(22 October 2021) The Regional Municipality of York recently awarded $100,000 in funding through its Circular Economy Initiatives Fund (CEIF) to six non-profit organizations committed to advancing a circular economy in York Region. A circular economy designs out waste and pollution so the resources needed to make products and packaging are continuously reused, rather than used once and discarded.
We are pleased to announce the 2021 CEIF recipients and projects are:
- Circular Innovation Council – Share, Reuse, and Repair Hub: a community-based virtual hub to educate and engage residents on advancing the local circular economy through share, reuse and repair
- Free Geek Toronto – The Reuse Project, Technology Edition: a series of electronic waste collection and repair events to encourage reuse and repair over recycling of unwanted technology
- Furniture Bank – Furniture and Home Goods Reuse Education and Awareness Campaign: a campaign increasing awareness of furniture removal services for residents to help divert household items from landfill and repurpose them to be given to local families in need
- Impact Zero – Circular Business Directory: a searchable, detailed directory for circular businesses in York Region
- Whitchurch-Stouffville Strawberry Festival – Greening the Strawberry Festival 2022: a project to reduce waste, particularly food waste and single-use plastic waste, at the 2022 Strawberry Festival
- Willowgrove – Take Root Farm Project: an educational program offering two series of workshops teaching children how to use upcycled items to construct their own compost and greenhouse systems for use at home
This is the first year York Region has offered the Circular Economy Initiatives Fund, which is open to non-profit, community-driven, innovative projects that will run for a year and help reduce residential waste and advance a circular economy. Recipients were selected based on meeting one or both of the following objectives:
- Reduce residential waste generated and/or increase reuse of residential waste, diverting it from landfill
- Develop and deliver education and awareness projects that lead to behaviour change and/or increase knowledge of the value of waste
Funding from the CEIF provides financial support for grassroot or local organizations to get these projects off the ground. Once the circular economy momentum starts to gain traction in York Region, other businesses and organizations may be inspired to support a waste-free society in whatever way they can.
York Region is proud to support these six initiatives and is excited to see the impact they will have now and in the future on our communities as we move towards our visionary goal of a world in which nothing goes to waste.
For more information on the CEIF visit york.ca/circulareconomyfund
