At CD SONTER, we’re dedicated to driving sustainable transformation for properties across North America. Waste reduction is at the heart of our commitment, and Yonge Eglinton Centre stands out as a leader in this space. Our recent collaboration with Yonge Eglinton Centre showcases how tailored, sustainable solutions can make a tangible impact in reaching a property’s sustainability goals.
Yonge Eglinton Centre’s Sustainability Commitments
RioCan Yonge Eglinton Centre is dedicated to leading the way in waste reduction. In partnership with CD SONTER, Yonge Eglinton Centre has taken an innovative approach to understanding how waste is generated, captured, and diverted onsite — continually advancing its waste management program and deepening engagement with tenants and visitors.
Conducting an annual third-party waste audit provides properties with transparency and a standardized methodology to benchmark their data. This provides valuable insights into waste diversion metrics and yearly progress, forming the backbone of an effective waste diversion strategy. Yonge Eglinton Centre goes even further by setting clear goals to better understand the waste composition onsite and actively equipping tenants with impactful waste diversion strategies. In collaboration with CD SONTER, Yonge Eglinton Centre has developed tailored waste diversion tracking sheets, tenant scorecards that depict their ongoing progress, and a comprehensive waste sorting reference document.
Comprehensive Waste Audits
In addition to conducting an overarching waste audit across Yonge Eglinton Centre, further analysis was performed to provide granular information on diversion rates for the two office towers, retail stores, Food Hall, and common areas. Analyzing each area’s specific waste patterns enables the development of targeted reduction goals and strategies. For example, common waste contaminants in an office setting differ greatly from those in retail or food service environments. These granular audit results highlight the differences in waste composition while encouraging tenants to understand their unique impact on the site’s overall waste profile. This awareness fosters collaboration and accountability in achieving sustainability goals.
Ongoing Waste Assessments and Tenant Scorecards
Yonge Eglinton Centre has established an internal Green Auditor program whereby their staff conduct tenant waste assessments on a regular, ongoing basis. Using the sorting reference guide, Yonge Eglinton Centre’s Green Auditors perform these waste assessments by reviewing tenants’ waste and recycling bins to assess recycling rates and identify contaminants – items that have been incorrectly sorted. Each tenant then receives a scorecard with actionable steps to improve future performance. Providing tenants with this specific feedback allows them to understand their role within the greater onsite waste reduction efforts and educates them on areas for potential improvement.
Yonge Eglinton Centre
Team
Food Service Tenant Training
Tenant education is key to waste reduction at Yonge Eglinton Centre. To engage food service tenants, personalized training was conducted covering the site’s waste sorting rules, Canada’s single-use plastics ban, the 2024 Waste Audit Results, onsite waste depot locations, and overall reduction tips. A detailed waste training manual and sorting poster were left as resources to the tenants. An assessment was also completed with each food service tenant to identify the single-use plastic packaging they use in their stores, such as takeout bags, straws, and containers. This helped identify further reduction opportunities by working with tenants to source recyclable or compostable packaging options.
It is remarkable to witness the transformation of Yonge Eglinton Centre as we continue to deploy and implement green initiatives to meet our property and corporate sustainability targets. Through collaboration, engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives, we have improved our diversion rate from 36% in 2023 to 64% in 2024. We are proud of our tenants and team for their ongoing dedication and support. We thank our partners like CD SONTER, Second Harvest, Republic Services, Circular Innovation Council, GDI Services, Everdale Farms, and STL Facilities Maintenance for their efforts. We are committed to making significant progress as we work towards achieving our diversion rate target of 80% by the end of 2025.
– Allan Aquino, General Manager
Waste Reduction Week
As part of Waste Reduction Week 2023, Yonge Eglinton Centre launched an additional engagement campaign to raise awareness about single-use materials. The Yonge Eglinton Centre team constructed a striking “chandelier” made from over 12,000 upcycled single-use coffee cups, representing the volume of disposable items used in a 30-day period. CD SONTER supported the initiative by creating an accompanying artboard display and hosting an online trivia campaign to spark further engagement. This impactful installation aimed to help participants visually grasp the environmental impact of single-use materials and inspire a shift toward more sustainable alternatives.
Coffee Cup Chandelier
Circular Organics Program
Yonge Eglinton Centre has established an industry-leading organic waste ecosystem that includes a rooftop urban vegetable and pollinator garden and an onsite food waste composting system. This system ensures Yonge Eglinton Centre can rescue, recover, and renew organic waste onsite. Through the circular organics recovery program, Yonge Eglinton Centre diverts organic waste from landfills by processing it onsite through its food cycler. The organic waste put through the food cycler is processed into compost. Compost from the food cycler is used to grow vegetables in the rooftop garden. Supporting local food security and resiliency, harvested food is donated to individuals and families in need. Compost is additionally used in the pollinator garden, which helps honeybees produce honey. Beehives promote the pollination of the rest of the flora on the rooftop patio. Any surplus compost is donated to our farming partner and landscape service providers, helping to support local businesses and food production.
Ongoing Sustainable Programming
Yonge Eglinton Centre prioritizes sustainability initiatives in both its operations and tenant engagement. Beyond the numerous campaigns it has spearheaded, the site actively prioritizes sustainability programming in its daily operations. A key partnership with Second Harvest© in the Food Hall helps prevent surplus food from going to waste by redirecting it to those in need. To keep tenants informed and engaged, the site hosts quarterly Green Team meetings, where key stakeholders learn about industry best practices, emerging sustainability trends, and actionable green initiatives. Additionally, as a proud member of the Circular Innovation Council, Yonge Eglinton Centre reinforces its dedication to environmentally responsible practices and continuous improvement in sustainable property management.
Moving the Needle on Waste Management
CD SONTER is proud to have partnered with Yonge Eglinton Centre to support its hands-on approach to waste reduction. Through tailored waste audits, customized tenant training, and creative engagement initiatives, the Yonge Eglinton Centre empowers tenants and visitors to actively participate. Backed by data-driven insights and ongoing education, these programs reflect its commitment to setting new standards in commercial waste management and driving meaningful environmental impact.
Did you Know?
At Yonge Eglinton Centre, all hot beverage retailers offer a reusable mug discount supporting Canada’s effort to eliminate landfill-destined materials.
