On Tuesday November 18, 2025 from 1:00-2:00pm EST, PPG will be hosting a webinar in partnership with the University of Toronto Trash Team, a collaborator of the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy. In Pursuit of Polystyrene: Preventing Polystyrene Foam Pollution in Lake Ontario is a multi-phase Pollution Prevention Project led by the University of Toronto Trash Team focused on addressing polystyrene foam pollution at its source.
Key findings from the project will be presented, which explores the problem and assesses levels of awareness regarding foam insulation and other construction materials leaking into our local environment. A project conducted in collaboration with local construction companies will also be discussed, testing the effectiveness and feasibility of practical solutions on-site to reduce plastic pollution.
This work was done in collaboration with Partners in Project Green (a program of Toronto Pearson and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority) and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Parks and Conservation, and contributes to the Toronto Inner Harbour Floatables Strategy.
Speaker
Dr. Chelsea Rochman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto and a co-founder and the Head of Operations for the U of T Trash Team. Rochman has been researching the sources, sinks and ecological implications of plastic debris for more than a decade. She has published over 100 scientific papers on the topic. In addition to research, Chelsea works to translate science beyond academia to inform action.
Mary-Margaret McMahon was elected MPP for the Ontario Liberal Party in Beaches—East York in the June 2022. Previously, McMahon served on the Toronto City Council from 2010 to 2018, representing Ward 32 Beaches—East York. MPP McMahon has been a champion for the environment and our Great Lakes.
Elizabeth Stanziano recently graduated with a Master of Environmental Science from the University of Toronto Scarborough, where she specialized in Conservation and Biodiversity. She led the completion of phases two and three of In Pursuit of Polystyrene for her master’s research project. Elizabeth has prior experience as a program analyst at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development. In addition to her work on this Pollution Prevention Project, she volunteers as an ambassador with the U of T Trash Team.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Floatables Strategy and how to get involved, contact Chaya.chengappa@trca.ca.