Circular Initiatives in Action

EXPLORE WHAT’S HAPPENING

What is the Circular Economy? | Why Circular Communities?

PHASE ONE | Banff Roadmap | Calgary Roadmap | Edmonton Roadmap | Lethbridge Roadmap | Strathcona Roadmap

PHASE TWO

In consultation with Alberta communities, the RCA has drawn on the following examples from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to jumpstart conversations about developing a circular economy.

Best Practice Example | Basel, Switzerland

• The state of Basel-Stadt introduced financial tools such as tax levies and incentives to encourage clean energy production and energy-efficient projects in the area.
• The action is part of an overall national energy plan, Energy Strategy 2050.
• The City of Basel has partnered with a publicly-owned energy company to provide 100% renewable energy to residents and businesses.
• Much of the city’s electricity is generated from hydropower, with about ten percent coming from solar, wind and biomass sources.

Best Practice Example | France

• In February 2016, France became the first country to prohibit grocery stores from throwing away unused food.
• Grocery stores of a certain size are required to donate all unused food, rather than throwing it away.
• Other supporting policies requires schools to educate students on food sustainability, food waste statistics must be reported, and restaurants must make take-out containers available to customers.
• As a result, the amount of food being donated to schools and organizations has increased, and the quality of that food has improved.

Best Practice Example | Rotterdam

• As part of developing a Circular Economic Action Plan, Rotterdam has set aggressive targets for circular economy-based producrement, operations, waste reduction and job growth.
• This includes reaching zero waste within the city by 2030.
• Other spaces and platforms serve to promote circular initiatives through networking and learning avenues.
• An incubator hub and “Street Lab” were developed to provide space for small businesses and start-ups to experiment with circular concepts and innovations.

Freecycle (Alberta-wide) | The sharing of materials for free in the community, reusing and keeping materials out of the landfill.
Banff Food Rescue (Banff) | Picks up and receives food from grocery and retail stores that would normally be sent to landfill, allowing residents in need to access it.
Fire Department Water Reuse Project (Calgary) | A first-of-its-kind system that uses water from a manmade wetland for firefighting training exercises, then recaptures and treats it for reuse.
Leftovers (Calgary and area) | A program that accepts food donations from businesses and grocery stores and redistributes the food to social service organizations for people in need.
Sustainable Building Policy (Calgary) | The City has committed to sustainable building principles in all new and existing buildings, including the procurement of materials that contain recycled content, are regionally available, are reused, or meet certification standards.
Edmonton Tool Library | Provides affordable access to hand, power and garden tools for members.
Find Edmonton | Carries pre-loved furnishings and other items that locals no longer need.
Environmental Deconstruction Initiative (Lethbridge) | Giving materials a new life after a building is deconstructed.
Lethbridge Biogas | Capturing heat from organics through anaerobic digestion to use as renewable energy, either in combined heat and power units and added back to the grid.
Full Circle Plastics (Lethbridge) | Uses locally sourced 100% post-consumer plastic to make a variety of products including fence posts and boards.
Shoe Recycling (Strathcona County)| Soles4Souls keeps old shoes out of the landfill by donating them to local people who need them, or sending shoes in need or repair to developing countries where they can be mended and resold.
Community Energy Centre (Strathcona County) | The community energy system delivers hot water from a central source through insulated underground pipes to heat buildings.

Access the roadmaps for more details on circular initiatives from around Alberta.

LEARN MORE

RCA’s Circular Cities Project | Circular Cities Initiatives | Banff Roadmap | Calgary Roadmap | Edmonton Roadmap | Lethbridge Roadmap | Strathcona County Roadmap

We thank Alberta EcoTrust and The Alberta Government’s Community Environment Action Grant for your support of this project.

The Circular Cities project supports the RCA’s primary mission to promote, facilitate and advocate for a Circular Economy in Alberta through waste reduction and resource conservation. For more information contact us or call 403.843.6563.

UNSPLASH IMAGES | Louis Paulin (Banff report) • Kyler Nixon (Calgary report) • Alex Pugliese (Edmonton report) • Graham Rutton (Lethbridge report) •