Today is a day that recognizes and mobilizes change across the world about how we care for our oceans. World Ocean Day celebrates a future together with one ocean and one climate.
Our human activities are having irreversible implications on our ocean ecosystems. Climate change is not the only threat humanity faces. Plastic pollution that is killing our oceans and marine life through entanglement in debris and direct ingestion.
In Canada, only nine per cent of the three million tonnes of plastic thrown away each year is recycled.[1]
Right now, one of the biggest polluters to our oceans is the release of mismanaged COVID-19 pandemic waste. Research shows that about 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste from the Covid-19 pandemic leaked into the ocean.[2][3]
We can do better. We need to do more.
Companies are starting to change their operations to prioritize environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, with many leaning into sustainable waste management. To meet their sustainability goals and initiatives, businesses are become more data driven and data informed by partnering with RecycleSmart to effectively using their existing resources to keep waste out of the oceans. Many are using our Pello Container Sensors and advanced cloud-based SMART containers to gathering waste and recycling data analytics and insights.
Our tailored waste and recycling program enables companies to divert their plastics and recyclables from landfills and quantify their sustainability impact. With less waste, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions that threaten our oceans and planet.
Green Circle Ideas
Every minute, about 900 pounds of waste are sent to the landfills by the beauty industry.[4] The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem with more single use waste from personal protection equipment (PPE).
Necessary to keep clients and staff safe, Green Circle Salons partnered with RecycleSmart to give materials like gloves, masks and disinfectant wipes a new life through an open-loop waste system at client sites across Canada. Our full service, one-stop-shop for waste and recycling services provides your business national coverage across Canada. We handle the day-to-day by professionally managing bin fill levels and procuring the best in class vendors for your material disposal needs.
The PPE Recovery Initiative recovers 100% of PPE by responsibly disposing protective gear and is available to customer sites across Canada. Participating sites are mailed a PPE recovery kit that’s to be placed in an accessible area for people to put their used PPE. Once the box is full, businesses can seal and ship the box to Green Circle Salons, who bulk send the boxes to our vendors to safely process.
World Ocean Day 30x30 Petition
Join the call for 30x30 petition. The campaign supports the global movement to protect at least 30% of our land, waters and ocean by 2030. Climate change is real. Plastic pollution is real. Let’s be SMART with our sensor technology and containers to action our ESG initiatives and efforts.
Contact RecycleSmart to learn how we can help your company save the ocean.
[1] Plastic waste and pollution reduction - Canada.ca
[2] About 26,000 tonnes of plastic Covid waste pollutes world’s oceans – study | Pollution | The Guardian
[3] Plastic waste release caused by COVID-19 and its fate in the global ocean | PNAS
[4] Green Circle Salons | Become a Sustainable Salon