It’s Circular Economy Month in Durham Region

On behalf of The Regional Municipality of Durham’s Works Committee, John Henry, Regional Chair and CEO, has proclaimed the month of October as Circular Economy Month in Durham Region. Circular Innovation Council has 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. 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 to maximize their value before they are recycled or thrown out.

Weekly themes:

• Understanding Circularity (October 1 to 4) - What a circular economy is, why it matters, and how individual businesses, and governments can all take part.
• Protecting the Planet (October 5 to 11) - How circular practices reduce waste and emissions, protect biodiversity and conserve resources.
• Building Economic Resilience (October 12 to 18) - The business case for circularity. How the circular economy can help the Canadian economy flourish through job creation, cost savings, innovation, and stronger, more secure supply chains.
• Waste Reduction Week (October 19 to 25) - The third week of October continues its legacy of Waste Reduction Week, focusing specifically on how circularity reduces waste.
• Strengthening Communities (October 26 to 31) - How reuse, repair, and sharing keep value in our communities, with local initiatives leading the way.

Within these weekly themes, the message focuses on advancing circular business models for five priority material types:

• Construction, Renovation, and Demolition
• Textiles
• Electronic and Critical Minerals
• Packaging
• Food

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. The 2022 to 2040 Long-term Waste Management Plan (Waste Plan) is focused on rethinking and reducing the waste we create, maximizing resource recovery, and finding opportunities to  to create energy from waste.

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.

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

Quotes:

"Circular Economy Month is an opportunity to recognize the important role we all play in reducing waste and making better use of our resources. In Durham Region, we are committed to delivering innovative waste reduction, diversion and resource recovery programs that support environmental sustainability and help build a more resilient future for our growing community."

– Andrew Evans, Director of Waste Management, Compliance and Emergency Management Services

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