2019 Year in Review – PortsToronto Sustainability Initiatives

With the launch of phases one and two of our innovative Seabin Pilot Program, the annual planting of the native bee and monarch butterfly garden at the Outer Harbour Marina, the second annual Clean Water Our Future shoreline cleanup collaboration with Toronto Region Conservation Authority and other waterfront stakeholders, and the announcement of the conversion of the Marilyn Bell airport ferry to 100 per cent electric power – the first of its kind in Canada – 2019 was a notable year for sustainability initiatives, big and small, at PortsToronto.

Here are some of our 2019 highlights:

Seabin Pilot Program

This past summer, we were proud to report that our very own Outer Harbour Marina became the first commercial installation of Seabins in Canada. Invented by Australian surfers troubled by the amount of plastic pollution in the ocean, Seabins are floating trash bins that collect floating debris and micro-plastics as small as 2 millimeters, and are equipped with a filtration pad that collects hydrocarbons like fuel and oil that can spill into waterways.

Later in the year, the Marina’s Seabins were featured in The Plastic Problem, a PBS documentary on the impact of plastic pollution, and we were recognized with the Robert Eaton Environmental Award of Excellence.

In October, the second phase of the project was launched at Pier 6 on Toronto’s waterfront, marking the first time the innovative cleaning tool has been installed in a North American harbour.

The Seabin Pilot Program also serves an education and research function through PortsToronto’s partnership with the University of Toronto Trash Team. Student researchers collect and analyze the plastics and microplastics captured by the Seabins to determine the origination of some of the materials. Read more about the Trash Team’s research here.

Converting the Marilyn Bell I Ferry at Billy Bishop Airport to 100 per cent Electric-Power

In December, PortsToronto announced the conversion of the Marilyn Bell I ferry at Billy Bishop Airport to 100 per cent electric power. With this retrofit, the Marilyn Bell I will become the first 100 per cent electric lithium-ion powered ferry in service in Canada, eliminating all related GHG emissions and significantly reducing noise impacts.

Clean Water Our Future Shoreline Cleanup on the Toronto Islands

In September 2019, PortsToronto collaborated with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Swim Drink Fish, among others, on the Clean Water — Our Future Toronto Islands shoreline cleanup. A highlight of the cleanup initiative was the removal of two sunken, mussel-encrusted bikes and two lawn mowers, found submerged off the East Gap Pier, and the planting of 38 trees in the Toronto Island Park.

Recognition for PortsToronto’s Environmental Initiatives

On November 7, 2019, PortsToronto Sustainability Committee members proudly accept the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Living City Impact Award in the Healthy Rivers and Shorelines category for efforts to keep Toronto’s harbour and waterfront clean.

In November 2019, the Outer Harbour Marina was presented with the Robert Eaton Environmental Award for PortsToronto’s Seabin Pilot Program, which first launched at the marina with the aim of cleaning up garbage such as single-use plastics in the water, and features the first commercial installation of Seabins in Canada. This award celebrates businesses dedicated to environmental responsibility and stewardship while contributing time and resources toward advancing their efforts in the Boating Ontario Clean Marine program.

In April 2019, Billy Bishop Airport won the ACI-NA Environmental Achievement Award for Best Innovative Project for the airport’s successful implementation of the three-year Airfield Rehabilitation Program.

PortsToronto Sustainability Committee – Native Bee and Monarch Butterfly Garden

In June, members of the Sustainability Committee and PortsToronto Works and Environmental Services Department renewed the Native Bee and Monarch Butterfly Garden at the Outer Harbour Marina.

The green-thumbed group had a great view of the city skyline as they planted 219 native plants, including Bee Balm, Black Eyed Susans and Chives. The garden is stocked with milkweed plants, as well as other native plants that appeal to the Monarch Butterfly and native bees that use the Leslie Street Spit area as a stopover point on their own annual journeys south.

Wastenot Farms and the Green Bins Growing Composting Program

In 2019, PortsToronto’s Sustainability Committee initiated a company-wide organic composting program in partnership with Wastenot Farms. A closed-loop solution to food waste, Wastenot Farms collects and transports food waste by green-energy vehicle to their Red Wriggler worm hatchery located north of Toronto. By ingesting nutrients found in the collected food waste, the worms produce worm castings bio fertilizer—an all-natural substitute to synthetic fertilizers.

Building on the successes of this past year, in 2020, PortsToronto will continue to look at all areas of our operations with a commitment to environmental sustainability. For a comprehensive review of PortsToronto’s sustainability initiatives, please consult our annual Sustainability Report, here.

Learn more about the following initiatives:

Billy Bishop Airport to Convert Marilyn Bell I Airport Ferry to Electric-Power

Outer Harbour Marina Recognized with Robert Eaton Environmental Award of Excellence for First in Canada Commercial Seabin Pilot Program

PortsToronto Receives Healthy Rivers and Shorelines Impact Award at 26th annual Living City Environmental Dinner

PortsToronto Launches Phase Two of Seabin Pilot Program In Toronto’s Inner Harbour

New Study Finds that 41% of Travellers Walk, Bike or Use Transit from Billy Bishop Airport

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Wins Airports Council International Environmental Achievement Award