Trash Trap Dive

Last year, the University of Toronto (U of T) Trash Team’s Fighting Floatables program removed 525 kg of plastic pollution from the Toronto Harbour, including nearly 150,000 pieces of plastic. By monitoring plastic pollution and other anthropogenic debris captured by trash traps, we’re better able to understand the issue and inform local solutions upstream.

You’ll have the unique opportunity to:

• Learn about floatable litter and the types of plastic pollution we find in Lake Ontario.
• Get hands-on experience with our team of Fighting Floatables researchers and learn how we characterize all sizes of plastic pollution collected by trash traps.
• Learn how trash trap data informs upstream solutions to prevent plastic pollution we find downstream.
• Meet organizations of the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy and learn more about our collective work at info tables throughout the event.

Event details:

• Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026

• Where: Marina Quay West (539 Queens Quay W, Toronto). View map
• Time: Please arrive by 9:45 am to check in! We will begin promptly at 10 am and conclude at noon, but encourage you to stick around and visit our outreach displays.
• What to bring: All supplies will be provided, please dress for the weather and bring water to stay hydrated.

Cancellation policy:
The event will run rain or shine, but will be cancelled if there is a greater than 70% chance of thunderstorm or other hazardous weather. Registrants will be emailed by 8:00 am on the morning of the event if there is a cancellation.

This important work contributes to the , a collaborative strategy to reduce plastic pollution and other floating litter in the harbour. It is led in partnership with the , , , , , , , and .