Environmental Leaders with 30,000 Employees to Divert Textiles from Landfill to Support Charity

Twenty-two large employers commit to Recycling Collection Drive during Waste Reduction Week

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Today being #TextileTuesday of #WasteReductionWeek, 22 organizations from the industrial, commercial and institutional sector and municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will be participating in the third annual Recycling Collection Drive, a campaign that helps reuse and recycle clothing and household textiles. Through this campaign, organized by Partners in Project Green, up to 30,000 employees will be encouraged to bring clothing and household textiles to 65 collection locations at their work place during Waste Reduction Week, October 15^th to 21^st, 2018.

Recycling Collection Drive's clothing diversion sponsor is Diabetes Canada and supporting sponsor is OLG. All net clothing donations will support diabetes research, education and advocacy programs.

"With 85 per cent of clothing currently being sent to landfill, Recycling Collection Drive is a great way for businesses and municipalities, and their employees, to pitch in and help ensure this valuable material does not end up in landfills," said Simon Langer from Diabetes Canada. "Collected material is reused and recycled and all proceeds will go towards supporting the 11 million Canadians living with diabetes or pre-diabetes."

"Since 2016, the Recycling Collection Drive has diverted 34,200 kilograms of material from landfill," said Catherine Leighton from Partners in Project Green. "This year's participants are a dynamic group of industry leaders and municipalities who are committed to reducing their clothing waste to landfill. The collective impact of organizations working together on a common cause can make a real difference."

Participating organizations include some of the best known employers in the GTA. They include: Bentall Kennedy, CD Sonter Ltd., City of Brampton, City of Mississauga, City of Vaughan, Combined Metal Industries, Grand & Toy, IKEA, Longo Brothers Fruit Markets, Metrolinx, Mother Parkers Tea and Coffee, OLG, QuadReal Property Group, Region of Peel, Regional Municipality of York, Schenker of Canada Limited, Toronto Pearson, Toshiba of Canada Ltd., Town of Caledon, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Velcro Canada Inc., and Woodbine Entertainment.

The Recycling Collection Drive is one of Partners in Project Green's waste management programs that provide organizations with hands-on support to capture and divert waste materials, support local communities and move towards a circular economy.

About Partners in Project Green

Initiated by Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and TRCA, Partners in Project Green supports a growing community of businesses working together to strengthen the Greater Toronto Area's economy and environmental sustainability by fostering collaborations with businesses and municipalities, supporting the installation of green technologies and participating in environmental projects that drive results. Learn more at www.partnersinprojectgreen.com.

About National Diabetes Trust

Diabetes Canada collects gently used clothing, electronics and small household items. The estimated $10 million in annual proceeds help us to fund world-leading Canadian research to improve treatments and find a cure, create resources for health-care professionals on best practices to care for people with diabetes; and government, school and workplace advocacy programs. We also help the environment by diverting 100 million lb. from landfill. Learn more at https://declutter.diabetes.ca/.

About OLG

OLG is a crown agency that develops world-class gaming entertainment for the Province of Ontario. Since 1975, OLG has provided nearly $47 billion to the people and Province of Ontario to support key government priorities. Learn more at www.olg.ca.

SOURCE Toronto and Region Conservation Authority