Mississauga residents will have opportunities to clear out unwanted clothing and electronics, get help repairing broken belongings and learn reuse skills through events planned for Circular Economy Month this October.
A collection drive runs October 13 to 25, followed by a Repair Hub at Hazel McCallion Central Library on October 24, according to a City of Mississauga news release. The month’s activities also include a park clean-up and library programs aimed at helping residents make better use of what they already own.
Clothing and electronics collection
Residents can take unwanted clothing, textiles and electronics to collection bins at 13 City facilities during the drive. The City is organizing the collection with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Partners in Project Green program.
The City says nearly 500 million kilograms of clothing and other textiles are discarded across Canada annually. It also says almost two-thirds of discarded electronics still function.
The circular economy approach focuses on keeping belongings useful for longer through repair, sharing, donation and recycling. According to the City, those choices can reduce waste and help residents save money rather than replace items with new purchases.
Repair Hub and sewing workshop
The Repair Hub will take place at Hazel McCallion Central Library on Saturday, October 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents can bring broken items, with appointments offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
A new addition this year is a hands-on workshop on sewing reusable menstrual pads, offered in partnership with Help a Girl Out. The City says the workshop is intended to reduce single-use plastic use and support access to sustainable menstrual products.
The City is also seeking volunteers with repair skills for the Repair Hub to help keep items out of landfill.
Clean-up and library resources
City staff will lead a park clean-up on Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants can learn about illegal dumping, waste sorting and keeping parks, trails and natural areas clean.
Mississauga Library also offers makerspace programs to build skills that can be used to repair belongings, create gifts or make projects with recycled materials. Library cardholders can borrow items free through the Library of Things rather than buy them.
The October activities are open to Mississauga residents interested in making, repairing, reusing and reducing waste. The City connects its waste-reduction work to its Climate Change Action Plan.
