November 7, 2026 Toronto Urban Forest Cleanup: 147.54 Pounds of Litter Removed Near Driftwood Park

On Saturday, November 7, 2026, Environmental Education for a Better Earth Canada (EEFABE Canada) continued its mission to remove one tonne of plastic pollution from Toronto urban forests, ravines, watersheds, and green spaces. This week’s community-led cleanup took place beside Driftwood Park and behind Driftwood Public School, where volunteers worked to remove litter threatening local wildlife and habitat.

Despite difficult terrain and dense vegetation, three dedicated volunteers contributed a combined 8.5 volunteer hours and successfully removed 147.54 pounds of litter, including 114.02 pounds of plastic waste.

The cleanup was part of our ongoing campaign to protect Toronto’s urban ecosystems from plastic pollution and illegal dumping while encouraging community stewardship of the natural spaces we all share.

Why We Chose This Area

The green space behind Driftwood Public School and beside Driftwood Park is an important urban natural area that contributes to local biodiversity, stormwater management, and habitat connectivity.

Unfortunately, areas like this often become hotspots for litter accumulation because they are partially hidden from public view. Over time, waste gathers within shrubs, forested sections, and drainage corridors where it can remain for years if not removed.

Our cleanup highlighted the importance of bringing communities together to remove one tonne of plastic from Toronto’s urban forests. The amount of waste discovered during this cleanup demonstrates why this goal is so important.

As volunteers moved through the site, they encountered considerable amounts of litter buried within vegetation and dispersed throughout the forested area.

What We Found During the Cleanup

While much of the collected waste consisted of common plastic litter, volunteers also encountered several concerning forms of pollution.

The site contained:

• Plastic bottles and containers
• Food wrappers and packaging materials
• Household waste
• Fireworks debris
• Plastic bags containing dog waste
• Miscellaneous litter trapped in shrubs and vegetation

One particularly troubling observation was the number of plastic bags containing dog waste that had been thrown directly into the bushes.

Picking up pet waste is responsible behaviour, but throwing those bags into natural areas creates a double pollution problem. The waste itself remains in the environment while the surrounding plastic bag can persist for decades.

Volunteers also found evidence of fireworks use in the area. While often associated with celebrations, discarded fireworks materials leave behind plastic, paper, chemical residues, and other contaminants that can negatively impact local ecosystems.

The Challenges of Cleaning Urban Forests

Unlike cleanups conducted in open parks or along sidewalks, this cleanup required volunteers to navigate dense vegetation and difficult terrain.

Large sections of the area were overgrown with non-native invasive plants, many of which contained thorns that made accessing litter particularly challenging.

These invasive species not only complicate cleanup efforts but also contribute to broader ecological issues. Invasive plants often outcompete native vegetation for sunlight, nutrients, and space, reducing biodiversity and diminishing the quality of wildlife habitat.

Many pieces of litter were deeply embedded within shrubs and undergrowth, requiring volunteers to carefully move through vegetation to remove the waste without causing additional disturbance to the surrounding environment.

Despite these challenges, the team successfully removed a significant amount of pollution from the site.

Why Removing Plastic Matters

The 114.02 pounds of plastic removed during this cleanup represents more than just litter collected in bags.

Plastic pollution poses serious threats to urban ecosystems.

As larger plastic items break down, they generate smaller fragments known as microplastics. These particles can remain in soil and waterways for decades and may be consumed by insects, birds, fish, and other wildlife.

Plastic pollution can:

• Harm wildlife through ingestion and entanglement
• Contaminate soils with microplastics
• Contribute to water pollution during rainfall events
• Transport harmful chemicals through ecosystems
• Reduce habitat quality for native species

By removing plastic before it breaks down further, volunteers help prevent long-term environmental impacts that are much harder and more expensive to address in the future.

Also read: Toronto Plastic Cleanup Report: 195 Pounds of Litter Removed from Black Creek Parkland and Driftwood Park

Recognizing Community Leadership

Environmental change happens because community members are willing to take action.

We would like to give a special thank you to Ulrich, Michael and Stephano for their time, dedication, and commitment to protecting Toronto’s urban forests and green spaces.

Urban forest cleanups are physically demanding. Volunteers often spend hours walking through difficult terrain, collecting waste hidden in vegetation, carrying heavy bags of litter, and working in challenging conditions.

Michael and Stephano’s contributions helped make this cleanup successful and directly contributed to improving the health of this local ecosystem.

Thank you for being part of the solution.

Our Impact Since April

Every cleanup contributes to a larger environmental goal.

Since April 2026, EEFABE Canada’s volunteers have removed:

• 1,455.25 pounds of litter
• 966.82 pounds of plastic waste

from Toronto’s urban forests, ravines, parks, and green spaces.

These numbers represent hundreds of pieces of pollution that are no longer threatening wildlife, waterways, and natural habitats.

As we continue working toward our goal of removing one tonne of plastic from Toronto’s urban forests, every volunteer hour and every bag of litter collected brings us closer to lasting environmental change.

We Are Only Halfway Finished

Although this cleanup made a significant impact, our work in this area is not yet complete.

Based on the volume of litter discovered and the amount of waste still visible within the forested sections of the site, we estimate that we are only halfway through restoring this green space.

For this reason, EEFABE Canada will be returning to the area on:

Saturday, November 14, 2026

9:00 AM

Driftwood Public School, beside Driftwood Park Playground

We invite community members, students, families, and environmental advocates to join us as we continue removing litter from this important watershed green space.

Together, we can restore habitat, protect local biodiversity, and create cleaner natural spaces for everyone.

How You Can Help

Environmental protection is not limited to organized cleanups. Every individual can contribute to healthier urban ecosystems.

You can help by:

• Reducing your use of single-use plastics.
• Properly disposing of waste and recyclables.
• Taking your litter home when visiting parks and trails.
• Reporting illegal dumping when you see it.
• Participating in community cleanups.
• Encouraging friends, family members, schools, and workplaces to adopt stewardship activities.

The health of Toronto’s urban forests depends on collective action.

Every bottle removed, every plastic bag collected, and every volunteer hour contributed helps create healthier habitats for wildlife and cleaner green spaces for future generations.

Looking Ahead

The results of this cleanup demonstrate both the scale of the pollution problem and the power of community action.

Removing 147.54 pounds of litter from a single site shows how much work remains to be done, but it also proves that dedicated volunteers can make a measurable difference.

As we continue our one-tonne plastic removal initiative, we remain committed to protecting Toronto’s urban forests, supporting biodiversity, and building a culture of environmental stewardship across our communities.

We hope to see you at our next cleanup on November 14 as we continue restoring this important green space, one bag of litter at a time.

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