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Solid waste management in Canadian municipalities: A snapshotExpanding responsibility for producers to include the post-consumer stage of their products is a key solution for financial and environmental sustainability in the waste sector. That’s one finding of this Green Municipal Fund (GMF) report highlighting waste sector trends, key factors affecting municipalities’ ability to drive change, and best practices with economic, social and environmental benefits.

This snapshot focuses on practices that fall into four categories:

  • circular economy approaches
  • new technologies
  • integrated solid waste programming
  • mandatory and economic instruments

The City of Beaconsfield, QC provides an example of the last category. They piloted a highly successful pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) waste collection system that allows people to choose a smaller bin or less frequent pick-up and save money in the process. The results: 50 percent less landfill waste and cost savings of 40 percent to the municipality.

In addition to the emphasis on extended producer responsibility (EPR), the report draws several other conclusions, including:

  • Global partnerships among large municipalities will continue to drive change.
  • Organics diversion is becoming more mainstream and has the potential for significant emission reductions.
  • Public awareness and targeted education in the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sector can facilitate success with new projects.

Find more details, examples and conclusions in the report.

About the Green Municipal Fund

The Green Municipal Fund is a $1 billion program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. Through its unique mix of training, resources and funding, GMF fuels local initiatives that build better lives for millions of Canadians while tackling pressing environmental and climate challenges.

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Municipalities across Canada are managing rising energy costs while planning for resilient growth. Having the right tools makes the difference.

The Thermal Energy Networks Guidebook for Canadian Municipalities is a practical, go-to resource designed to help municipalities navigate the opportunities and complexities of thermal energy networks (TENs). Developed with municipal practitioners and industry experts, it reflects real-world experience and current practices across Canada.

Across many communities, shared heating and cooling systems are already in place. These systems connect buildings through a common network, helping balance energy demand, improve efficiency and lower long-term costs. They also reduce pressure on electrical grids and support more resilient local energy use.

Use this guidebook to:

  • Understand how thermal energy networks work in a municipal context.
  • Assess local feasibility and identify viable opportunities.
  • Clarify municipal roles in thermal energy network projects.
  • Build a strong early-stage business case.
  • Navigate implementation pathways, partnerships and governance.
  • Access tools, funding opportunities and national networks.

Move from early exploration to implementation with clear, practical steps tailored to your municipality, using thermal energy networks as a scalable way to improve how your community heats and cools buildings.

Read the guidebook and start planning your thermal energy network project today .

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Trees, when planted and managed strategically, bring numerous benefits to communities, such as building climate resilience, reducing energy bills, improving air quality and supporting mental well-being. Through the Green Municipal Fund’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative, municipalities can access up to $10M in funding to grow and protect their urban forests.  

If your community is planning a tree planting project but unsure of next steps to apply for funding, join our hands-on workshop that will help you prepare a strong funding application. We’ll guide you through the updated application process with key steps and requirements highlighted. Whether you’re new to urban forestry or refining a project plan, this session will provide the practical tools, tips and insights needed to submit a high-quality application. The 2-hour workshop will include presentations, document walkthroughs and opportunities for your questions to be answered.  

By attending this workshop, you will:

  • Learn how to complete the updated funding application, including the required information and level of detail needed for a high-quality Tree planting funding application.  
  • Be able to align your project activities, indicators and budgets with grant reporting expectations.  
  • Hear about types of tree planting projects and their specific requirements.
  • Boost your confidence in completing the application with minimal errors.  

This workshop is best suited to those actively preparing an application for Tree planting funding. However, anyone interested in Tree planting funding is welcome to participate.  

Join us on Wednesday April 29, 2026 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET.

Register today

This workshop was created in partnership by Tree Canada and FCM’s Green Municipal Fund for the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.  

 

 

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The Green Municipal Fund's Growing Canada’s Community Canopies is a $291 million initiative, ending in 2031, funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Capacity building is enabled through a partnership with Tree Canada. GCCC will support the planting of at least 1.2M trees across Canada by end of March 2031. 


Did you know that the City of Kitchener, ON is supercharging its tree planting? With support from GMF’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative, the city has embarked on a transformative journey to expand its tree canopy and ensure all residents receive the benefits of trees.  

Assessing and addressing tree equity

In 2019, a tree canopy report revealed that Kitchener had 27% canopy coverage across the city. The city set a target to increase the canopy cover to 30% so that the residents in areas with low canopy cover can access the same cooling benefits of trees and the air quality improvement that a robust urban forest provides. You can discover how tree planting projects contribute to long-term climate resilience and why closing this gap is critical.

Doubling down on tree planting efforts 

With $2.5M in Tree planting funding, Kitchener is doubling its tree planting targets. The city will plant more than 19,000 trees between 2025 and 2027. By using data-driven tree equity scores, the urban forestry team is prioritizing planting in communities with low canopy coverage. Most importantly trees are sourced from local nurseries to ensure they are climate-resilient and support Kitchener’s biodiversity.  

Learn how to put tree equity at the centre of your urban forestry plans and practices: Factsheet: Advancing tree equity and growing community canopies.

By taking on this ambitious project, the city of Kitchener is leading the way which will have a lasting impact for the generations to come.

 

This resource was created by Green Municipal Fund’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. 

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Flooding continues to pose significant risks to communities across Canada, underscoring the need for practical, actionable approaches at the municipal level.   

“Flooding is Canada’s most expensive climate hazard.”

- Carole Saab, CEO, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

“Flooding is the most common and costly disaster in Canada. In the past decade, floods have averaged nearly $800 million in insured losses annually.”

- Insurance Bureau of Canada (2024) 

 

Watch the webinar to learn how municipalities can move from understanding flood risk to taking action. Through applied tools and a case study from the City of Kitchener, you’ll explore how to assess flood risks in your community and begin integrating flood resilience into plans and projects. 

Featured tools and resources

This session is designed for municipal staff across diverse departments, elected officials and municipal partners. No prior adaptation strategy or completed risk assessment is required to benefit from this webinar.

Speakers:

  • Chris Nechacov, Design and Construction Project Manager, Sanitary and Stormwater Utilities, City of Kitchener, ON
  • Dr. Anabela Bonada, Managing Director, Climate Science, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo
  • Kathryn Bakos, Managing Director, Finance and Resilience, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo

The webinar was delivered in English with French simultaneous interpretation (SI).  

FCM’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative is delivered through our Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada. 

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Construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) waste continues to rise across Canada. In many communities, CRD materials make up over 30% of landfill waste. As construction activity grows, landfill capacity tightens and costs increase. Municipalities need practical ways to strengthen waste diversion and build circular economy solutions that keep more materials in use.

Join our webinar on Thursday, April 16, at 2 p.m. ET for the launch of GMF’s Accelerating Circularity in Construction Materials (ACCM) offer. We will introduce this new funding and peer learning opportunity, share real sector examples and best practices, and walk through key application details and timelines. You will leave with a clear understanding of what the offer is, who it’s for and how to prepare to apply.

This offer supports municipal work on circular economy approaches for CRD materials, including source separation, infrastructure and material recovery planning, and pathways that increase reuse and recycling.

What you’ll learn:

  • Why CRD waste is rising, and what it means for landfill capacity and emissions.
  • What the offer supports, from source separation to recovery, reuse and recycling.
  • How waste diversion and source separation improvements can reduce landfill pressure and emissions.
  • How the two-year cohort helps municipalities develop circularity-driven CRD projects faster with practical guidance and peer learning.
  • Best practices and sector examples to help shape your project idea.
  • Practical steps tailored to your municipality’s needs to apply, including key timelines and when applicants can expect to hear back.

Speakers

  • Carly Connor, Green Salvage Materials, Founder & CEO
  • Sébastien Beauregard, Directeur co-fondateur, partenariats et diffusion, SURCY

The webinar will be bilingual (English and French) with simultaneous interpretation (SI).

Register now

Small municipalities often understand their climate risks but turning that awareness into action can be challenging. Limited staff capacity, uncertainty about where to start and pressure to make the “right” choice can stall progress, even when there is interest in moving forward.  

Watch this webinar recording to learn how to bridge that gap. The session introduces step-by-step tools and tangible examples from small municipalities to help your community move from early thinking into on-the-ground adaptation activities.  

 

This webinar recording is helpful for municipal staff from small communities that are struggling to identify actions or facing barriers in progressing from planning into implementation. It will be especially useful for community building, parks and open space, forestry, infrastructure and operations, public health, project coordination and climate staff, as well as regional or partner organizations that support small municipalities.

Speakers:  

  • Robyn Holme, Manager, Comox Valley Regional District, BC
  • Jake Morassut, Deputy CAO/Director of Community Services, Essex, ON
  • Jim Vanderwal, Director, Operations and Climate Change Programs, Fraser Basin Council

To support your learning, explore our related resources:    

The webinar was delivered in English with French simultaneous interpretation (SI).  

FCM’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative is delivered through our Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada. 

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Accelerate application guides

Circular Economy icon Accelerate Offers

Access application guides for all active GMF Accelerate offers to confirm eligibility, review required documents and follow step-by-step instructions before submitting your application.

Open offers

Accelerating Circularity in Construction Materials

Reusable waste from old houses and buildings photo

 

Accelerating Circularity in Construction Materials pairs grant funding with a two-year cohort learning model to help municipalities plan circular solutions for construction, renovation and demolition materials. This limited-time offer supports studies that strengthen source separation and increase recovery, sorting, storage, reuse and recycling.

Access the guide

Please note that pre-applications are open until June 26, 2026.

Closed offers

Accelerating Safe and Active School Routes

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Accelerating Safe and Active School Routes is a funded learning offer that helps municipalities implement active transportation infrastructure along school routes. This offer supports project costs for crossings, bike lanes, sidewalks, lighting and traffic-calming measures that reduce risk and support active transportation.

Please note that applications closed on October 17, 2025.

Accelerating Community Energy Systems

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Accelerating Community Energy Systems is a funded learning offer that helps municipalities advance low-carbon community energy systems. This offer gives municipalities the support they need to build knowledge and scale energy transition efforts.

Please note that applications closed on March 31, 2025.

Need help before you apply?

Contact our GMF Outreach team if you have any questions about our funding opportunities.

📞 1-877-417-0550

📧 gmfinfo@fcm.ca

📅 Book a meeting with a GMF advisor

Explore other GMF funding opportunities

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Municipalities across Canada are seeking practical ways to reduce emissions, lower energy costs and strengthen local energy resilience. Thermal energy networks offer a scalable solution. These systems use shared infrastructure to heat and cool buildings, balance demand across building types, improve efficiency, and reduce lifecyle costs by lowering operational expenses and electricity demands.  

Join our webinar on Thursday, March 26, at 2 p.m. ET for Planning for Thermal Energy Networks: A Municipal Guide, a session designed to illustrate how thermal energy networks operate on the ground and how municipalities can use them to lower costs and ease pressure on electrical grids.  

Experts will share practical guidance to build a strong early-stage business case, assess local resources and define clear municipal roles. The session will connect you to key tools, funding pathways and Canadian-wide national networks and resources, with practical guidance to assess feasibility, build partnerships and move projects from concept to implementation while delivering lasting economic and environmental benefits.  

What you’ll learn:  

  • How thermal energy networks function and where they fit within municipal planning.  
  • How to assess local feasibility and identify practical next steps.  
  • Municipal roles and responsibilities in thermal energy network projects.  
  • Key considerations for partnerships, governance and funding.  
  • How to access Community Energy Systems funding and related resources.  

Speakers:  

  • Aurélie Vérin, Policy Lead, Building Decarbonization Alliance  
  • Mathieu Lévesque, Technologies & Alternatives Lead, Building Decarbonization Alliance  
  • Janice Ashworth, Senior Consultant, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors 

Strengthen your municipality’s capacity to plan, evaluate and advance thermal energy networks. 

The webinar will be held in English (with simultaneous interpretation in French).

Register now

 

Climate adaptation planning benefits from working with other communities, people and partners. Collaborating with groups and individuals within and outside of your municipality brings diverse perspectives, expertise and lived experience that strengthen climate resilience.  

Watch our one-hour webinar on getting started with collaboration for municipal climate adaptation planning. You’ll explore how collaborating with external partners—such as neighbouring municipalities, Indigenous communities, equity-deserving groups and local organizations—can help you design and deliver more resilient, equitable climate adaptation initiatives.  

Speakers:  

  • Lauren Saville, Community Climate Initiatives Coordinator, District Municipality of Muskoka
  • Rebecca Wallace, Project Manager, Community Development Unit, Social Development, City of Toronto
  • Imara Rolston, Policy Development Officer, Community Development Unit, Social Development, City of Toronto

This session was designed for municipal staff and elected officials who are starting or advancing their climate adaptation planning and want to strengthen collaboration with external partners and neighbouring municipalities. Whether you are identifying potential partners or deepening existing relationships, you’ll come away with practical ideas and tools to move forward.

To support your learning, explore our related resources:  

The webinar was delivered in English with French simultaneous interpretation (SI).  

FCM’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative is delivered through our Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada. 

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