Ready for the weather? 15 survival tips for successful collection

Transcription

1 Waste Management enews November, 2017 Keeping residents informed about our programs and services Let's remember This month, we take time to remember the brave veterans and service people who help defend our freedom, and fight for the freedom of people in other countries. This edition includes things to remember that help our world, environmentally. Your everyday actions make a difference and can respect the legacy for which we are responsible. Ready for the weather? 15 survival tips for successful collection With the temperatures dropping and windy weather on the way, here are some reminders on how to set out your items so that they are collected successfully, rather than ending up either left behind or littered in our community. 1. If the forecast is calling for stormy weather the night before your collection day, do not set anything out. Wait until the morning. 2. If it is still stormy by 7 a.m. of your collection day, consider minimizing what you do set out, especially if you can stay within the limits for your next collection day. Windy weather and storms 3. Crush bottles and cans, and flatten and bundle corrugated cardboard (maximum 75 x 75 x 20 centimeters (30 x 30 x 8 inches) to make it harder for the wind to pick them up. 4. Place paper (newspaper, flyers, magazines, etc.) in a plastic grocery bag and tie the handles of the bag. 5. Place your bagged paper in a blue box and place that box on top of your blue box filled with containers (cans cartons, bottles and jars). 6. Don't overfill your blue box or garbage can. 7. Save lightweight items for the following week's collection. 8. Write your address on your blue box, green bin, and garbage can (and lid) in permanent marker. This makes it easier for them to be returned. 1 of 5

2 9. Make sure garbage can lids are securely closed. Cold weather 10. Grease the inside of your green bin with vegetable oil or cooking spray. 11. Ensure your organics stay loose, do not freeze, and are easy to empty out by draining liquids before placing organics in the bin, using approved liner bags, layering paper organics with food scraps, and/or placing a paper egg carton or beverage take-out tray in the bottom of your green bin. 12. If you use a green bin liner bag, loosen it from the sides of the bin when you set it out for collection. 13. Keep items visible and easily accessible. 14. Place items at the end of your driveway, not on snowbanks. Alternatively, shovel a ledge in the snowbank for your items. Make sure the ledge is at the edge of your driveway, on the road-side, not the sidewalk-side. 15. Do not set out garbage in white garbage bags. Snow Note: Please don't bag containers. Keep cans, cartons, bottles and jars loose in your blue box. Oddball things to remember to recycle Green Bin facial tissues pet waste: Includes droppings, feathers, fur, kitty litter, sawdust. Put it in a paper bag or certified compostable plastic bag before putting it in your green bin. meat and fish bones nail clippings "Containers only" blue box empty aerosol cans empty, dry paint cans (separate lids) coffee cups (separate lids) Household Hazardous Waste compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs): Those 'curly' light bulbs contain mercury and need to be handled and disposed of with care. Drop them off at the Region's Household Hazardous Waste depots. Go to our Other Recycling Programs page for details. single use and rechargeable batteries: Find a drop off site near you. 2 of 5

3 Liner bags 101: A refresher on the do's and don'ts Benefits: 1. Keeps your containers cleaner. 2. Easier to empty. Types of liner bags that are acceptable: 1. Paper: Use newspaper, or buy paper liner bags available at grocery or hardware stores. 2. Certified compostable plastic bags: Must have one of the following logos Resources: Make your own kitchen container liner flyer Liner bag options flyer Lots of sharing at this year's Waste Reduction 3 of 5

4 Week tours! On October 21, the Region's one and only landfill opened its doors in celebration of Waste Reduction Week. Over 380 people participated in scheduled tours throughout the landfill, and the Nyle Ludolph Materials Recycling Centre. Kids of all ages were happy to hear and see first-hand the positive impacts of the Region's collection changes since March. Participants also provided the Waterloo Food Bank with over 100 pounds of food donations. We look forward to hosting Earth Day Public Tours, Saturday April 21st Stay tuned for registration details in the spring! 3Rs Rules for Game Day Having a Grey Cup party later this month? Cover all the basics and follow these "rules" to defend our one-andonly landfill: 1. Plan your meal and snacks to prevent food waste. If your guests are bringing food, let them know what and how much they should bring. 2. Buy your food with the Earth in mind. Purchase food that is produced locally and in season. Ensure that any packaging is recyclable and can be tossed in the blue box. 3. Create a waste-sorting zone. Set up a convenient spot with a green bin, "containers' blue box, and garbage formation. Flag this to your guests so they know what to do. 4. Use reusable dishware and cloth napkins. If you don't want to tackle the dishes, provide paper plates (and paper napkins), which can be composted in the green bin. 5. Do-it-yourself décor. Repurpose things you have on hand, such as a green tablecloth (mark the yards with white fabric or chalk). Check for ideas online. Maybe through your event, you'll be able to convert some of your guests to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle more! Spread the word! Keep your circle of friends in the know! Please forward this electronic newsletter to them using the link at the end, or even better, send them the link to the Region's subscription page. There they can 4 of 5

5 quickly sign up for and any other topic that they are keen on. Contact Us Region of Waterloo Phone: Waste Management TTY: Division Erb Street West Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4 Visit: Follow us! Facebook: Region of Waterloo Waste Management 2017 Region of Waterloo Unsubscribe Region of Waterloo, 150 Frederick St, Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4J3 Canada SafeUnsubscribe {recipient's } Forward this Update Profile About our service provider Sent by 5 of 5