Reeling in the Rubbish: Supporting A Strategy to Keep Water Clean

Group of six individuals wearing "U of T Trash Team" T-shirts standing in front of a board about water ecosystems.

PUBLISHED: MARCH 21, 2025

 

In This Blog:

 

  • The Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy is a collaboration between the University of Toronto Trash Team, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), PortsToronto, City of Toronto, Swim Drink Fish, Waterfront Business Improvement Area, Harbourfront Centre, and Waterfront Toronto.  

  • The strategy complements Waterfront Toronto’s efforts to naturalize waterways, protect aquatic habitats, and ensure clean water reaches Lake Ontario by capturing floatable pollutants in the Inner Harbour through innovative devices. . 

  • In 2024, the Floatables Strategy removed 642 kilograms of waste from Toronto’s Inner Harbour, including 53,886 large debris pieces and 174,251 small debris pieces – the equivalent of 3,800 hockey pucks! 

  • The program uses LittaTraps, Osprey Litter Booms, WasteSharks, and Seabins to intercept and remove litter before it can enter Lake Ontario. 

  • Community engagement plays a key role in the strategy, with public education, community empowerment, and volunteer cleanups helping to raise awareness and reduce pollution. 

 

For nearly 25 years, Waterfront Toronto has been the steward of waterfront revitalization, transforming the lands by the lake while also supporting the health of the inner harbour of Lake Ontario through initiatives such as habitat restoration and improvements, waterway naturalization, and flood protection. In March 2024, we extended our advocacy efforts by joining the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy (TIHFS), an initiative that brings together waterfront partners to reduce the amount of waste entering Lake Ontario.

 

Addressing the Plastic Problem 

 

The Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy, established in 2019, is a collaborative initiative aimed at reducing plastic and other floating litter in Toronto's Inner Harbour. This strategy brings together various partners, including the University of Toronto Trash Team, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), PortsToronto, City of Toronto, Swim Drink Fish, Waterfront Business Improvement Area, Harbourfront Centre, and Waterfront Toronto.  

 

The strategy envisions a Toronto Inner Harbour free of ‘floatable pollution’, which refers to any human-made material that becomes litter in aquatic ecosystems. Consistent with our Marine Use Strategy [insert link] the Floatables Strategy supports a thriving aquatic ecosystem, diverse and accessible recreational opportunities, and fosters a vibrant, empowered community. The strategy uses several proven approaches to reduce floatable pollution through prevention, monitoring, cleanup, outreach, education, and policy initiatives. Key tactics include innovative litter traps, regular maintenance, and monitoring programs to inform mitigation strategies.  

 

Two buckets filled with assorted garbage including plastic wrappers, seaweed, and other debris, collected during a waterfront clean-up.

Waste removed from the inner harbour on May 17, 2024.

 

Booms, traps, and sharks, oh my!

 

To tackle the issue of floatable pollution, the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy uses a variety of innovative litter-collecting devices along the waterfront. These devices intercept debris before it enters aquatic ecosystems and allows the Trash Team to measure and categorize the common sources of floating debris. In 2024, a total of 642kg of human-made debris was diverted from entering the inner harbour – that’s equivalent to approximately 3,800 hockey pucks, or in this case, 53,886 pieces of large debris (e.g. foam materials, cigarette butts, and food wrappers) and 174,251 pieces of small debris (e.g. plastic fragments, pellets, and film).

 

LittaTraps

 

LittaTraps are installed in storm drains to capture litter at the source, preventing it from entering the harbour. In 2024, ten LittaTraps were placed near Queens Quay, effectively capturing items such as cigarette butts, paper, and other debris that could degrade into microplastics. 

 

A street drain covered by a metal grate with a triangular pattern, containing visible debris and leaves. The grate features a "Litta Trap" catch basin insert designed to capture litter.

A LittaTrap preventing floatables from entering the storm drain.

 

Osprey Litter Booms

 

These floating barriers are designed to prevent litter from continuing downstream without hindering wildlife movement. They allow for easy collection and removal of accumulated debris.

 

View of a polluted urban quay with floating trash and a waste containment boom, near modern apartment buildings.

An Osprey Litter Boom located within Peter Street Basin.

 

WasteSharks

 

WasteSharks are aquatic drones that skim the water's surface to collect floating debris. Capable of removing up to 180 liters of marine litter per trip, they have been effective in capturing large floatable plastic items, including construction foam and food containers. In 2024, WasteSharks collected 163 large pieces of debris, totaling 5.9 kilograms, over 12 trips. You can also follow them on X (formerly twitter)! Toronto WasteSharks (@Sharks_TO) / X

 

An orange WasteShark aquatic drone floating in a marina, surrounded by algae and debris, with large white yachts docked in the background.

A WasteShark on the hunt for floatable debris.

 

Seabins

 

Seabins act as floating trash cans, cleaning up litter from the water's surface by pumping water through a mesh bag that creates a vacuum, drawing in debris. In 2024, seven seabins were installed along Toronto's waterfront: Marina Quay West, Rees Street and Queens Quay West, the Police Basin, Marina 4, Pier 6, and two additional bins in the Outer Harbour Marina located adjacent to Tommy Tompson Park. These locations were prioritized because of their minimal wave action, easy access for maintenance and collection, and consistent water flow.

 

An open trash wheel device collecting debris from a water body, adjacent to a wooden dock with a metal gate.

A Seabin located at Marina Four in 2023.

 

It Takes a Community

 

A cornerstone of the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy is its commitment to community engagement and empowerment. Recognizing that sustainable environmental change is rooted in public participation, the strategy actively involves the community in various initiatives, including community clean up days and an anti-litter poster campaign along Queens Quay West. 

 

The strategy partners with organizations like the University of Toronto Trash Team to deliver educational programs aimed at raising awareness about floatable pollution and its impact on aquatic ecosystems. These programs empower individuals with knowledge, fostering a community that is informed and motivated to engage in pollution prevention efforts.  

 

 Community members are encouraged to participate in supporting the strategy to reduce waste in the Inner Harbour by monitoring and reporting floatable pollution sightings. This collaborative approach not only aids in data collection but also strengthens the connection between residents and their local waterways by promoting stewardship and shared responsibility. You can share where you’ve seen floating litter by reporting it on Swim Drink Fish’s website.  

 

The Next Phase is Floatables Free

 

Throughout our history, Waterfront Toronto has been instrumental in naturalizing waterways, and protecting aquatic habitats. Our revitalization work includes integrated stormwater management, treating stormwater water before it enters Lake Ontario. The Floatables Strategy complements these efforts by targeting the reduction of surface-level pollutants that can harm these restored environments. This supports the health of aquatic habitats and enhances the effectiveness of water treatment initiatives.


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