Abstract

In the next two decades, Toronto’s population is expected to grow by over 20 percent. As a result, the organic waste stream and its volume are forecasted to increase. Hitherto, the city’s organic waste processing capacity was 25,000 tonnes (2013), but it is currently expanding its first facility and has added a new one; combined, they are expected to divert 120,000 tonnes by 2017. This paper explores how the growth of these infrastructures affects the urban fabric and the built environment by focusing on residential organic wastes, and by spatially investigating their stream from an architectural perspective. As one of the fastest growing cities in North America, with a rising volume of organic wastes, and because of its increasing processing capacity, Toronto is selected as a case study. Methodologically, data is collected and used to visualize and analyze processes and trajectories of the city’s organic waste treatment from generation to composting. The resulting investigation of residential organic waste generators, collectors, processors, and users highlights the existing strengths and future challenges that characterize Toronto’s management of organic wastes.