The Green Scene

Recycling doesn't have to end in the kitchen! Items such as toilet paper rolls, empty toiletry boxes and plastic product bottles can all make their way into the Blue Box and Yellow Box.

Not only is it okay to talk about them, it could lead to good things happening, from getting to know your neighbours better to helping ensure a healthier future for your children and grandchildren by reducing greenhouse gases.  Here's how it works: Suggest to your next-door neighbour that instead of placing your waste bins on your own lawn or driveway, you place both your bins together side by side, so that the garbage truck, (recycle truck, etc) cuts its number of stops in half.  This will reduce greenhouse gases as the truck makes half as many stops, and saves gas too, not to mention making the job a little easier for the driver.

             Before                                       After  

Fats like bacon grease and oil that are poured down the drain in liquid form can hit the cold pipes underground and potentially harden on the walls of sewer lines. Sometimes these blockages can cause sewage to back up into your home or your neighbour’s home.  To prevent any issues in your home, be sure to allow fats to cool and solidify, then dispose of it in your compost.

Buying in bulk helps us to save on packaging waste. Foodsmiths "The Good Food Store" , Where Dragons Fly and The Perth Cheese Shop all offer fill stations for a variety of bulk goods and great refillable container selections that you can re-use over and over again!

Did you know that you can drop off your used household batteries at Town Hall? AAA, AA, C, D and 9 Volt batteries are collected beside our treasury counter. Improper disposal of batteries can lead to these poisonous chemicals and acids leaching into our land and water supplies. Stop by with your batteries and say Hi! Batteries can also be taken to the Perth Home Hardware and Canadian Tire.

Did you know that YAK Youth Services has an E-Waste Depot that accepts various Electronic waste in Perth?

Here are three important reasons why YAK promotes E-Recycling:

1 - It preserves landfill space

2 - It keeps some potentially hazardous materials out of landfills

3 - It recovers and reuses metals (including valuable precious metals) and other materials

Reminder to residents that although the usage of sanitation wipes has spiked due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that all wipes get disposed of in household garbage's and not flushed down drains to avoid plumbing issues in your home and our municipal sewer systems.

We often get the question "Do my orange garbage tags expire?" And the answer is, no they do not expire.

Please continue to use either orange or the newer yellow garbage tags for curbside pick up in Perth or to bring your household garbage to the Landfill.

Since everyone is spending more time at home, it is understandable that you have more recycling. Here are some helpful reminders about our recycle program:

1) Don't put items out in plastic bags, bins should contain just the recyclables

2) No Styrofoam of any kind can be recycled - Break down all cardboard before putting in your blue bin 

3) All containers should be clean and empty before you put them in the yellow bin

With many people spending extra time in their homes, this could be the perfect opportunity to repair that pile of clothing you had been saving or re-purpose those old tee’s into a fun project!

By repairing or mending clothing you are helping the environment by:

1) Reducing items headed to the landfill

2) Reducing textile and water waste

3) Reducing carbon emissions

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! This annual event is celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection

Here are some fun activities to celebrate at home:

1 - Plant a Garden or add some green to your space

2 - Take a walk and discover native plants or different types of birds

3 - Stargaze, today is the Wednesday April 22, 2020 is the Lyrid Meteor Shower

4 - Make a craft out of items only from your recycle bin

5 - Watch a documentary about the Earth

6 - Take a virtual field trip and explore places like the Great Barrier Reef

For more information on Earth Day:

earthday.org

During the pandemic there has been a surge in people buying locally sourced goods. Many local farms have seen increased demand and communities are responding positively to a wave of local initiatives from small businesses. Here are some great Eco-friendly reasons why to purchase locally:

1 - Reduced Carbon Emissions: Local goods do not create large carbon footprints through overseas plane travel or long truck trips.

There is a common misconception that it takes more fuel to restart your engine then leave it idling, that is not true. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more emissions that contribute to smog and climate change than stopping and restarting your engine does.

Opportunities to change your idling habits:
1 - Waiting while picking up friends or family? Turn off the engine.
2 - Stuck at a train or road construction? Turn off the engine.
3 - Avoid drive-thru’s if you can, park and walk in to pick up your order.

Do you want to cut down on the amount of single-use plastic you bring into your home?

1 - Carry your own re-usable containers when you go out for a meal to bring leftovers home in your containers.

2 - Have a refillable water bottle or reusable coffee mug handy for beverages on-the-go.

3 - Try reusable sandwich and snack bags or reusable straws in you household.

Looking for ways to increase food security due to the pandemic? Consider planting a garden.

During the second world war, governments encouraged people to plant “Victory Gardens” to supplement the local food supply. The program gave ordinary citizens not only fresh produce, but the satisfaction of contributing to the common good.

This spring, try planting vegetables, along with flowers to attract bees and butterflies in your yard. The rewards are personal, and the benefit to the environment in terms of beauty, sustainability, and evolving to meet the challenge of climate change are more important than you know.

Looking for fun things to do with your kids during this period of social distancing?

Make your own gift wrap for upcoming birthdays or holidays. Glue colourful pictures from junk mail or magazines onto plain paper bags – a good way to recycle all those old greeting cards you’ve been saving!

Bee Hotel's

Here is a fun green activity to try in your yard!

Bee hotels are a great way to attract pollinators to your flower or vegetable garden. Bee hotels are places for solitary bees to make their nests.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ADMCezLwWU&fbclid=IwAR2hgvBfJghmGRl4sEp9OVmVc_K_hhCXAhUBarE6fNArlbxc7vj1HaVA-tI