For the first time, a Waterloo Region Housing building will be net-zero – meaning it produces as much energy as it consumes. We are nearly done building 73 affordable homes at 420 Kingscourt in Waterloo, providing much-needed homes for people, while also saving energy with roof-mounted solar panels. This building will generate about 11.9 MWh of green electricity per year, saving approximately $54,000 in energy costs. These affordable rental homes will be owned and operated by the Region. Kingscourt is just one part of our revitalization project for Waterloo Region Housing. We're building 638 units over 10 years, with greener practices across the board. The Kingscourt project was recognized in spring 2025 with an award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Sixteen community-led projects received a total of $90,000 this year from the Region of Waterloo’s Community Environmental Fund. The Region is investing again to help local organizations deliver projects that make lasting improvements to the environment. This work also creates opportunities for residents to get involved, learn new skills and strengthen connections in their neighbourhoods. Since Regional Council established the fund in 2011, nearly $2 million has gone to more than 250 projects and contributed to a healthier environment and stronger communities across Waterloo Region. Click here to learn more about the recipients: - Region of Waterloo

This spring, we finalized our new Corporate Climate Action Plan (or “CorCAP”). The CorCAP is our organization’s long-term plan to reduce energy emissions from the Region’s own operations to net-zero by 2050. That means less greenhouse gas emissions, more efficient services, and cost savings for residents. Our plan will help us continue to use more renewable energy, improve buildings and services and adopt greener technologies across our Region of Waterloo operations. Some examples include reducing methane emissions in waste services, transitioning to low-carbon vehicles, expanding public and active transportation, and continuing to include climate considerations into Regional decision-making.

We welcomed a new interactive exhibit to Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum. Climate Quest: Small Steps to Big Change used interactive games, multimedia experiences, and real stories of climate action to invited visitors to look at their own daily choices and environmental impacts. It also gave ways for people to reduce personal emissions to support Canada's net-zero by 2050 goal. Climate Quest: Small Steps to Big Change also showcased Indigenous knowledge and the science behind climate change and its impacts. Alongside the exhibit, the University of Waterloo and Balsillie School of International Affairs offered a lecture series exploring climate topics like adaptation, sustainability, geo-engineering, and green energy transitions.

Grand River Transit launched a new app called GRT Pay that gives customers a convenient way to purchase single-ride tickets, day passes and group passes using their mobile phones. The tickets purchased through GRT Pay can be used on GRT buses, trains, and MobilityPLUS vehicles. The app is integrated with the widely-used Transit app, enabling users to buy tickets without needing to download GRT Pay separately. GRT Pay is available for free in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Neuron Mobility has added upright tricycles and handcycle tricycles to the e-bike/e-scooter program that’s available in Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo. The vehicles are called “adaptive” because they are designed to meet a range of needs for individuals living with disabilities. There are four upright tricycles and two handcycle tricycles. Residents can arrange a drop-off or pick-up 24-hours ahead on Neuron’s website. Neuron will deliver and pick up vehicles throughout the tri-cities. This upgrade to the program helps give more people options to get where they need to go without a car. Last year, ridership also saved 9.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Learn more at rideneuron.com/adaptive.

The Region of Waterloo, together with federal and provincial representatives, celebrated the official opening of the new Highway 7/8 pedestrian and cyclist bridge. The new bridge connects neighbourhoods previously separated by the highway and provides a critical link to more frequent transit routes, restaurants, grocery stores, and local businesses.

The bridge connects Strasburg Road/Chandler Drive to Avalon Place/Southmoor Drive in central Kitchener. It addresses community requests for better north-south connection.

The Highway 7/8 pedestrian and cyclist bridge was funded by a $9.5-million investment from the governments of Canada, Ontario and the Region of Waterloo through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program—Public Transit Infrastructure Stream.

The village of St. Jacobs is growing, and we’re planning ahead to support its development in the coming decades. We’re completing a Class Environmental Assessment to identify the preferred approach for how the Region can provide wastewater treatment. A June 17 public meeting answered questions and gathered input from the community.

We’re assessing:

• Condition of existing treatment infrastructure for wastewater servicing

• Impacts of growth to treatment plant capacity

• Assessing wastewater’s impacts on the Conestogo River

• Considerations for climate change on our infrastructure

• A plan for the best way to deliver these services

In March 2026, the Region of Waterloo will be changing to cart-based collection for garbage and organics. We’re working throughout 2025 to educate people and prepare for the change. A green cart for organics and a black cart for garbage will be delivered to all residents before collection starts in March. We’re connecting with people at live events across Waterloo Region, and on social media (with more to come).

The Region provides curbside collection service to approximately 170,000 single-family homes and smaller multi-unit buildings.

By switching from manually lifting waste to cart-based collection, the Region will improve worker safety, operational efficiency, and cut down on waste collection day litter.

To date, over 12,000 residents have been reached in-person by the Waste Management outreach team for carts.

This spring, we’ve been working to update our Long-term Waste Management Strategy.

We are preparing for how we’ll manage our growing community's evolving waste over the next 25 years. The main goals are to divert more waste from the landfill, reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and promote a circular economy to foster a culture of sustainability. The strategy will explore a wide range of options to ensure sustainable, affordable and reliable waste services that address residential, commercial, industrial, and hazardous waste.

This spring, public input sessions were held to seek input from the community and generate ideas for lowering waste and establishing a circular economy.