Town Hall Announces Improvements in Composting and Recycling Efforts During Waste Reduction Week

In recognition of Waste Reduction Week, Town of Caledon is announcing significant improvements in waste reduction. Town Hall recently underwent a Waste Retrofit Pilot Project to improve how waste should be disposed of, specifically to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. As a result of the pilot project, the waste diversion rate at Town Hall improved by 10 per cent, to 92 per cent – less waste is going to landfills, more waste is being composted and recycled.

The pilot project included a baseline waste audit, the installation of 32 new waste bins, signage, education for Town Hall staff and visitors, and a post-project waste audit. The new signage advises staff and visitors as to which landfill, recycling and organic materials are acceptable in the Region of Peel. Results from this pilot project will help inform the 5-year Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reduction Framework (2019-2024) which will include strategies to reduce corporate waste and potentially expanding the retrofit project to other Town facilities.

“It’s great to see staff and the community making the commitment to reduce their waste footprint,” said Mayor Allan Thompson. “Properly sorting compost and recyclable materials lessens the amount of waste that ends up in our landfills and is one way we can help protect the environment.”

Diverting the amount of waste going to the landfill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with Ontario’s waste sector. According to the 2013 Caledon Community GHG Inventory, waste accounts for 10% of local emissions.

Waste Reduction Week (October 15 – 21, 2018)
Waste Reduction Week 2018 aims to educate, engage and empower Canadians to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost materials before they become garbage in the landfill.

Visit peelregion.ca/waste to learn more about what you can do to improve waste diversion at home. Be sure to follow the Town of Caledon on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about the importance of waste management during waste reduction week.

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Town Hall Improves Composting and Recycling (PDF)