21 | This Week | Thursday, September 29,2022 | durhamregion.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 Introducing Circular Economy Month 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 the Circular Innovation Council is extending Waste Reduction Week in Canada into the Circular Economy Month for all of October. The future of waste management in Durham Region includes a circular economy. This means we need to rethink the traditional 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and consider the value of materials and products we purchase before they become waste. In a perfect circular economy, nothing is waste. The circular economy 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 objective is about using our limited and valuable resources wisely: thinking about what will happen to a product before we buy it; waste as a resource instead of a cost; and finding innovative ways to improve the environment and the economy. As individuals, we can use circular economy principles to cut our waste and save money. Five things you can do to support the circular economy: Avoid single-use items when you can. Say 'no' to disposable cutlery and single-serve condiment packages when ordering take-out or delivery. Drink tap water instead of bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle at home to take with you while you're on the go. Avoid items that come in single serving packages such as juice pouches, yogurt, or coffee pods. Substitute your dryer sheets with wool dryer balls. Use what you have, borrow what you don't. Make your own cleaning products using common household ingredients. This eliminates excessive packaging, is less harmful to the environment and can save you money. Repair items, when possible, instead of throwing them away. Rent or borrow items you rarely use. Make available to others what you no longer need. Participate in the second-hand economy by buying and selling used items. Donate reusable items to charity. Sell and shop second-hand clothes stores. Shop smarter, waste less. Think about your purchases. Do you need it? Can you buy it with less packaging? Consider buying local, second-hand or items made from recycled and recyclable materials. Reduce food waste. Practice proper meal planning to buy only what you need. Eat what you buy and get creative with leftovers. Compost what's left or put it in your green bin. Every action counts. Visit durham.ca/waste for more information and tips on how you can play a role in the circular economy.