Menkes honoured with HOOPP’s 2018 LEAP Forward Award

One York Street’s Circular Food Waste Project won the LEAP Forward Pitch, an exciting opportunity for property managers to pitch their sustainability improvement ideas to a panel of HOOPP decision-makers for funding and implementation. Think Dragon’s Den, but in commercial real estate.

Menkes proposed to implement an onsite system that will transform food waste into nutrient rich soil. One York Street will be the first commercial building to pioneer this remarkable solution in downtown Toronto, in an effort to help address Ontario’s growing food waste problem.  When food waste is landfilled, it breaks down and emits methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more harmful to our climate than carbon dioxide. The system will eliminate the need for food waste to be transported from site to landfill and reduces odours and pest problems associated with the traditional storage of food waste on site. The soil generated from the system will be donated to local organizations and community groups, and utilized for One York Street’s landscaping needs as well. The Circular Food Waste project, which supports the circular economy, will reduce One York Street’s carbon footprint, control waste disposal costs, and give back to the community.

HOOPP is a valued partner and investor to Menkes. The company is both a partial owner as well as a tenant of the LEED Platinum certified One York Street tower in Toronto’s South Core.