11 | This W eek | T hursday,F ebruary 24,2022 durham region.com Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover Thank You for Doing Your Part! Katherine Ross, Waste Management Technician for the Region of Durham talks everything Waste. Send your waste related questions or comments to waste@durham.ca If you require this information in an accessible format, please call 1-800-667-5671 • durham.ca/waste Durham's new Long-term Waste Management Plan approved Durham Regional Council recently approved Durham's next Long-term Waste Management Plan (Waste Plan) for the next 20 years (2022 to 2040). As part of the Waste Plan development process, the Region consulted with residents and other stakeholders to seek input on the guiding principles, vision, and objectives. This feedback was imperative to the development of the following guiding principles, vision statement and objectives that will guide the Region's waste management programs and services over the planning period. Guiding principles: 1. Emphasize rethink, reduce, and reuse principles as the first steps in reducing waste generation. 2. Deliver cost effective waste management services to a rapidly growing and diverse population. 3. Work with producers and importers of designated products and packaging to implement "Extended Producer Responsibility" and adjust Region waste programs as required. 4. Apply innovative approaches to Region waste streams to manage them as resources in a circular economy. 5. Demonstrate leadership in sustainability to address the climate crisis by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from waste management activities. As part of this plan, the Region will continue to focus on maximizing the diversion of materials from waste and recovering them as resources. This will optimize its existing and planned disposal and processing infrastructure, while minimizing our need for disposal. Vision: Together, with our residents, we will reduce the amount of waste we create and manage the generated waste as a resource. We will build an innovative system, balancing financial needs and environmental sustainability. Objectives: 1. Engage with residents to build an understanding and awareness of the 5Rs (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) and the Region's waste management programs and services. 2. Reduce the quantity of waste we create. 3. Increase diversion of waste from disposal and support the circular economy. 4. Support the Region's greenhouse gas reduction and climate change mitigation efforts. 5. Project or improve water, land, and air quality in Durham Region. Action Plans with measurable targets were created with the following timelines--short-term (2022 to 2026), mid-term (2027 to 2033) and long- term (2034 to 2040). Each Action Plan will be reviewed and updated to ensure alignment with corporate direction and associated legislation. Durham Region is poised to implement several initiatives that will contribute to further reducing and diverting waste from disposal and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With the collective efforts of Durham Region residents, the next 20 years will see significant changes to how waste is managed and perceived in the Region, which will contribute to the goals of a circular economy and recognizing waste as a resource. View the new Long-term Waste Management Plan and first Action Plan at durham.ca/WastePlan.