The Circular Exchange

Welcome to The Circular Exchange with Circular Materials, a podcast hosted by Allen Langdon (CEO, Circular Materials) where leaders come together to shape the future of the circular economy. In each episode, we are bringing you conversations with the people driving progress and innovation in recycling and extended producer responsibility across Canada. Together, we’re exploring what it takes to build a system that supports people and the planet. Learn more about Circular Materials at circularmaterials.ca.In this episode...Today’s students are tomorrow’s environmental leaders, and teachers and educators have a powerful role in shaping their understanding of sustainability. This special episode highlights Circular Materials’ partnerships with Earth Rangers, EcoSchools Canada and The Gaia Project to bring exciting recycling education programs designed for classrooms across Canada. This episode is a must-listen for teachers looking to inspire real-world environmental action among their students as we discuss why early recycling education makes a lasting impact and practical strategies that make sustainability lessons stick.Today’s guests...Sierra Frank is the Co-Executive Director with EcoSchools Canada, where she supports strategic and operational planning, partnership and program development, and oversight of Canada’s largest national environmental certification program for K-12 schools. With over 20 years of professional experience in the education, environmental, and non-profit sectors, Sierra has extensive practice in team and organizational leadership, program development, and teaching people of all ages, from preschoolers to adults. In both her professional and personal pursuits, Sierra has a deep and long-standing commitment to creating healthy, happy, and sustainable communities. Learn more about EcoSchools Canada at ecoschools.caTovah Barocas is the President of Earth Rangers, a Canadian charity dedicated to empowering children to protect animals and the environment. Since joining the organization in 2009, she has helped shape Earth Rangers into one of the largest youth-focused conservation programs in the world, with over 400,000 members across North America. Originally from Miami, Tovah moved to Toronto to attend university and has since built her career in Canada’s non-profit sector. She serves on the boards of Ontario Parks and Project Learning Tree Canada and was named one of Canada’s Clean50 Emerging Leaders in recognition of her work in environmental education. Learn more about Earth Rangers at earthrangers.com.Geoff MacDonald is the Executive Director with The Gaia Project, an educational outreach organization focused on sustainability. For over a decade, he has shared science activities and experiments with students and teachers. As a science educator and curriculum specialist, Geoff wants to improve science learning in New Brunswick. He enjoys when students think outside the box and form connections based on their own investigations and experiences. Geoff joined The Gaia Project in 2018 to develop resources for climate change education. Today, his duties include developing local and national partnerships to enhance environmental education and to manage a staff of 12 passionate individuals who work for The Gaia Project in New Brunswick. Learn more about the Gaia Project at thegaiaproject.ca.

Welcome to The Circular Exchange with Circular Materials, a podcast hosted by Allen Langdon (CEO, Circular Materials) where leaders come together to shape the future of the circular economy. In each episode, we are bringing you conversations with the people driving progress and innovation in recycling and extended producer responsibility across Canada. Together, we’re exploring what it takes to build a system that supports people and the planet. Learn more about Circular Materials at circularmaterials.ca. In this episode...Extended producer responsibility (EPR) works best when organizations come together to advance the circular economy. In this episode, we explore the value of collaboration between producer responsibility organizations (PROs) managing different materials and products. Our guests from the Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA) and Call2Recycle share insights about their unique programs and also highlight how working together helps overcome challenges, create efficiencies and strengthen recycling systems across Canada. From advancing resident awareness to building public trust in recycling, this conversation highlights why partnership isn’t just a nice-to-have, but essential for the success of all EPR programs.Today’s guests...Jon McQuaid: Jon McQuaid is the VP of Marketing & Communications at Call2Recycle, Canada’s leading battery collection and recycling program that has diverted over 50 million kilograms of batteries from Canadian landfills. Jon leads the organization’s brand, marketing and communications strategies. He champions innovation and public education initiatives that prioritize battery recycling awareness and safety across expansive battery categories, including household, electric mobility, and EVs. Jon drives stakeholder engagement and comprehensive solutions across the entire end-of-life battery value chain, collaborating with manufacturers, retailers, municipalities, and consumers to promote safe and responsible battery recycling practices. Jon holds an MBA from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toronto. Learn more about Call2Recycle at call2recycle.ca.Alain Renard: Alain Renard is the Director of Stewardship Programs, East of Canada at Health Products Stewardship Association (HPSA). He holds a Master of Science in Chemistry of the European School of Chemistry from Strasbourg and a Master in Management of the Environment and Energy from the National Institute for Applied Sciences in Lyon, France. Alain has developed expertise in sustainability, circular economy and product stewardship over his career. He worked in various industry environments, in trade associations and also as consultant. Learn more about HPSA at healthsteward.ca. 

Circular Materials is pleased to launch The Circular Exchange, where leaders will come together for conversations about recycling and the circular economy. Your podcast host, Allen Langdon, CEO of Circular Materials, will lead conversations with a variety of guests, discussing important topics related to extended producer responsibility (EPR) and recycling innovation as we continue to advance the circular economy together. These conversations will highlight the collaboration, innovation and progress happening right now and the opportunities for the future. We look forward to sharing these conversations with you, complementing a backdrop of EPR launches in the Yukon and Nova Scotia and the completion of Ontario’s full transition to EPR on January 1, 2026, including exciting enhancements to blue box recycling in Ontario.Follow along with us on your podcast platform of choice (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts) and stay tuned for our first episodes being released this fall!