Markham Textile and Clothing Reuse and Recycle Initiative
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector
Waste
Project value$134,200
Project Type
Pilot Project
Sub Sector
Multiple Diversion Types
Grant amount$67,100
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Markham, ON
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
338,503
Project timeline
2015 - 2018
Project number
15003
Description
The City of Markham will design and implement a textile and clothing diversion pilot program to reduce the amount of textiles going to landfill. The program will build public awareness of textiles, a small but important segment of the municipal waste stream. The City will place ten residential textile drop-off containers at fire stations across Markham. Bins will be equipped with solar panels to provide lighting for nighttime safety and security, as well as a sensor to signal that the container is three-quarters full and ready for pick-up. The pilot reflects the goals of York Region’s Integrated Waste Management Master Plan and the Communities in Action SM4RT Living Plan. Pilot findings will be shared with other York Region municipalities and across Canada and will allow the City to build public awareness of the reuse of residential textiles by way of the tracking of textile deposits. The education component will use social media, brochures and other forms of community messaging to explain the value of diverting clothing from landfills. The textile waste management pilot supports the main goal of Markham’s sustainability “Greenprint” plan (GMF 10002) —to achieve carbon neutrality and net-zero waste by 2050. (As per April 22, 2016 announcement)
Applicant
City of Markham, ON