Green grass and trees

The Green Scene

The Green Scene

The Green Scene is an initiative led by the Climate Change Advisory Panel. Here you'll find information, tips, and reminders for residents so that you can deal with waste properly, reduce your carbon footprint, and generally live a greener life.

We welcome you to send us your input at reception@perth.ca.

The Re-Use Centre is now closed for the 2022 season

The Re-Use Centre is a volunteer-run initiative, in partnership with the Town of Perth, to divert waste from the landfill and prolong the life of re-usable items. 

Thank you to our volunteers for giving their time. Keep an eye on perth.ca/reuse for details regarding 2023 operating hours.

Photo of two volunteers at Re-Use Centre

 The Green Scene Newsletter

Issue #1

Read the Green Scene

Issue #2
Read the Green Scene 

Issue #3
Read the Green Scene

 

Climate Change & You

Effects on the Ecosystem
Teaching Kids About Climate Change
Ways You Can Act on Climate Change

 

 

The 6 R's of Sustainability

The 6 R's of Sustainability

Rethink - Do we make too many products? Design in a way that considers people and the environment.  
Refuse - Don't use a material or buy a product if you don't need it or if it's bad for people or the environment.  
Reduce - Cut down the amount of material and energy you use as much as you can.  
Reuse - Use a product to make something else with all or parts of it.  
Repair - When a product breaks down or doesn't work properly, try to fix it.  
Recycle - Reprocess a material or product and make something else.  

 

Be Sustainable Every Season

Have an Eco-Friendly Summer

With the sunny, warm weather comes new ways to go green. Here are some great tips to keep in mind during the summer months!

  • Try using fans when possible instead of air conditioning
  • Look for non-chemical versions of sunscreen
  • Shop locally at Farmers' Markets to reduce waste (don't forget to bring reusable bags!)
  • Walk or bike for your daily commute
  • Carry reusable items with you - water bottles, shopping bags, straws, utensils for picnics/takeout, etc.
Spring Clean Up Tips

Come spring time, many residents are eager to get outside after a cold winter and start their spring cleaning and yard projects. Here are some helpful and environmentally friendly tips to keep in mind;

  • Toss the air fresheners and chemical cleaners! Try opening windows - the natural air freshener - and use baking soda or vinegar for more eco-friendly cleaning options.
  • Be smart about your water consumption; switch to low flow showerheads and two-stage flush toilets.
  • Thinking of painting? Use paints with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) - these are made with less toxins.
  • Reuse, reuse, reuse! Make a good use of old t-shirts and clothing and repurpose them as cleaning rags and dusting cloths.
  • Think lighting! Spring is a great time to switch old lightbulbs from incandescent light bulbs to compact florescent blubs (CFLs) and save energy.

Summer Idling Tips

During warmer weather, many motorists idle their cars in an effort to cool it down with AC. Rather than letting it idle, here are some environmentally friendly alternatives;

  • Try to park in the shade. It may mean a longer walk, but the additional exercise will be good for you!
  • Use a car sun shade - this is a foldable cover that is placed on your dashboard to help prevent those hot rays from heating up your car.
  • Crack your windows. By leaving the windows open a half inch, you will allow the air to keep moving. Roll down the windows for a few minutes before you get in, or open and close the door a few times to help fan the cooler air in.

 Leave the Leaves!

Fallen leaves on the groundThis autumn, leave the leaves where they fall! Leaf litter is were many species of butterflies and moths begin as larvae and overwinter as pupae. Animals like toads, shrews and salamanders benefit from leaf litter to hide and hunt, too.

Remember to rake leaves out of sewers and drainage pathways for proper water flow. 

Can’t leave all of your leaves where they land Here are a few other ideas:

  • Mulch leaves in your planter beds - Use leaves from areas you have to clear and use them in your planter beds.
  • Mulch leaves on your lawn - Use your mower to mulch leaves on the lawn and improve your lawn health by suppressing weeds and fertilizing the soil.
  • Collect browns to compost - Store brown leaves in a bin and add them to your backyard composter throughout the winter months.
  • Craft with leaves - Have children collect their favourite leaves in your yard and throughout the neighbourhood and try your hand at nature weaving.

Source: https://davidsuzuki.org/queen-of-green/how-to-leave-the-leaves/

 Reduce Your Waste This Halloween

Each year Canadians take part in the tradition of carving pumpkins for Halloween. While a fun activity, this leads to an incredible amount of food waste. Instead of throwing it out after Halloween, look to ways you can use your pumpkin and make the most of it!

Guide to effectively use all parts of your pumpkin  Guide to reduce waste during Halloween

 Turn Down the Heat!

Come winter, it's tempting to make our homes as warm and cozy as possible. Setting your thermostat to 18-20°C will provide a comfortable heating level. If you're still feeling a little chilly, bundle up in a sweater or curl up with a blanket.

Clear the Air With These Clean Air Tips

 Lets work on anti-idling habits

There's a common misconception that it takes more fuel to restart your engine than to leave it idling - that's 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.

Here are some opportunities to change your idling habits;

  • Waiting to pick up friends or family? Turn off the engine (and if it's hot, open the windows to keep air circulating)
  • Stuck waiting for a train to pass or at road construction? Turn off your engine until it's clear to go
  • Avoid drive-thrus if you can. Park and pick up your order
Reduce carbon emissions and save

Little changes around the house can not only have an impact on our environment, but on your wallet too!

  • Install a water-saving shower head
  • Change your furnace filters frequently for better efficiency
  • Turn down the thermostat on your hot water heater
  • Wash your clothes in cold water
  • During the winter, install plastic to cover the windows and prevent heat from escaping
  • Pay attention to food waste. Try planning your meals for a few weeks at a time and only shop for what's needed
  • "Eat down" the freezer and/or pantry. Make a meal plan based on what you already have at home
It's OK to talk to your neighbours about waste bins
The next time you see your neighbour, suggest that instead of placing your waste, recycling, and green bins on your own lawn or driveway that you place your bins together side by side. Doing this cuts the number of stops in half, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the truck as well as saving gas.

 

Go Green at Home

Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk helps save on packaging waste, and often helps save some cash too! Foodsmiths, Where Dragons Fly, and the Perth Cheese Shop all offer fill stations for a variety of bulk goods, as well as a selection of refillable containers that you can use over and over again.
Cut Down on Paper

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!

 

According to Greenpeace, if every Canadian had wrapped just three gifts in reused materials last year, enough paper would have been saved to cover 45,000 hockey rinks.
Eco-Friendly Activities

Adult and child planting treeWhen spending time with kids, it's always helpful to have some fun, out-of-the-ordinary things to do. Why not make sure they're eco-friendly?! Here are some suggested activities;

  • Plan a picnic in your backyard. Put our a blanket, reusable dishes and utensils, and aim to prepare foods with no waste or wrapping.
  • Spend an evening looking at the stars and moon. No supplies needed - just minimal light pollution!
  • Plant a family tree. Give everyone a responsibility in taking care of it, and watch it grow together!
  • Pick up some second hand board games, cards, and/or yard games and unplug. Setting down the devices also helps lower your carbon footprint.
Second Hand Style

If you're in need of something, try sourcing it second hand or even free! Buying or trading second hand for goods and services is great for the environment, as it reduces the need for large corporations to produce new items. And most of all, it's fun!

 

There are many "Buy, Sell, Trade" and "Buy Nothing" groups on Facebook that serve Perth and the surrounding area. Be sure to read the group rules to find out about how and what you can post. If you can't find an item you need, you can share what you're looking for - someone may be able to help! Here are some examples of local group groups to check out;
Shopping Locally Helps Globally

Buying locally sourced goods not only supports businesses in your community, but is eco-friendly too!

  • It reduces carbon emissions - local goods do not create a large carbon footprint through overseas travel or long truck trips
  • It creates less food waste - many imported goods often go bad before they're purchased
  • Supporting local farms ensures that land is kept for agricultural purposes and not developed for commercial or industrial purposes, which can result in an increase in greenhouse gas emissions
Summertime Tips for Your Green Bin

Here are some ways to help keep your green bin in a cleaner (and less smelly) state!

  • Store your green bin out of the sun
  • Sprinkle baking powder into your green bin to reduce odors
  • Use more newspaper or 100% paper to line your bin in layers
  • Freeze leftover meat and other high odor compostables in containers and then empty them into your green bin just before collection day

Grow a Greener Garden

Sustainable Gardening Tips
"Bee" a Good Host 

Bee hotel mounted on wallCanada is home to over 800 species of bees, most of which are solitary bees. These bees handle pollination of our fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, but are experiencing a population decline due in part to habitat loss. By installing a bee hotel in your yard, you can help give these winged wonders a place to call home!

 

Learn how to build your own out of a milk carton - a great activity to do with kids!
The Benefits of Rain Barrels

Don't wish the rain away! Rain barrels can have a big impact, especially when whole communities use them. Here are a few of the benefits of having a rain barrel;

  • Reduces rain water run off and prevents water from seeping into basements 
  • Conserves water - especially important during times of drought
  • Provides water for lawns and gardens, as well as other uses like washing your car or dog
  • Reduces your household water consumption, which in turn saves money!
The Butterflyway Project

Girl planting a pollinator garden in Stewart ParkThe David Suzuki Foundation's Butterflyway Project has taken flight here in Perth and Lanark County!

 

The Butterflyway Project focuses on creating habitats for local bees and butterflies in communities throughout Canada. The Lanark group is excited to bring this project to Perth and Almonte, with the goal of establishing pollinator patches throughout the region.

 

Pollinators are a crucial part of our ecosystems and they need our help. There is significant concern regarding decreasing populations of pollinator species. This can occur due to climate change, habitat loss, the use of pesticides, and invasive species competing with the native plants. By planting native plant gardens in our community, we can do our part in helping our pollinators.

 

Let's make Lanark County the place to 'bee'! The Lanark group is seeking locations for gardens in Perth. Please contact Clara Misener at lanarkpollinatorgardens@gmail.com for more information or to express your interest, and visit their website for more details.
Victory Garden Your Lawn 

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.

 

In the spring, try planting vegetables along with flowers to attract bees and butterflies to 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.

 

Low to No Waste Holiday

Eco-Friendly Packaging

Between online shopping and new gifts, many households have packaging galore to dispose of. Keep these tips in mind;

  • Reduce packaging when possible when making purchases
  • Reuse mailers and sleeves for storage or gift wrapping
  • Break down all cardboard for the blue box
  • Refrain from buying new wrapping paper - reuse old wrapping, or use newspaper or packaging supplies
Low to No Waste Gift Ideas
Eco-Friendly Holiday Décor Resources
Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Wrapping Paper
Sustainable Gifts for Kids
Eating Green This Holiday Season
Get Rid of the Wrap (Properly)
Give Life to Old Christmas Greetings
Leverage Your Leftovers
Go Green This Holiday Season

There are a number of ways that you can incorporate eco-friendly décor into your home and celebrate mindfully. Here are some ideas;

  • Thrift decorations - try buying second hand before buying new
  • Decorate with native plant species - Poinsettias can be shipped from far away, contributing to more emissions
  • Recycle paper, wrap, and tags for gift wrapping
  • Get creative with nature - pinecones make great decorations!
  • When buying lights for your tree or outdoors, look to LED lights - they're more energy efficient

 

Break the Cycle and Recycle

Blue in the Loo
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 and Yellow bin. 
Don't Toss Your Batteries!

Batteries don't belong in the garbage! Improper disposal of batteries can lead to these poisonous chemicals and acids leaching into our land and water supplies.

 

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. Batteries can also be taken to the Home Hardware and Canadian Tire.
Recycling Reminders

 Here are some helpful reminders about our recycling program;

  • Don't put items out in plastic bags - bins should only contain recyclables
  • No styrofoam of any kind can be recycled
  • Break down all cardboard before putting it in your Blue bin
  • Rinse out all bottles, jars, and containers before putting them in the Yellow bin

List of items that can be recycled
Unusual Recycling Tips

Recycling is a fascinating world! It is transported and transformed into different products, saving materials from ending up in the landfill. Here are some tips that you may not be aware of;

  • Not all glass is recyclable! If it is broken glass from a vase or drinking glass, it's not. This type of glass melts at different temperatures. Safely put it in your garbage.
  • If you're scooping dog poop from your property, put it in a paper bag and place it in the green bin. It's organic - any plastic/biodegradable poop-and-scoop bags are not accepted in our bins.
  • Egg cartons can go in your blue bin. Many local chicken farmers will also take your used (clean, unbroken) egg cartons. They also make great fire starters! Styrofoam egg cartons are rarely seen in stores anymore because they can't be recycled.
  • All Yellow bin items should be emptied, rinsed clean, and dried. Any food or drink left in the container is considered contamination, which means they can't be recycled.
  • Speaking of those drink containers, include the plastic lids - but make sure they're on tight! Items which are smaller than a business card (i.e.: drink caps) create problems inside the processing machines, so make sure they're attached or throw them in the garbage.
  • Envelopes (with no plastic), old birthday cards, and phone books can go in your Blue bin.
Winter Recycling Tips 

Recycling and compost needs to be treated a bit differently come winter. Here are some ways that you can prepare your bins duing the colder months;

  • Put recycling bins out the morning of pick up days (by 7am). This ensures no interference with snowbank removal.
  • Green bin organic material can become a frozen and difficult for collectors to empty. Try using newspaper or 100% paper liners in your green bin during the below zero temperatures.
  • Don't pack organic materials down, tightly compressed in your Green bin. This can make it difficult for collectors to empty the bin.
  • Crush cans and bottle down in the Yellow bin - it's less likely that high winds will blow your recycling out of the box, and it saves space! 
YAK E-Waste Depot

Did you know that YAK Youth Services has an E-Waste Depot that accepts electronic waste in Perth? Here are three very important reasons to promote e-recycling;

  • It preserves landfill space
  • It keeps some potentially hazardous materials out landfills
  • It recovers and reuses metals (including valuable precious metals) and other materials

Below is a list of items that are accepted. YAK accepts Electronic Waste 24/7- please place items in the black bin outside their main office at 1 Sherbrooke St. E. If you have any questions about the program, contact YAK at 613-264-8381. 

 

YAK Youth Services accepted e-waste items

 

Reduce Your Plastic Use

Cutting Back on Plastic Bags 

Reusable bags in place of plastic bags keeps plastic out of our landfills, roadsides and waterways. Here's some info to get into (or stay in) the reusable bag habit;

  • Cloth and canvas bags are washable - did you know a cotton bag can be washed up to 500 times?
  • Make your own bags out of old t-shirts by stitching a seam across the bottom and cutting off the sleeves to turn the shoulders into handles. Widen the neck with a pair of scissors if needed (smaller sizes work better for this).
  • If you do have plastic bags at home, reuse them on your next shopping trip instead of throwing them out.
Reduce the Single Use! 

Here are some tips to limit the amount of single-use plastic you bring into the home;

  • Beeswax covers are a great reusable replacement for plastic wrap. They can be washed and reused, and many can be composted when they've reached the end of their use.
  • Pick up a set of bamboo or cardboard cutlery and stir sticks for your next gathering.
  • Buy a few stainless steel straws to have on hand just in case. Many take out establishments are making the change to paper or cardboard straw, but it's good to have one on hand just in case!
  • Try switching from plastic sandwich bags to reusable options, such as cloth or beeswax.
  • Encourage your favourite establishments to go green! Recyclable and compostable cardboard food containers are available for takeout, and biodegradable 6-pack rings have been developed (they disintegrate in water and are made of food that marine life can eat!).
  • Going out for a meal? Carry your own reusable containers to bring leftovers home.
  • Have a refillable water bottle or reusable coffee mug handy for beverages on the go.
  • Switch to reusable bags, such as cotton, jute, re-usable plastic (woven or non-woven polypropolene), or old paper bags.
Swimming in Plastic

Plastic bottleCanada is set to ban single use plastics by the end of 2021, but it doesn't include water bottles. A staggering 70% of plastic water bottles, manufactured from fossil fuels, are not recycled. They end up in our landfills or oceans, polluting our ecosystems and harming fish, wildlife and humans.

 

90% of the cost of bottled water is the bottle itself, the other 10% represents the water in it. But it's not just what's on the outside that's fishy. Bottled water typically comes from one of two sources; purified water (tap water) from local sources, and natural spring water.

 

The good news is that we can reduce our use of plastic bottles. First, invest in a good quality eco-friendly bottle. Next, filter your own tape water at home. There are a number of options available, from using a water jug filtering system to installing one directly to your tap. All options provide great benefits and will greatly reduce your use of plastic bottles. 

 

The Way to Waste Reduction

Don't Flush Expired Drugs and Medications 

It's important to properly dispose of medications that are expired or no longer needed. Improper disposal - either by tossing them in the garbage or flushing them - has led to trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in the environment, both in the soil and water.

 

Did you know that they should be returned to your local pharmacy? This includes prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and natural health products. Follow these steps to prepare them;

  • Collect all dry medications such as pills and tablets into a bag or container. Keep liquids, creams, and inhalers in their personal packaging.
  • Remove or black out any personal identification from all medications to be returned.
  • Bring to your local pharmacy for proper disposal.
Don't Pour it Down the Drain 
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 and/or your neighbour's home. To prevent any issues, be sure to allow fats to cool and solidify, then dispose of it in your compost. 
Feed the Compost Bin, Not the Garbage 
Here in Perth, compost is picked up weekly. Bonus - recycled kitchen waste reduces landfill waste and is good for the environment! For tips on what you can and cannot compost, visit our Garbage and Recycling page. 
Repair & Repurpose Clothing

Set aside some time this coming weekend to repair that pile of clothes you've set aside that are in need of being mended. By repairing or mending clothing you are helping the environment by;

  • Reducing items headed to the landfill
  • Reducing textile and water waste
  • Reducing carbon emissions

If your clothes are too far gone to be mended, consider repurposing them into new household items such as;

  • Multi-purpose rags
  • Pet toys
  • Produce bags
  • Rag rugs

 

  • Eating Green This Holiday Season

Contact Us

Town of Perth, Town Hall, 80 Gore Street East, Perth, Ontario, K7H 1H9, Telephone: (613) 267-3311, Fax: (613) 267-5635