With You We Can, find out how:

Less waste, more impact

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Save money, by updating your home

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Resources for businesses

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Buy local, support farmers

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Meatless Mondays for the Planet

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No compost? No Problem!

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Reduce Car Trips

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Carbon reductions need to be made by governments, businesses, and individuals.


Interested in learning how you can live more sustainably? See below for some great resources on how we can all make a difference

Home Energy

Get an energy audit

Sustainable Transportation

No compost, no problem

Buy local

Reduce waste

Sustainable eating
Woman biking on trail, blurred trees in background.

Active Transportation

With You We Can contribute to a more sustainable community

Learn more about how you can reduce emissions in your business:

Resources for Businesses

Less waste,
more impact

Small steps make big action

Taking small actions to reuse containers, repurpose clothes or using a reusable water bottle can make a big difference for the planet.

Reep Green Solutions: Zero Waste 101 Information

Circulr

A Friendlier Company 

Think before you toss

Consider donating clothing and items that you no longer use to your local shelter or charity shop.

Give your stuff a second life

Repair instead of replacing items can reduce the cost on your wallet and the planet.

Save money and the climate, updating your home

Reduce Air Leaks

Leaky doors and windows, along with poor insulation, can be the same as a basketball sized hole in your home.

Reep Air Tightness Assessment

Incentives for your Home 

Reep Green Solutions

Save on Energy 

Consider a Heat Pump

A heat pump is more efficient than traditional furnaces and air conditioners. Grants are available to help cover the cost.

Commercial Contractors (Heat Pumps)

Canada Greener Homes Incentive: Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program

Canada Greener Homes Loan: Financing for major retrofits

Buy local,
support farmers

Know where your food comes from

By buying local, you can support local farmers and reduce your carbon footprint.

Ontario Seasonal Foods

Canadian Organic Growers (COG) 

Join a Community-Supported Agriculture program

CSAs are one way to support local farmers by subscribing to the harvest of local producers.

CSAs Waterloo Region

Eat sustainably for the planet and your wallet

Where our food comes from and how it is produced can have big impacts on our health as well as the planet. 

Strengthen our food systems by supporting, eating and living locally. One of the easiest ways to eat more sustainably is read the label: how far did your food travel to get to you? By taking the time to shop mindfully you will also shop sustainably. 

BUY LOCAL, SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

Know where your food comes from: by buying local, you can support local farmers and reduce your carbon footprint. Local Ontario produce is fresher, more sustainable and traceable when you eat with what is in season. The resources below provide information on what produce is in season right now.

Check out these resources and more to adapt your meal planning to match seasonal availability.

Foodland’s Availability Guide

Canadian Organic Growers (COG) is a nonprofit dedicated to organic farming across Canada. They have some great resources on organic farming and growing sustainably. 

JOIN A COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE PROGRAM (CSA)

Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are a great way to support local farmers by subscribing to the harvest of local producers. CSAs are subscription-based and connect you directly with a local farm who deliver you fresh and in-season produce.

Check out the link below or search for a nearby CSA and sign up for the local harvest produce deliveries.

Waterloo Region Food provides information on local CSAs in the region. Check out their website to find a local farm that you can connect with!

EXPERIMENT WITH A NEW MEATLESS DISH EVERY WEEK

Meatless mondays are a great way to try new dishes and cuisines you have not cooked with before. Consider including more plant-based protein options into your weekly meals: tofu, legumes, tempeh, or lentils.

Reduce your food waste, live more sustainably

The less we use, the more we reuse, the cleaner our cities, landfills and the planet become. Small steps to reduce your overall waste can help save the planet and our overfilling landfills. 

Methane and other waste-related emissions account for 1.2% of Waterloo Region’s Footprint. Organic material disposed in landfill breaks down into methane emissions, which is 25 times more potent and damaging for our planet than carbon dioxide.

In order to transform the ways we produce, consume and waste, we need to understand our individual habits and waste streams.

Check out our suggestions below on how to reduce your carbon footprint impacts from waste streams!

KNOW WHAT GOES IN YOUR BIN

Knowing what goes in our different waste streams is a great way to live more sustainably. What is acceptable in our waste streams (compost, recycling, garbage) can differ depending on where you live.

Check out the resources below to learn what goes in your bin and how to find your collection schedules!

Curious about what is acceptable in your bins? The Region of Waterloo’s Waste Wiz provides diversion information on what goes in which bin.

They also have an app to make sorting that much easier. Download it today to get started. 

NO COMPOST, NO PROBLEM

Electronic counter composters turn organic waste into nutrient rich fertilizer without the smell. Your office and home plants will love it.

There are a number of countertop composter options on the market that work for a variety of your household needs. 

Lomi 3 Food Recycler

Geme Biowaste Composter

FoodCycler Kitchen Recycler for Food Waste

Start boomerang lunches

Reduce your waste by bringing your own lunches to the office or school. If compost is not available, bring home any food scraps to compost and reduce the waste cycle!

Car trips under 5km cost you and the environment more

In 2019, 47% of Waterloo Region’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) came from transportation related to automobile and road travel. Passenger vehicle related trips under 5km are also costly, having a higher impact per km on air pollution than longer journeys, especially when your engine stays cold for longer. 

Reducing your car emissions by investing in electric vehicles (EVs) or other methods of transportation can have a large impact on reducing your environmental footprint. Consider other forms of transportation to get to where you need to go, or plan your trip to make the most of your journey and reduce the strain on your vehicle and the planet. 

Check out the resources below on what you can do to reduce your emissions associated with transportation!

Plan your trips

A warm engine is more efficient than a cold one. Shorter trips can use twice as much fuel as one long, multi-purpose trip that covers the same distance. Plan your journey to make the most of your engine!

The TravelWise program is a great resource for planning your commute! Just insert where you want to go and where you are starting from to get the best travel itinerary in the Waterloo Region for you. 

TravelWise can also help match you to carpool rides in your area, reducing your and others impacts on transportation emissions. 

Carsharing programs are a great way to reduce your emissions on the environment. Communauto Ontario is one program where members can get access to car rentals in their area, reducing the cost of ownership and your individual impact on the environment. 

TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Grand River Transportation (GRT) is the Waterloo Region's local transit operator. From busses to the ION, there are many ways that GRT connects locals across the Region. Plan your trip today on public transportation to reduce your emissions associated with driving.

Grand River Transit (GRT) has a great web of resources for your commute. From reloading your pass, to planning your commute trips, to monthly and daily transit passes, check out their website today!

INVEST IN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV)

When taking the step to upgrade your vehicle, consider an electric vehicle (EV) to reduce gas-powered passenger vehicles on the road.

There are different kinds of EVs that you can invest in, including hybrid (half gasoline half battery) models or full electric. Thinking about making the switch? Take advantage of government incentives to get started with your EV journey.

The government of Canada’s Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP) provides Canadians with up to $5,000 in electric vehicle incentives ($2,500 for hybrid purchases). Check your eligibility when investing in an EV. 

Carpool and ride your bike

Consider using an active form of transportation for shorter trips. Your heart will thank you too. Check out our other resources on active sustainability on our website!

Unlock your home energy efficiency: get an energy audit

Energy audits can save you and the planet more!

Interested in learning where you have money escaping? A home energy audit will provide you with a prioritized list of updates to save money.

Home Energy Audit (Reep Green Solutions)

Canada Greener Affordable Housing Program: pre-retrofit activities and low-interest loans

Save On Energy (Ontario): Peak Perks Program, rebate on smart thermostat

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation: CMHC Eco Plus for CMHC insured homes, receive a partial 25% refund if buying or building an energy efficient home

Kitchener Utilities: Tankless Water Heater Rebate Program (bill credit of up to $400) 

Kitchener Utilities: Smart Thermostat Rebate Program 

Be active & sustainable: walk, bike or roll

Woman biking on trail, blurred trees in background.

Be sustainable while getting active: Sustainability has not only environmental benefits, but can increase your health and wellbeing. By switching to sustainable transportation methods such as walking or riding your bike improves your overall well-being, while reducing your risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Check out these suggestions below on easy ways to get active and live sustainably in the Waterloo Region!

COMMUTE TO WORK AND SCHOOL

The Waterloo Region is well suited to many safe trails for many forms of active transportation. Use the Iron Horse Trail or any of the multi-purpose trails in the Region to commute safely to work and school. Ask about accessible bike parking at schools and businesses to make it easy to secure your bike.

Explore Waterloo shows you the best cycling transportation routes to make your cycle as safe as possible. Check out their website to learn more. 

CONNECT TO TRANSIT HUBS

Grand River Transit (GRT) makes it easy to bring your bike on the ION or busses. Check out their website for more information on how to plan your trip and the transit hubs available.

GRT: Bikes and other personal vehicles information

GRT: Accessibility services

PLAN YOUR ACTIVE TRIP

Across Waterloo Region we have an increasingly safe bike and walking infrastructure for your everyday use. Plan your active transportation route today with these handy resources to travel sustainably across the Region! Download the Waterloo Region Cycling Guide app to plan your bike trips safely across the Region!

Check out the Region of Waterloo Bike and Walking Map for information on safety and accessibility for walking, riding, and e-biking across the Region.

The Cycling Guide Foundation has created a cycling app that maps out the best and safest routes for you by bike in the Waterloo Region. Download it from the App Store today!

Neuron partners with cities to implement electric scooter and electric bikes for rent. Download the Neuron mobile app to rent a bike or scooter today!

Active & sustainable: walk, bike or roll

COMMUTE TO WORK AND SCHOOL

Use the Iron Horse Trail or any of the multi-purpose trails in the Region to commute safely to work and school. Ask for accessible bike parking at schools and businesses to make it easy to secure your bike.

CONNECT TO TRANSIT HUBS

GRT makes it easy to bring your bike on the ION or busses.

PLAN YOUR BIKE TRIP

Across Waterloo Region we have an increasingly safe bike infrastructure for your everyday use. Download the Waterloo Region Cycling Guide app to plan your bike trips safely across the Region!

Woman biking on trail, blurred trees in background.