While the City is actively working towards a circular economy, it’s not something we can do on our own. A circular economy involves those who make things, those who buy them, and those who design programs, systems, infrastructure and supply chains. It will require innovation and effective collaboration among government, industry, academia, the not-for-profit sector and the general public as well as a strategy on how to get there.
As a first step toward this strategy, the City studied the current level of circularity in Toronto through the Baselining for a Circular Toronto study. The study proposes a vision for what a circular Toronto could look like, highlights opportunities for advancing the circular economy in key sectors, and provides circular economy goals to guide Toronto’s work and indicators that could be used to measure success. The next step will be the development of a Circular Economy Road Map to turn the study’s insights into actions to realize Toronto’s full circular potential.
As part of its journey towards a circular economy, the City has recently completed a research project called Baselining for a Circular Toronto. Check out the Highlights Summary Document for key findings from the study.
The Baselining for a Circular Toronto project is one of the first of its kind in Canada and explores the current state of circularity in Toronto. The study:
Baselining for a Circular Toronto engaged more than 150 key stakeholders, including City staff (from approximately 20 divisions), the public Circular Economy Working Group, other orders of government and government agencies.
The project involved three phases:
The proposed vision for a Circular Toronto in the Baselining for a Circular Toronto study is a city with:
Achieving a Circular Toronto will require more than just analysis. The next step will be to develop a Circular Economy Road Map to turn the study’s insights into actions to realize Toronto’s full circular potential. Collaboration and partnerships between various stakeholders will be key to successful change.
The next step in the City’s circular economy journey is the development of a Circular Economy Road Map. This Road Map will recommend actions that various stakeholders, including the City of Toronto, can take to transition to a circular economy. Given the importance of partnerships and collaboration in realizing a circular economy, various stakeholders will be engaged throughout the development of the Road Map. This will include working with residents and various stakeholders to refine and expand upon the vision, goals and indicators proposed in the Baselining for a Circular Toronto study. Planning for the Road Map is taking place this year, with development of the Road Map scheduled to begin in 2023. Adoption and implementation of the Road Map will follow.