The Purple Bin Project
A better way…
Our most ambitious and impactful project to date has been the widely-adopted Purple Bin program, a cannabis packaging waste collection and upcycling initiative. Since starting the program in January of 2024, we have collected more than 39 tonnes of packaging and hardware waste from 1000+ retailers across the country. As we collect and sort, we’re constantly searching for the best upcycling opportunities for all the materials.
Together.
The immediate uptake, enthusiastic participation and positive feedback from retailers and consumers alike has powered the program to heights we only dreamed about and the overall success is incredibly humbling. Not only have these bins diverted waste from streets, parks and landfills, they’ve served as a motivational spark for the industry to adopt more sustainable packaging solutions, with numerous industry participants signing our petition to change the rules and regulations that contribute so heavily to the waste issue, in the first place. We believe that a true partnership can exist between producers, retailers, suppliers and the government to tackle this waste issue from the imperfect regulations that contribute to excessive cannabis packaging through to the decisions made across the entire supply chain.
We are proud to be the 2025/2026 recipients of
the OCS Social Impact Fund in support of our project, From Waste to Resource: Building Ontario's Cannabis Packaging Circular Economy, which aims to lay the foundation for long-term environmental sustainability through innovative, community-driven solutions to packaging waste.
Follow along with the project here.
Learn about the Purple Bin.
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Nothing!
We cover the cost of the bin, delivery and pickup so that retailers and customers don’t have to.
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We have collected 2.8 tonnes of cannabis packaging waste - diverting the equivalent of two small cars from landfills!
Our operation is zero-waste to landfill aka none of the material we collect goes to landfill. The glass, aluminum and paper is recycled, and due to the high cost of cleaning and sorting, much of the rest goes to refuse-derived fuel (RDF), a more sustainable alternative to waste-to-energy. Ultimately, RDF creates no stack emissions, has a lower carbon footprint, it enables a circular economy, creates less (to zero) toxic byproduct, and helps to support better air quality and thereby public health.
We’re working on more detailed measurements of the project’s environmental benefits (compared to the average recycling program in Ontario) but we can assure you, it’s impressive!
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First of all, thank you!! We love our bin partners!
Throughout the year we try to hold fun and informative events - like this year’s Ten Hill Classic! - coming to those means a lot to us and our cause.
We also sell some merch and honey from our farm - 100% of the proceeds go to the Purple Hills Centre.
And if you want, you can also donate. Donations above $25 will receive a tax receipt.