Textile Diversion Program Proposal in Clarington

During the General Government Committee meeting on November 9, 2020, Simon Langer, National Manager of Government and Strategic Partnerships for the National Diabetes Trust, presented a proposal for a textile diversion program in Clarington. Langer requested the municipality's participation in developing this program, which aims to reduce waste and promote sustainable practices. He noted that Diabetes Canada has been a leader in textile recycling for over 30 years, diverting more than 45 million kilograms of textiles annually and maintaining over 220 municipal partnerships across Canada. The proposed program is expected to divert approximately 3,200,000 kilograms of textiles from landfills each year, resulting in significant cost savings for the municipality and providing monthly diversion data at no cost to Clarington. Additionally, Langer highlighted the social benefits of the program, which would assist approximately 27,000 individuals in Clarington living with diabetes or prediabetes. The committee referred the proposal to staff for further consideration.