About the Hub
A Virtual Community Hub for Resources & Information about Share, Reuse, and Repair across Canada
The Share, Reuse, Repair Hub aims to generate interest in local Canadian businesses and events, and empowers residents to fix what they own; swap, share, and borrow instead of buy; purchase secondhand goods; and learn new skills that make life more affordable. The Hub educates communities about the circular economy to build resilient and prosperous communities.
If the Hub hasn’t expanded to your community yet, help us get there by submitting an Expression of Interest form.
What is the Circular Economy?
A circular economy is a new way of looking at how we use—and ultimately reuse—materials and products. Historically, products have been produced and consumed in a linear way: make, take, waste. Products in a “linear economy” are designed and used for convenience with a limited life and diminishing value over time. This way of life doesn’t consider the costs of our waste on the economy, the environment, and our societal wellbeing.
Circularity is a different way of thinking that includes better design from the very start. Circular products are designed to consume few new materials, have higher quality, are made to be reused again and again, and can be fixed. A circular economy creates a more sustainable system where products are kept in use for as long as possible before being disassembled, made into something new, or recycled into material to be made into something else. At a systems level, businesses, customers, and suppliers work in tandem to reintroduce what would be one’s waste into another’s treasure. In nature, organic things are composted, and the broken down components are made into new things—so the regenerative cycles goes. The circular economy mimics this model to save us money, increase our wellbeing, and improve our impact on the environment.
Learn more about the components of a circular economy and related concepts through a set of interactive flashcards, free to use on CircularEconomyMonth.ca/flashcards.
Linear Economy
Circular Economy
How a Circular Economy Helps Us
Ways you can take part in the circular economy
About Circular Innovation Council
Circular Innovation Council is a not-for-profit environmental organization that believes solutions for greater resource efficiency and environmental protection is to advance the circular economy. We are inclusive and collaborative among supply and value chains; and seek to advance circular business models, products, and services that deliver redefined values to equate social, environmental, and economic benefit. Throughout our history we have played a lead role in uniting stakeholders across entire value and supply chains, and utilize expertise and experience of our diverse membership. We leverage collaborative efforts to fully understand priority and realize potential. In doing so we are strategically positioned as a resource organization that all actors can use to develop and implement their strategies.
Visit Circular Innovation Council to learn more about the circular economy and the actions we are taking to put circular economy concepts into action.
Our Partner Municipalities
Regional Municipality of York Region (Founding Partner)
About York Region’s Circular Economy Initiatives Fund
The Share, Reuse, Repair Hub is a project partially funded by The Regional Municipality of York’s Circular Economy Initiatives Fund, offering funding to non-profit, community-driven, innovative projects that will help reduce residential waste and advance a circular economy. The fund supports organizations whose projects result in a reduction of residential waste generated (based on weight) or an increase in reuse of residential waste, diverting it from landfill, as well as education and awareness projects that lead to behaviour change and/or increased knowledge of the value of waste. Learn more about the fund at York.ca
How York Region is Going Circular
York Region’s waste management master plan, also known as the SM4RT Living Plan, has a visionary goal of “a world in which nothing goes to waste” and includes an objective to “inspire people across the Region to embrace SM4RT Living and advance the circular economy”.
To reach these goals the Region developed several initiatives to promote SM4RT Living’s 4Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle and recover) that align with a circular approach to waste management.
The Region also developed a Circular Economy Roadmap that identifies opportunities to integrate the circular economy into its operations, programs and policies. Learn more at York.ca.
Peel Region
Peel Region works with residents and partners to create a healthy, safe, and connected Community for Life for approximately 1.5 million people and over 200,000 businesses in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. Through its Roadmap to a Circular Economy long-term waste management plan, Peel Region is committed to diverting 75% of its waste from landfill by 2034 through 3Rs (Reduction, Reuse and Recycling) initiatives and partnerships that move towards a circular economy and offer better environmental outcomes. For more information, explore peelregion.ca and follow us on X @regionofpeel and Instagram @peelregion.ca.
Disclaimer: The resources, events, organizations, and businesses listed on the Share, Reuse, Repair Hub are not directly affiliated with Circular Innovation Council and its municipal partners unless specifically indicated. The mission of the Share, Reuse, Repair Hub is to provide an inclusive scope of information and directory of resources for individuals to learn and take action. The resources and information listed on this website do not necessarily reflect the views of Circular Innovation Council and its municipal partners. While external content is carefully vetted prior to addition to this website, you accept full responsibility of any outcomes that may arise as a result of using this tool, and release Circular Innovation Council and its partners from liability. If you have any questions or concerns regarding content on this website or if you see information that requires updating, please email Circular Innovation Council: [email protected]