October is Circular Economy Month!
Circular Economy Month is a public awareness campaign celebrating innovative solutions, community action and challenging the status quo, encouraging us to waste less and maintain the value of the goods we already have.
What is the Circular Economy?
Today’s economy largely works in a linear way. Materials are taken from the earth, manufactured into products, sold on the market, and are thrown away. When new technology is released or when old ones break down, we buy new products. What is left is a growing supply of waste that ends up in landfills or the natural environment, affecting communities, public health, and natural systems.
In contrast, a circular economy seeks to stop waste from being produced in the first place by using natural materials, keeping products in use, lengthening a product’s lifespan by reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, repurposing, or recycling. Sound familiar? Yes, the circular economy seeks to utilize the basic 3R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) we were taught as children but provide opportunities for individuals, businesses, community organizations, and governments to play a role.
Celebrate with Partners in Project Green to Reduce Waste
It is a big month for Partners in Project Green (PPG) as Recycling Collection Drive (RCD) began at nearly 40 locations across the region on October 12th! We are excited to see the waste diversion results from all of our contributing companies. Of course, PPG celebrates circularity all year round – check out programs that we offer and get involved!
Recycling Collection Drive (RCD)
Every October during Circular Economy Month in Canada, Partners in Project Green hosts a Recycling Collection Drive (RCD) in partnership with Diabetes Canada and Electronic Recycling Association. Organizations across the GTA can participate with the goal of engaging employees on textile and electronic waste offering a collection site to drop off items to be reused, refurbished, and recycled. This year’s RCD is currently underway!
Circular Economy Leaders Consortium
The concept of the circular economy as a systems-wide approach can be a significant undertaking for businesses, especially when first starting out. Luckily, there is no market benefit to doing it alone. Partners in Project Green offers the Circular Economy Leaders Consortium, an exclusive network of sustainability professionals seeking to achieve measurable waste prevention and diversion goals, focused on facility management and operations.
By working together, we can be more effective at reducing waste, achieving our sustainability goals, and giving back to the community.
Material Exchange (MEX)
The Material Exchange program facilitates the exchange of material generated within PPG’s stakeholder community to divert waste from landfill, move towards a circular economy, and support local charity organizations. Surplus assets, by-products, and other materials looking to avoid landfill are eligible to be submitted to the MEX program. Fill out the online form to submit materials or sign up to become a Receiving Organization.
Contact Chaya.Chengappa@trca.ca to learn how you can get involved in PPG’s Waste Management programs.