Waste Reduction Week in Canada is held every year during the third week of October (October 21 to 27, 2024), to educate and motivate waste reduction across the nation by focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling. This year, the Town has planned a number of fun activities for residents to take part in and learn more about waste reduction. 

Here’s how to get involved:

1. Waste-Themed Family Storytime and Craft

Saturday, October 26 at the Whitby Public Library, Central Library (405 Dundas Street West) 

From 10:30 to 11 a.m. gather around the first-floor fireplace to listen to family-friendly waste reduction stories that encourage children to learn about the importance of reducing waste, reusing items, and recycling materials. Then from 11 to 11:30 a.m. children can go to the Children's Program Room to take part in a reuse craft to repurpose waste materials and prevent them from going to landfills. 

2. Repair Café

Saturday, October 26 at the Whitby Public Library, Central Library (405 Dundas Street West), Meeting Room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Have a broken or damaged item? Pop by the Repair Café to learn how to fix them with the help of local experts. Don’t forget to bring your own reusable mug and enjoy a cup of coffee while you wait. Advance registration is required.
Register for the Repair Café

3. Waste Diversion Drop-Off

Saturday, October 26 at the Whitby Public Library, Central Library (405 Dundas Street West), Front Lobby, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Drop off items you can’t put in your blue bin to help reduce your impact on our planet. Bring your old Brita filters, disposable razors, pens, markers, highlighters, and old toothbrushes to boxes in the Library’s Front lobby for us to repurpose material from. No registration is required. 

4. Schedule a Community Cleanup

The Town has an anti-litter app that makes it easy to put waste in its place. Town Staff provide a cleanup kit and collect the waste after the event. View Whitby’s parks, trails, and roads that are available for adoption or schedule a one-time community cleanup at whitby.ca/CleanUp

5. Never Miss Waste Pickup Again

Do you know your garbage, recycling, yard waste and compost collection days for your address? Download the Whitby Waste Buddy app from Google Play or the App Store to view your waste collection schedule and determine where and how to dispose of your waste items including by scheduling a Special Large Item Collection pickup. You can even sign up to receive garbage day reminders by email, digital calendar, text, or phone message by searching for your address and selecting 'Get a reminder.’

6. Transform Waste with Composting

Turn your food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich compost! This can significantly cut down on landfill waste and help the environment. Learn more and get started with local composting initiatives: Composting and Green Bins. 

7. Connect With Us On Social Media

Let’s all do our part to reduce waste, Whitby. For more information, visit whitby.ca/Sustainability.