuse by the Toronto Public Library - St. Lawrence branch and Gorgeous & Beautiful Flowers at The Market
  • 826 Wooden Chopsticks, recycled by TerraCycle
  • 480 Metal Keys, recycled by Canada Iron & Metal Co.

Please look forward to their next event on October 21 and 22 of this year!

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