Item - 2017.GM23.24

The Government Management Committee:

1.  Requested the City Manager, in accordance with the directive from City Council respecting a strategy on policy framework to make the City of Toronto the first municipality in the Province with a circular economy [Item PW14.2, Part 13], to report to the Government Management Committee on June 5, 2018 with a strategy for City procurement to drive waste diversion through the circular economy.

In July 2016, City Council adopted a waste management plan that included several recommendations related to waste reduction and advancing the circular economy. One of those recommendations was for City Council to endorse an aspirational goal to work toward a circular economy and zero waste future to align with the provincial goal as part of the new Waste-Free Ontario Act.

Advancing toward a circular economy brings us closer to the environmental goals we have set as a City and the economic benefits are also considerable. For example, we will be helping to create sustainable and local jobs.

As a city, we have an opportunity to take on a leadership role when it comes to waste diversion. One important step we can take is through updating the Responsible Procurement Policy which is almost two decades old. This policy should be examined through the lens of our current environmental goals and a strategy should be developed for procurement to drive waste diversion through the circular economy.