For decades, Circular Innovation Council has engaged Canadians from coast to coast to coast to better understand the issues of waste and the opportunities they have to accelerate our transition to a circular economy.
Launched in 2001, the Waste Reduction Week in Canada campaign has become the marque educational program engaging and empowering Canadians from all corners of the country; youth, educators, policy makers, businesses and communities. Starting with a focus on recycling, it has transformed into Canada’s largest waste reduction public awareness campaign that educates, promotes, and celebrates individual and collective environmental efforts and achievements while encouraging new and innovative ideas.
Every year the momentum is strong throughout the entire month of October as organizations, communities, and schools across Canada celebrate through social media, events, and initiatives, and learning about the seven program themes.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle have become everyday terms and are the foundation to environmental education. Small individual changes like refusing a plastic straw, swapping a single-use coffee cup for a reusable mug, or placing recyclables in the correct bin are now second nature to many Canadians. While these small everyday behaviour changes are critical – today’s climate and advancing the circular economy requires bigger, broader, and bolder changes.
For 20 years Waste Reduction Week in Canada has focused on the concepts of waste reduction and recycling as a key component of our transition to a circular economy. However, educating Canadians on this new model of consumption involves more than just one week. That’s why Circular Innovation Council is extending Waste Reduction Week in Canada beyond the third week of October into Circular Economy Month to educate and excite Canadians about the opportunities and benefits of the circular economy.
Circular Economy Month features a new brand that will be used alongside the Waste Reduction Week in Canada logo this year. Participants are welcome to use both logos in communications promoting the campaign, in compliance with our guidelines.
In 2023 we launched our new website which expanded French content, improved accessibility, simplified navigation, and a user-friendly interface.
The third week of October will continue as Waste Reduction Week, upholding tradition of focusing on our daily themes related to specific waste streams and the waste reduction component of a circular economy. The remainder of the month will focus on introducing the concept of circular economy and amplifying its broader social, environmental, and economic benefits, communicating a different theme each week.
Contact the Circular Innovation Council education and engagement team to learn
about how your organization can get be at the forefront of this exciting new initiative.
Receive periodic updates of circular economy actions and activities from across Canada and beyond:
We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations and we humbly extend my respect to Indigenous individuals, communities and Elders, past and present, as the traditional custodians of this land.
Circular Innovation Council is a registered charity.
Charity Registration Number: 119112118 RR 0001
