CAP - Idle-Free in the GTA

Stop Your Engines!

Urban air pollution and its health effects continue to be of significant concern. Air pollution is linked to hundreds of premature deaths and thousands of emergency room visits every year in the GTA.

The Clean Air Partnership coordinated Idle-Free campaigns with Natural Resources Canada and municipal members of the GTA Clean Air Council in June 2003 and June 2005. These campaigns helped increase awareness of the health and environmental impacts of vehicle idling.

Since 1998, the GTA has seen an increasing number of anti-idling by-laws that are intended to reduce air pollution. Toronto introduced their by-law in 1998, Oakville in 2002, Whitchurch-Stouffville in 2003, Burlington in 2004, and Vaughan in 2004. Markham and Oshawa are anticipating new anti-idling by-laws in the coming months.

By-laws help make people aware of the seriousness of vehicle idling, but in the end, it’s up to drivers to stop their engines.

Put an end to idling

Reduce warm-up idling.
In most conditions, start driving your vehicle after no more than 30 seconds of idling. Most cars and trucks are designed to warm up while driving at a moderate speed.
Turn it off after 10 seconds.
Turn off your engine if you are going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, except in traffic. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting your engine.

Every year in the GTA:

Idling adds more than 200,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases and air pollutants to the atmosphere.
Idling wastes 90 million litres of fuel worth over $70 million.

Why stop idling?

Vehicle emissions contribute to health problems, such as asthma and heart disease.
Idling engines create unnecessary air pollution, which contributes to smog and climate change.
Excessive idling fouls spark plugs and increases engine wear.

We would need to plant 30 million trees to absorb the air pollution resulting from GTA drivers idling 5 minutes a day for one year.

This campaign has been generously funded by Natural Resources Canada, the GTA-Clean Air Council.

Greenest City is now beginning registration for the 2005 Idle-Free program. Whether you want to join us for one single event or become a season-long Idle-Free Ambassador, register today!

Participating Municipalities (Click to see what they are doing)

City of Toronto