Category: Resources

Public consultations for Ottawa’s Solid Waste Master Plan

A few weeks ago, we spoke about the City of Ottawa redeveloping its Solid Waste Master Plan to decrease the volume of waste added to our landfill as it steadily approaches its maximum capacity. (Jump to The Ottawa landfill is filling up article)

The city has opened up the next round of public consultations until September 12th concerning three ideas proposed to regulate waste:

  1. Partial pay-as-you-throw
    • There will be a limit to the number of garbage bags collected from each house, and anything extra requires a purchased garbage tag. (There will be no limits to yard waste, organics or recyclables)
pay-as-you-throw option informationDownload
  1. Reduced item limits
    • There will be a limit to the number of garbage bags collected from each house, and anything extra is not collected.
Reduced garbage bag/container limit option information Download
  1. Clear garbage bags with recycling and organics bans
    • Households will use clear garbage bags, and they will not be collected if there is anything organic or recyclable found inside.
Clear bags option informationDownload

How can you participate?

Article photo: Ignat Kushanrev on Unsplash

Keeping cool and active with Ottawa’s heat warnings

Ottawa faced extreme heat warnings last week, proving climate change is here and its effects are impacting us. This coincided with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issuing their dire report on how the climate will fare under the current predictions.

Under the report, Canada is expected to experience a continuation of rising temperatures, while CBC reported that heatwaves are expected to become more frequent and more severe as temperature continue to climb year-round.

3 Ways to help reduce your impact on the climate

  • Keep in mind your carbon footprint—this is the representation of the amount of greenhouse gases that your actions generate (calculate yours here).
  • Shop local and reduce the kilometres your food has to travel.
  • Use active transportation (walk, bike, bus, etc.).

Tips for heatwaves

We also touched base with Ottawa Public Health regarding the heat warnings. They explained that “heat warnings issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada mean extra precautions need to be taken by everyone… it [is] important to think ahead and plan for ways to stay cool while respecting Public Health COVID-19 prevention measures.”

  • Engage in outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day (typically in the early morning and evening).
  • When going out in the sun, wear sunscreen and remember to reapply.
  • Consume plenty of fluids (water is best) throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty!
  • Wear light-coloured and loose clothing.

For more tips and tricks, check out Ottawa Public Health’s page on Beating the Heat!

Watch out for ticks!

Due to climate change, ticks are making a rise in Southwestern Ontario. Warming temperatures are shortening the cold season, increasing the number of warm days and resulting in a climate more accommodating for species like ticks.

Ticks to know

There are a few different types of ticks, but the two of importance in Ontario are dog ticks and deer/blacklegged ticks.

Deer/Blacklegged Ticks

  • Are carriers of Lyme disease
  • Live in forested areas
  • Found in early spring/late fall

Dog Ticks

  • Do not carry Lyme disease
  • Live in tree cover/long grass
  • Found in spring/summer

Avoiding ticks

  • Make sure to check yourself, your children, and you pets after having been outside.
  • Wear pants and long sleeves to reduce skin exposure.
  • When hiking, stay on the path instead of bushwhacking.
  • Maintain your property:
    • If you have a lawn, keep the grass cut short.
    • Consider creating a woodchip/gravel border between your lawn and a naturalized/wooded area.

(Photo by Juliane Liebermann)

Think twice before using pesticides. Ontario prohibits their use for most cosmetic purposes, and pesticides increase health risks for both humans and native species.

If you find a tick

Remove the tick using a tick key or a pair of tweezers—grabbing it as close to the skin as possible and carefully pulling it straight out. Do not use other “techniques” such as using petroleum jelly or a lit match, and avoid crushing the tick as it can cause Lyme disease bacteria to pass into the bloodstream.

  • Access eTick for quick image identification.
  • To help officials monitor where ticks live, you can submit ones you’ve found for testing at your public health unit.

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Check out our sources for more information!

Waking up to Climate Crisis, Climate Action

It’s finally happening, the world is waking up to the climate crisis. Oil companies are in court for lying, the truth is coming out about climate breakdown, and millions are standing up for truth and action. All this is thanks to you — everyday people who care about our future — and are doing everything we can. It is only with our eyes wide open, that we have the opportunity to rebuild our world.

tell-the-truth-2In the news:

markus-spiske-tyfI3RGqL7Y-unsplashWhat you can do:

  • Support groups and organizations working for climate action: Climate Action Network Canada | GoodWork. Join two or three that seem most important to you. Without you and me, they are nothing — our participation is crucial.
  • Live as sustainably as you can. Reduce your consumption, fly less or not at all, switch to renewables. It might sound difficult, but it will lead to a happier, healthier life. Top Ten Things You Can Do About Climate Change
  • Participate in nonviolent Climate Strikes. Strikes continue every Friday in thousands of locations worldwide. The next Global Strike is planned for Friday November 29. Join a strike or start your own: Fridaysforfuture.ca | FridaysforFuture.org | GoodWork.ca/Strike

Do meaningful work:

Because, without a stable climate and a healthy ecosystem, there is no economy, no future.

Environmental News

Ottawa tornado & how to help

How to help: “If you’ve been affected by the tornadoes that struck our region, or if you want to help, CBC Ottawa has created a spot to connect. The “Ottawa-Gatineau Tornado Community Connector” Facebook group is a place for anyone to share their ideas to help people without power or looking for shelter and supplies”: Ottawa-Gatineau Tornado Connector page

More: Ottawa tornado photos, news coverage | video |more

Protecting Wild Bees: Workshop and Film

Protecting Wild Bees: Workshop and Film
Wed Jul 13, 2016, Ottawa, ON (and Sunday too)

Join Friends of the Earth Canada at Fletcher Wildlife Garden at 7-8PM on Wednesday, July 13th and 9-11AM on Sunday, July 17 to learn how to protect native and wild bees. Includes a showing of a new documentary film (A Ghost in the Making: Searching for the Rusty-patched Bumble Bee) and a tutorial on how to participate in the Great Canadian Bumble Bee Count. On Sunday, we will be going out into the garden to practice taking photos of and identifying bees. Everyone is welcome!  http://www.ofnc.ca/fletcher/

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/1btYHcY9S3J2

Continue reading “Protecting Wild Bees: Workshop and Film”