Top 10 Ways to Contribute to the Circular Economy

Rethinking consumption and reducing waste benefits the environment. Here’s how you can take part.

By Vawn Himmelsbach

The library provides a great option for borrowing instead of buying. | VIDEO: PRESSMASTER/ENVATO

The circular economy is a social and economic movement towards sustainability that goes far beyond recycling. It aims to replace our typical “take-make-waste” linear model wherein we take resources from the earth, make them into products that we consume and then throw them away as waste. So, what exactly is a circular economy? According to the Government of Canada, it’s an approach that “retains and recovers as much value as possible from resources by reusing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, repurposing or recycling products and materials.” For businesses, the circular economy might mean offering buy-back programs or creating new products from what would otherwise be considered waste. But individuals can also participate in the circular economy. Not only is it good for the environment and good for the community, it’s also good for your wallet.

Here are 10 ways you can participate in the circular economy and make the shift from consumer to steward of local resources.

SCROLL THROUGH EACH SLIDE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE.

➊ Reduce consumption

One of the easiest ways to make a difference is to break away from the disposable mindset. While we can’t cut out consumption altogether, we can be more mindful of our choices. Cut back on impulse buying, avoid single-use products and opt for eco-friendly packaging.

➋ Repair and refurbish

Many household appliances and electronics are, unfortunately, cheaper to replace than repair, so they end up in a landfill. Instead, visit a local repair café where volunteers can fix many things — from laptops to coffee makers — for free. To find a repair café near you, check out the international listings and location map at repaircafe.org, search for regional groups on Facebook and scan the bulletin boards in your neighbourhood community centre or library.

➌ Rent, share or borrow

This approach helps to extend the life cycle of products while helping you save money. Think of car-sharing clubs, car-pooling services, bike-share programs, tool-lending libraries and clothing rental platforms — as well as your local library. Save the paper and some money by borrowing a book instead of buying it. Or access your library’s collection through the Libby app and enjoy digital copies of books, magazines and even audiobooks.

➍ Swap

Canadians throw out a billion pounds of clothing and textile-based products every year, according to research by the University of Waterloo and Seneca College. In fact, more than half of this waste could be reused and almost a quarter could be recycled. Instead, consider clothing swaps, where you can exchange what you no longer want or need for something new-to-you. Perhaps you may even want to organize one. Clothing swaps are a great way to bring like-minded people together and also offer a social way to connect community and foster strong neighbourhood ties.

➎ Find sustainable alternatives

Make the decision to move away from single-use products to more eco-friendly options, such as reusable water bottles and shopping bags. Replace plastic for eco-friendly materials like bamboo toothbrushes and beeswax food wrap. Look for products with little-to-no packaging, such as solid shampoos and bulk foods. Even food can be managed more sustainably. Keep scraps from produce like onions and lettuce. You can also grow some of your own produce instead of grocery shopping — anything with a pit, seeds or roots can be planted, harvested, consumed — and some can even be replanted.

Click here to learn about foodscaping and how to grow your own food at home.

➏ Opt for DIY cleaning products

Make your own house cleaners using ingredients such as white vinegar, baking soda and tea tree oil. Alternatively, purchase cleaning tablets and concentrated formulas that simply require adding water in a refillable spray bottle. Ingredients can be bought in bulk, reducing packaging consumption, and shifting to reusable spray bottles eliminates the need for single-use containers.

➐ Buy recycled

Some manufacturers have embraced the circular economy and now offer a wide range of sustainable products, from clothing made with pre-loved fabrics to chairs made with recycled plastics. Consult the Buy Recycled Products Directory to find products made with recycled content.

➑ Upcycle

If an everyday item has outlived its usefulness, consider turning it into something new. Upcycling means you take an unwanted product and transform it into something you do want — say, turning an old sweater into a cushion cover or transforming an old hutch into a storage unit. If you’d rather not take on the project, find a professional upcycler or sustainable designer who can do it for you.

➒ Support circular

Shop at businesses that offer repair services or take-back programs to recycle or refurbish products and/or packaging. Ikea, for example, offers small replacement parts to extend the life of its furniture while Best Buy has refurbished electronics for sale on Best Buy Outlet.

➓ Dispose of e-waste responsibly

From cables, batteries and phones to motherboards, monitors and memory sticks, if it’s technology that’s no longer functional, useful or compatible, it’s e-waste — and it isn’t easy to manage. According to the U.N.’s Global E-Waste Monitor, e-waste is the world’s “fastest-growing domestic waste stream.” If you can’t repair or reuse your electronics, dispose of them responsibly. Recycle My Electronics can help you find out where to recycle electronics in your community.

Reducing waste is the goal of the circular economy, and as a consumer, there are a number of ways to accomplish that. | PHOTO: PRESSMASTER/ADOBE STOCK

Where to Recycle Electronics in Ontario

Explore the map below to find public drop-off locations across Ontario where you can safely recycle old electronics.

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SCROLL THROUGH EACH SLIDE TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE.

SCROLL THROUGH TO LEARN HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE.

➊ Reduce consumption

One of the easiest ways to make a difference is to break away from the disposable mindset. While we can’t cut out consumption altogether, we can be more mindful of our choices. Cut back on impulse buying, avoid single-use products and opt for eco-friendly packaging.

➋ Repair and refurbish

Many household appliances and electronics are, unfortunately, cheaper to replace than repair, so they end up in a landfill. Instead, visit a local repair café where volunteers can fix anything — from laptops to coffee makers — for free. To find a repair café near you, check out the international listings and location map at repaircafe.org, search for regional groups on Facebook and scan the bulletin boards in your neighbourhood community centre or library.

➌ Rent, share or borrow

This approach helps to extend the life cycle of products while helping you save money. Think of car-sharing clubs, car-pooling services, bike-share programs, tool-lending libraries and clothing rental platforms — as well as your local library. Save the paper and some money by borrowing a book instead of buying it. Or access your library’s collection through the Libby app and enjoy digital copies of books, magazines and even audiobooks.

➍ Swap

Canadians throw out a billion pounds of clothing and textile-based products every year, according to research by the University of Waterloo and Seneca College. In fact, more than half of this waste could be reused and almost a quarter could be recycled. Instead, consider clothing swaps, where you can exchange what you no longer want or need for something new-to-you. Perhaps you may even want to organize one. Clothing swaps are a great way to bring like-minded people together and also offer a social way to connect community and foster strong neighbourhood ties.

➎ Find sustainable alternatives

Make the decision to move away from single-use products to more eco-friendly options, such as reusable water bottles and shopping bags. Replace plastic for eco-friendly materials like bamboo toothbrushes and beeswax food wrap. Look for products with little-to-no packaging, such as solid shampoos and bulk foods. Even food can be managed more sustainably. Keep scraps from produce like onions and lettuce. You can also grow some of your own produce instead of grocery shopping — anything with a pit, seeds or roots can be planted, harvested, consumed and replanted.

Click here to learn about foodscaping and how to grow your own food at home.

➏ Opt for DIY cleaning products

Make your own house cleaners using ingredients such as white vinegar, baking soda and tea tree oil. Alternatively, purchase cleaning tablets and concentrated formulas that simply require adding water in a refillable spray bottle. Ingredients can be bought in bulk, reducing packaging consumption, and shifting to reusable spray bottles eliminates the need for single-use containers.

➐ Buy recycled

Some manufacturers have embraced the circular economy and now offer a wide range of sustainable products, from clothing made with pre-loved fabrics to chairs made with recycled plastics. Consult the Buy Recycled Products Directory to find products made with recycled content.

➑ Upcycle

If an everyday item has outlived its usefulness, consider turning it into something new. Upcycling means you take an unwanted product and transform it into something you do want — say, turning an old sweater into a cushion cover or transforming an old hutch into a storage unit. If you’d rather not take on the project, find a professional upcycler or sustainable designer who can do it for you.

➒ Support circular

Shop at businesses that offer repair services or take-back programs to recycle or refurbish products and/or packaging. Ikea, for example, offers small replacement parts to extend the life of its furniture while Best Buy has refurbished electronics for sale on Best Buy Outlet.

➓ Dispose of e-waste responsibly

From cables, batteries and phones to motherboards, monitors and memory sticks, if it’s technology that’s no longer functional, useful or compatible, it’s e-waste — and it isn’t easy to manage. According to the U.N.’s Global E-Waste Monitor, e-waste is the world’s “fastest-growing domestic waste stream.” If you can’t repair or reuse your electronics, dispose of them responsibly. Recycle My Electronics can help you find out where to recycle electronics in your community.