Circular Economy Month

Join us this October to celebrate Circular Economy Month!

For the first time in 2022, Waste Reduction Week was expanded and extended to celebrate the Circular Economy for the whole month of October! This month-long campaign is planned to educate and excite Canadians coast-to-coast about the opportunities and benefits of a Circular Economy. We continue to recognize Waste Reduction Week in the third week of October, and the remainder of the month focusses on introducing the concept of circular economy and amplifying its broader social, environmental, and economic benefits, communicating a different theme each week.

Get Involved

Want to get involved? There are plenty of ways for individuals, businesses, schools, and local governments to be a part of the conversation!

Proclaim

Profile your dedication to waste reduction to your community. Check back to see which municipalities have proclaimed Circular Economy Month!

Pledge

Learn about food waste and take action by taking the Food Waste Pledge! If you are an elementary school or classroom taking the Pledge, take the Pledge for Kids.

Promote

Tag #CircularEconomyMonth and #WRWCanada on socials so everyone can see and share your Circular Economy Month and Waste Reduction Week activities!

Host an Event

Register your Circular Economy Month or Waste Reduction event or activity to be included on the calendar so that people across Canada can find and attend it!

Waste Reduction Week

Since 2001, National Waste Reduction in Canada has been organized by a coalition of non-government and not-for-profit environmental groups from each of the 13 participating provincial and territorial jurisdictions across the country. Every year, we challenge businesses, organizations, and individuals to reduce their ecological footprint and to come up with unique and creative ways to reduce waste.

Each day of Waste Reduction Week has a different theme to engage with a different facet of waste reduction. They focus the discussion, promote achievements, and celebrate advancements in each area. Support areas that are most important to you, or learn more about a new issue!

October 16: Circular Economy Monday

Learn more about what it means to transition to a circular economy. What makes it different from a linear economy? How is a circular economy different from recycling?

October 17: Textiles Tuesday

We all need clothing and other textile goods, but did you know that the average person throws away 37 kilograms of textiles each year? Learn more about the circular economy for textiles and how you can extend the life of your clothing.

October 18: E-Waste Wednesday

Rapid advances in technology mean there’s always something new and exciting on the horizon. Learn more about how circular approaches to design and supply chains can take waste out of the equation.

October 19: Plastics Thursday

Billions of tonnes of plastic have been generated since the 1950s – on Plastic Thursday learn more about how a circular economy can reduce improve plastics management across the whole lifecycle – from design to re-design.

October 20: Food Waste Friday

Across Canada, 58% of all food produced is wasted and at a global scale, 1/3 of food produced is lost or wasted annually. You can take the Food Waste Pledge to learn more about food waste in Canada, and actions you can take to reduce food waste.

October 21: Sharing Economy Saturday

A sharing economy means that you don’t need to own something to access it – like renting power tools you might only use once or twice a year. Learn more about how you might already be participating in the sharing economy, and find more opportunities to share!

October 22: Swap & Repair Sunday

When products are designed with longevity and repair in mind, they can find new life over and over again. Click here to learn more about how swap and repair economies – like clothing swaps and repair cafes – contribute to the circular economy.

Proclamations

Each year, local governments across the province proclaim their commitment to waste reduction by proclaiming Waste Reduction Week and Circular Economy Month. Proclamations will be added to this page as they are received.

City of Courtenay

City of Langford

City of Mission

City of Trail 

City of Vancouver

City of Victoria

City of Williams Lake

Comox Valley Regional District

Province of British Columbia

Resources

What is the Circular Economy?

What’s the hype? Learn more about the transition to a Circular Economy and see what it could mean for our communities, businesses, and environment on our Circular Economy page.

Resources for Schools

Find the School Resource Kit, including Waste Reduction Week activities, instructions on implementing your very own waste reduction action plan, and much more!

Resources for Businesses

The Business Resource Kit includes suggestions for waste reduction activities, as well as resources to conduct a waste assessment, and implement a waste reduction action plan.

Resources for Municipalities

With resources specifically tailored to local governments, the Municipal Resource Kit highlights resources to support creation of waste reduction action plans and green procurement.