Circular Economy Month: Litter-ally Making a Difference

Every October, people and organizations across Canada observe Circular Economy Month - a time to spotlight how reuse, repair, and resource recovery can transform our linear “take-make-waste” systems into cyclical, regenerative ones.

The pile up continues - and so does the problem - September 30, 2025

For residents of Ottawa, this is the perfect time to ask: how can you make circular economy principles part of your everyday life?

We'll tell you: the Earthub Bin.

Earthub Bins are your backup plan when the blue bin bails

Earthub’s model complements traditional recycling by targeting hard-to-recycle and reuse‑worthy items that often fall through the cracks.

Here's how we Bin:

You’ll receive an Earthub Bin with category bags for items like plastic films + multi-layer plastics, metals, plastic bottle caps, pill bottles, and more - plus select “overflow” items (like accepted electronics) that can be placed beside your bin on pickup day.
On your scheduled collection day, Earthub picks up your sorted items - along with any approved overflow outside of the bin.
Materials are either reused locally (for example, egg cartons are provided to food banks or farmers) or responsibly sent to trusted recycling and repurposing partners like Greentec and HydroBlox.
We prioritize transparency - Earthub publicly shares where your materials go and who our processing partners are. (Psst... more partnerships are in the works, so if you don’t see the end user listed on our website just yet, stay tuned! 👀)

Earthub Bins help close the gaps in the current recycling system. By focusing on reuse and real diversion - instead of landfill or low-grade downcycling - we take the guesswork out of “Can I recycle this?”

Because let’s be honest: packaging that says “recyclable” doesn’t mean your city will actually accept it. Earthub fills that frustrating gap...and helps make circular living simple, local, and accessible.

No tricks, just tips

Life is chaotic enough. Between work, family, errands, and just trying to stay sane, the idea of “adding one more thing” - like being circular - might feel overwhelming. But here's the thing: it doesn’t have to be “one more thing.” It can actually be one less.

I don’t know about you, but the best part of weaving circular practices into my everyday life is that it saves me money. Circularity isn't just good for the planet - it’s good for your wallet, your space, and your peace of mind.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being practical. So here are some no-pressure, low-effort tips to get you started (or keep you going) on your circular journey:

Get creative with food scraps

The average Canadian household wastes over $1,700 in food every year. Try making veggie broth from scraps, storing herbs in jars of water, or freezing leftovers before they go funky. Your freezer is a time machine - use it.

Shop your own home first

Need organizers? Check your recycling bin or that junk drawer for containers, boxes, or jars. Want new fall decor? Try rearranging or repurposing what you already have. The most sustainable item is the one you didn’t buy.

Reuse (and brag about it)

Gift bags, bubble wrap, takeout containers - reuse doesn’t have to be boring. Start a “reuse bin” at home and make it a point of pride, not shame. Circularity is a flex. And if you're ever short on gift bags, bubble wrap, or takeout containers… Earthub has it all (this ties into our upcoming announcement 👀).

Know your recycling limits

Not everything “recyclable” is accepted locally - especially flexible packaging, films, or small bits. Learn what your municipality actually collects… or let Earthub Bins handle the tricky stuff for you. We save you time by picking it up right from your doorstep!

Trade, borrow, or share

Need a drill, costume, or cake stand? Check-out LEND-IT.CA before buying. This platform is easy to use and if you have things to share - you could make some money doing it! You can also check out tool libraries (OTL), buy-nothing groups, and neighbourhood lending pages where stuff circulates instead of sitting unused.

Shift the mindset, not just the habits

Circular living isn’t about doing more - it’s about doing differently. The next time you go to throw something away, pause for a second. Can it be reused, shared, fixed, or passed along? Something as simple as a Ziploc bag!

🌍 Small Steps, Big Impact

If we all optimized what we already have - just a little - the impact would be huge. Not just in waste reduction, but in how we value things, how we spend, and how we connect with our communities. Circularity isn’t about being trendy or eco-perfect. It’s about choosing smarter loops over dead ends - for your stuff, your space, and your sanity (okay, just kidding...circularity is TOTALLY trendy!)

Something Big is Brewing at Earthub - Stay Tuned!

We’re not quite ready to spill the beans just yet, but Earthub has some BIG things coming soon. We’re super excited to share because these changes will truly transform the waste landscape in Ottawa. Expect improved sorting and processing, stronger local partnerships, and even greater transparency - plus some awesome storytelling along the way.

How You Can Help This October (and Beyond) - No Cape Required

Circular Economy Month is the perfect excuse to level up your eco-game without turning into a full-on superhero (unless of course you thrive for that):

Get yourself an Earthub Bin (if you're in the Ottawa area) and start saving the planet one weirdly-shaped plastic at a time. Bonus: you’ll feel like a recycling ninja.
Hit up local events - the Circular Innovation Council has shared tons of cool happenings across the nation!
Be the neighbourhood hype person - Tell your friends, your neighbours, that random person at the coffee shop about Earthub. Especially if they’re stuck with the “blue bin blues.” Sharing is caring.
Try a waste audit - Spend a week spying on your trash. What’s really going in? Garbage? Compost? Better yet - Earthub can do that audit for you through our residential and commercial collection services.
Compost with ease - The Box Of Life makes household food scrap composting simple and stress-free. Your leftovers deserve a better ending!
Push for apartment love - If you live in a condo or apartment, make some noise! Everyone deserves easy access to circular services - let’s get multi-residential buildings in the loop too.

Circular Goals, Activated

Circular Economy Month is more than a hashtag — it’s a reminder that the infrastructure we build (organizational, physical, regulatory) matters deeply. As Ottawa and Ontario’s recycling landscape evolves, Earthub offers a resilient, community‑oriented option to capture the extras that standard systems often miss.

We hope that this Circular Economy Month, you’ll join us in making a difference - not just by diverting more, but by thinking differently about the stuff we use every day. Whether it’s signing up for an Earthub Bin, composting your food scraps, repairing instead of replacing, or just spreading the word, every small loop adds up. Together, we can build a system that’s smarter, kinder to the planet, and a whole lot less wasteful.

Let’s make circular living the new normal - this month and beyond.