According to a Statistics Canada survey in 2019, over 35% of Canadian families were planning to move within the next five years. What’s more, in Quebec, 10% to 12% of moves take place on July 1st. That’s a lot of cardboard boxes in the recycling bin!
Unfortunately, some of these items end up in the recycling bin when they shouldn’t be there in the first place. This makes sorting and recycling all the more important to minimize unnecessary disposal in landfill sites. It’s not easy to figure out though: does the bubble wrap that protected the cups you inherited from your grandmother go into the recycling bin?
Because moving can be a stressful time with all kinds of changes to think about, Recyc-Québec has produced a highly relevant fact sheet on eco-responsible moving to help you responsibly dispose of what’s no longer useful and what can be recycled.
Not all items should be simply thrown in the garbage can; they can be sold, and the profit can surely help cover a part of your move or the purchase you’ll need to make for your new home.
It’s also possible to donate what might be useful to those in need. Community organizations will often come and collect objects, such as furniture or appliances, and give them another life. As these organizations are not waste disposal centers, it’s important to sort before donating to facilitate their work.
The first report on the circularity index of the Quebec economy, unveiled on May 26, reveals that a significant portion of the resources our economy relies on to fulfill its needs and desires are not being utilized in a circular manner. According to the report, the Quebec economy is 3.5% circular, a circularity gap of 96%. This means that the vast majority of resources used by the economy to fulfill its needs are used only once.
Finally, do you know where the tradition of moving on July 1st comes from? According to a report by Radio-Canada, the tradition of moving on a fixed date dates to the post-war years, when the Belle Province was experiencing a severe housing shortage. The Church therefore exerted pressure to prevent households from becoming homeless in the middle of winter. Until 1974, rental leases ended on April 30th, and families left their homes on May 1st. However, this had an impact on school attendance, so the Quebec government decreed that leases would henceforth end on June 30th.
Share this anecdote… and some zero-waste tips, around your moving pizza!
