Zero Waste Picnic

There’s nothing like spending the day outside, relaxing on a blanket with friends and family, and chowing down on good food. The downside is that these activities often end with litter in our parks. We want to encourage and challenge the community to join us for a litter-less brunch! Community members are invited to ‘Choose To Refuse’ single-use plastic with us. Pack your own picnic or purchase delicious package-free options from the farmers’ market!

Zero Waste Picnic will run alongside our weekly farmers’ market from 9 am to 1 pm. We’re planning lots of fun activities like a jewellery and clothing repairathon, upcycled crafts for the little ones, live music from The Turnups, and information from other amazing zero waste leaders in our community! Visit our Facebook event!

Things to look forward to: 

• A Greener Future – From May 5th to June 30th, A Greener Future plans to complete 100 litter cleanups along the shores of Lake Ontario. Volunteers collect data throughout the project to see which items are picked up most often. Come learn all about the results of the Love Your Lake project!
• Ahimsa Eco Solutions – Find an array of solutions to help you reduce your everyday footprint. Including the revolutionary Cora Ball which captures microplastics in your washing machine. Or the Urban Composter, a counter-top, compact sized composter suitable for any home or condo.
• Bare Market – Toronto’s hottest one-stop package-free, pop-up shop is bringing all their best body care, home care, DIY ingredients and “zero waste” lifestyle essentials to Withrow Park. Bring your own containers and jars and stock up on shampoo, soap, make-up, cleaning products and so much more!
• FreeGeek Toronto – Drop off your outdated and unwanted electronics including cameras, laptops, computers, keyboards and more to FreeGeek – a non-profit social enterprise that reuses and refurbishes unwanted electronics, diverting them from the landfill. Click here for a full list of accepted items.
• Habitat for Humanity reStore – Learn all about the benefits of shopping and donating to reStore! It’s a win for donors, customers, families, your community and the environment!
• Jewellery Repairs with Louisa – During the Jewellery Repairs, you’ll be able to sit with Louisa to learn the basic elements of jewellery repair and watch as she re-attaches loops, earring hooks, clasps, and more! Bring those jewellery items that have been collecting dust to be repaired! Maybe your favourite necklace that fell apart or a bracelet whose clasp has broken.
• No Space For Waste apparel – Happy Plastic Free July! How will you be avoiding single-use plastics this month or always? Show your waste reduction pride with a custom, hand-lettered, secondhand t-shirt. Phrases include “Beach Cleanups Are My Cardio”, “Plogging is My Cardio”, “Choose to Reuse” and more! 50% of proceeds will go to Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanups.
• Plastic Free Beaches Toronto – Learn all about this amazing initiative which aims to share ideas and information with others about making the switch from single-use plastics to reusable and more sustainable products.  A game will be set up for people to match which products go under the correct title of Recycle, Reduce, Reuse and Refuse.
• The Upcyclery – Sarah uses all secondhand materials to lovingly create items which support people in living a low waste lifestyle. Find handcrafted items that replace single-use disposables like beeswax wraps, cutlery kits, produce bags and more!
• Toronto Clothing Repairathon – Starting at 10 am bring those holey sweaters, ripped jeans and shirts missing a button, and the volunteers from Toronto Clothing Repairathon will do their best to repair them. If you’d like to learn to do repairs, volunteers will be happy to show you how and help you mend your clothes. A max of two items. Sorry, no alterations, just repairs.  
• Toronto Environmental Alliance – Learn all about proper waste practices and opportunities for political engagement! Kids of all ages can participate in a letter writing workshop to become engaged citizens. Also, check out the latest information on plastics and climate change related policy at City Hall.
• Toronto Knife Sharpening – Sometimes when things wear out, all they need is a little TLC! Bring new life to your dull knives and kitchen tools by visiting Jordan at the knife sharpening tent!

If you plan on getting your brunch from the farmers’ market, enjoy using real plates and cutlery from our Zero Waste Station! You can learn more about it and our other waste reduction initiatives here.

Date: Saturday, July 6 – rain or shine!
Time: 9 am to 1 pm
Location: North/East corner of Withrow Park (725 Logan Ave)
Closest TTC stations are Chester & Pape.
Accessible by bike, transit, and walking.

This special event is a recipient of the TD Park People Grants 2019.