Celebrate Circular Economy Month this October

Whitby, Ontario – This October, we’re celebrating Circular Economy Month in Durham Region. The Circular Innovation Council has also extended Waste Reduction Week beyond the third week of October into Circular Economy Month to educate and excite Canadians about the opportunities and benefits of the circular economy.

The third week of October continues as Waste Reduction Week (WRW), with daily themes related to specific waste streams and the waste reduction component of a circular economy. A circular economy is a model that retains and recovers as much value as possible from resources by reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing or repurposing products and materials before they are recycled or thrown out. The primary goal of the week is to celebrate environmental efforts and achievements while encouraging innovative new ideas and solutions.

Daily Themes (October 20 to 26):

• Construction Monday
• Textiles Tuesday
• Electronics Wednesday
• Plastics Thursday
• Food Friday
• Share, Reuse, Repair Weekend

During Waste Reduction Week, residents are invited to pick up to five free bags of compost while supplies last at the Waste Management Centre, located at 4600 Garrard Road, Whitby. Compost is available Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Throughout the year, the Region supports residents in their waste reduction efforts by promoting the five “Rs” (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover). These principles guide our programs and services designed to make waste management easier and more sustainable for everyone.

We collect food waste and other organic materials through our Green Bin program. All green bin material is processed using Anaerobic Digestion, a method that produces biogas, renewable natural gas, and digestate, a nutrient rich natural fertilizer.

In addition, we collect leaf and yard waste as well as Christmas trees, all of which are turned into compost. Residents can pick up this compost for free at our spring compost giveaway events.

We also help residents safely dispose of household items through various initiatives:

• Battery Collection: We pick up batteries at the curb twice a year, in the spring and fall. Thanks to our community's participation, we earned a Guinness World Record in 2012 for the most batteries collected in a 24-hour period. Durham earned this distinction by collecting an incredible 11,288 pounds (almost 5,120 kilograms) of batteries.
• Environment Days: These events offer drop-off opportunities for items that can be reused, recycled or safely disposed of.
• Curbside Giveaway Days: Residents can leave unwanted items in good condition at the curb for others to take and reuse.
• Hazardous Waste Drop-off locations: We offer free drop-off sites for household hazardous waste, including paint, solvents, cleaners, batteries, pesticides, fertilizers, propane tanks, fluorescent bulbs and tubes, motor oil and antifreeze. The Oshawa Waste Management Facility operates a paint reuse centre promoting the reuse of paints and stains. Residents can drop off or collect high-quality reusable paints and stains at no cost. 

The Region also joined the Circular Innovation Council's Share, Reuse, Repair Hub. This initiative helps keep materials in use for as long as possible by encouraging residents to swap, resell, and donate products they no longer need. Be sure to check the hub for reuse resources and opportunities to extend the life of everyday items.

The Region, together with our residents, is committed to supporting the circular economy and will continue to deliver innovative waste reduction, diversion, and disposal programs to meet the needs of our growing population. The 2022 to 2040 Long-term Waste Management Plan (Waste Plan) is focused on rethinking and reducing the waste we create, managing resources and finding opportunities to create energy from waste. 

To learn more about Circular Economy month, visit CircularEconomyMonth.ca. For more information about waste reduction in Durham Region, visit durham.ca/Waste.

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For media inquiries, please contact Corporate Communications.