October is Circular Economy Month in Canada.   

A circular economy is a model of production and consumption designed to keep materials at their highest utility and value throughout their lifecycle. By repairing broken items, and buying and selling used items, we can prolong the lifespan of goods, share what we have and ultimately reduce our waste to landfill.  

The average British Columbian produces 479 kilograms of garbage in a year — roughly the weight of a horse. Here in Whistler, we have already reduced to the equivalent of 288 kg per person. When we focus, we achieve big action — but there’s more to be done.   

Help us achieve Whistler’s Big Move 6 by closing the loop and shifting toward lower carbon consumption. We are now trying to reduce our waste by 80 per cent from nearly 12,000 tonnes trashed in 2019 to 2,400 tonnes by 2030.  

Ready to take action? Try one or some of the actions below to support a circular economy. Remember, the best way to reduce waste is to avoid creating it in the first place.  

Be Conscious About Clothing: Re-Wear, Care and Share 

On average, we only wear 50 per cent of our clothes. The rest sit unused in our closets. Simply wearing our clothes more is the most direct action we can take to capture value and design out waste and pollution in the textiles system. Clothing can often be repaired or reimagined to prolong its lifespan.   

Make the most of what you’ve got:  

• Drop ‘fast fashion’ in favour of clothing that lasts and is based on timeless styles  

• Donate to/buy from the Re-Use-It-Centre (you will also be supporting Whistler Community Services Society programs, such as the Food Bank)  

• Check out Whistler’s consignment, vintage and ‘previously loved’ clothing stores  

• Check out the Whistler Public Library’s selection of Unusual Items to Borrow for things like sewing and knitting machines

Restore, Repurpose, Repair Your Goods 

Could a new varnish or fresh coat of paint bring an item back to life? Can that comfy couch be re-covered? Could that old dresser become a workbench? There are lots of ways to extend the life of furnishings.   

Get creative:  

• Check out the Re-Build-It-Centre for secondhand furnishings    

• Watch for community repair cafes and collective garage sales — see below for upcoming events  

• Get tools for your projects at the WCSS Tool Library 
  
  Take home a reusable coffee mug through Reuse Whistler  
  
  Reuse Whistler is the community’s newest circular economy initiative, allowing the public to grab and take home a reusable mug — for free — from participating coffee shops.  
  
  Bringing your own mug is always the most sustainable option, but for visitors (or when we forget our mug at home), Reuse Whistler has the potential to eliminate hundreds of thousands of disposable cups from Whistler waste stream.  
  
  After you’re done, simply return your mug to a participating business by scanning the barcode (smart bins coming soon!). It will be washed for reuse, protecting the planet and supporting the green economy — one cup at a time!  
  
  Reuse Whistler will be expanding to more businesses throughout the fall, so keep an eye on your favourite coffee shop.
  
  Learn more, and sign up for the program, at reusewhistler.ca. 

Upcoming Events 

AWARE and the RMOW are hosting multiple events in Whistler this month to help promote a circular economy:   

• Sunday, October 19 – Fall Community Garage Sale
• Tuesday, October 21 – Fall Clothing Swap
• Thursday, October 23 – Repair Café

We look forward to seeing you at these events to help our community reduce its consumption and make better use of what we already own or can share.