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On Earth Day this year, April 22nd 2020, OBEC held a virtual workshop to talk about environmental health and climate action post global pandemic.

COVID19 has shown us we are no force against nature and that in a few weeks time with reduced human activity, the Earth can heal dramatically.

Our Earth Day workshop last week opened up a platform for people to share ideas and ways in which we can continue the positive impacts on the environment, our health and our lives when things begin to get back to “normal.”

We are now hosting a Part II to the workshop via ZOOM to develop the ideas that came forth on Earth Day.

We look forward to having you join us on May 6th at 1pm to move these ideas forward. A Zoom link will be sent out to you before the workshop.

To register go to Eventbrite website:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/obec-earth-day-workshop-part-ii-project-development-tickets-103959706280

The business model is considered unique in Canada but is modelled in part on U.S. food hubs where producers send their cattle to slaughter, after which meat products are packaged and distributed in a predetermined market. In this case, the hub will process all types of meats as well as vegetables, for local and national markets.

The hub will support the growing “farm-to-table” trend among consumers who favour local producers. The intent is to help red and white meat producers and vegetable growers overcome the challenges of production and processing and ensure the growth of their businesses. This will potentially lead to more predictable sales, reduce food waste and will favour the creation of new products during the processing stage.

From May 17 to September 6, 2020

Every Sunday morning during the summer, parkways in the heart of Ottawa and nearby Gatineau Park are closed to motor vehicles and open for cyclists, in-line skaters, runners and pedestrians.

Since 1970, the NCC has hosted Sunday Bikedays, allowing cyclists to experience the Capital’s scenic parkways car-free. Today, the program provides more than 50 kilometres of parkways to hundreds of thousands of visitors, who enjoy seeing the Capital Region from a different perspective and in a fun and environmentally friendly way. The program has been replicated in many other cities around the globe.

NOKIA Sunday Bikedays, the Capital’s popular program, is organized by the National Capital Commission (NCC), in collaboration with long-term title sponsor NOKIA, and major sponsors, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) and Service Plus.

Choose your parkways

Time to get your bike tuned up, because NOKIA Sunday Bikeways is back for another season.

In Ottawa

Starting on June 2, from 7 am to 9 am, for cyclists who like to ride faster.

A new fast lane is offered on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway.

9 am to 1 pm
– Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway (9 kilometres)
– Colonel By Drive (8 kilometres)
– Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway (8 kilometres)

In Gatineau Park

6 am to 11 am: A total of 27 kilometres for cyclists who enjoy steep hills!
– Gatineau Parkway
– Champlain Parkway
– Fortune Lake Parkway

6 am to 1 pm : A total of 2.5 kilometres north of Chemin du Lac-Meech (parking lot P8). This section is ideal for families with young children.

Pollinate your City and help Ottawa’s honeybees.

Our Community Supported Pollination Project is an approach that has honey-lovers working cooperatively with honeybees, right here in Ottawa.

Bee Stewardship
Putting the bees first, we take a bee-centred and bee-friendly approach to all aspects of beekeeping.

How it works

Reserve your share of the honey harvest at the start of the season. At harvest time in September, you’ll receive a year’s supply of local raw honey (twelve 500g jars) and have the opportunity to meet the bees that make your honey at one of our Bee Days

Ottawa Locations:
Three Ottawa locations to serve you:

•Gees Bees Honey Farm (Riverside South/Barrhaven)​​
Bee Day Saturday September 12th 2020
•Camelot Country Club (Cumberland)
Bee Day Sunday September 13th 2020
•Wesley Clover Parks (Kanata)
Bee Day Sunday September 20th 2020

Pollinators are a gardener’s friend. Most flowering plants (includingfruit and vegetables) can’t reproduce without the help of bees,wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, hummingbirds or other pollinators.The loss of pollinators threatens biodiversity and the survivalof many native flowering plants that are important sources of food,habitat and other resources for people and wildlife.

By taking a few simple steps to protect these important creatures,you can help your garden thrive – and boost pollinator populationsin Ontario.

What you can do to help:
• Provide food
• Provide water
• Provide shelter
• Become involved with a group

Become involved with a group

We all have a part to play in helping pollinators to thrive inOntario. You can help by getting involved in groups that work topromote pollinators or participating in “citizen science”projects by providing useful information to help track and monitorpollinators and their habitats. Both are easy to do. Learn moreabout the many organizations in Ontario that have pollinator initiativesor are coordinating citizen science projects for pollinator researchat Pollinator action highlights.

Learn more
• You can find more detailed information in GardenerAction Plan.

Please dispose of them properly. Find out where they go at: ottawa.ca/wasteexplorer

Not sure where an item goes? Visit the Waste Explorer to find out.

Not all materials can be thrown in the garbage. There are many items the City does not collect at the curb.

These include:
•TVs, computers and other electronics
•Chemicals, paints and other household hazardous materials
•Needles, syringes and crack pipes

A lot of materials don’t have to end up in the garbage. They can be reused, recycled or donated to charitable organizations.

These include:
•Used clothing, bedding or other textiles
•Furniture
•Bicycles

Give Away Weekend is another great opportunity to help others while keeping household goods out of the landfill. There is also a number of websites dedicated to selling, buying and giving away used and/or unwanted items.

In a market where builders, businesses and homeowners continue to embrace sustainability and environmentally conscious concepts like LEED and BOMA BESt, the Tomlinson Waste Recovery Centre makes it easier for everyone to do their part in protecting the environment.

The Tomlinson Waste Recovery Centre combines a state-of-the-art construction and demolition recycling facility, a traditional blue and black box processing facility, an electronics and appliances recycling depot and a waste transfer station for any material that can’t be recovered. The result is a single destination and environmental resource for the local construction industry, businesses and home owners tackling their own renovation, construction or cleanup projects.

HOURS OF OPERATION: Monday through Friday – 7 am to 7 pm and Saturday – 7 am to 1 pm

LOCATION: 106 Westhunt Drive, Ottawa ON

Habitat GO is helping families in Greater Ottawa to build a better life through affordable homeownership.

The local ReStores, which are owned and operated by Habitat GO, are non-profit home improvement stores that accept donations of new and used product to sell to the public at a discounted rate. Three locations to serve you.

Shopping at a ReStore is socially and environmentally conscious choice, since funds generated support the work of Habitat GO while keeping products out of landfills. Commonly accepted building materials include windows, doors, unopened paint, hardware, tiles, plumbing fixtures, lumber, tools, lighting fixtures, furniture and appliances.

Two Locations to serve your needs. Trainyards (768 Belfast Road) and Stittsville (3 Iber Road)

How to dispose of large, bulky or other items

During COVID-19, we ask that you hold on to bulky items like furniture, mattresses, couches for the months of April, May and June. Minimizing the set out at the curb of your large items and extra waste from spring cleaning, it will allow the collection operators to do their job efficiently and maximize their physical distancing.

Appliances

The City does NOT pick up appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dryers, dishwashers, hot water tanks, furnaces or oil tanks at the curb. These appliances contain recyclable parts. Residents must make their own arrangements to have them taken away. Check the Yellow Pages(link is external) under “recycling” for a list of businesses providing this service, or take them back to participating retailers – electronic or household items.

Remember all refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning units and dehumidifiers must have cooling chemicals removed and be tagged by a certified technician prior to being brought to a landfill site. Any items that are not tagged will be refused entry into the site.

Batteries

Many retailers will accept AA, AAA batteries and rechargeable batteries. Also, check out our household hazardous waste depots.

Construction material

Plaster, wood (including pressure-treated lumber), drywall, concrete, asphalt or other waste resulting from building construction, renovation or demolition ARE NOT collected with regular garbage. Bring this material to the Trail Road Landfill Site or to another landfill.

The following companies offer a program for recycling some construction and renovation materials:
•Waste Management(link is external)
•Tomlinson

The City of Ottawa does not collect electronic waste (e-waste) as part of its curbside garbage collection.

E-waste accounts for 3000 tonnes or about 300 garbage trucks full of refuse added to our landfills each year. Much of this e-waste consists of steel, glass, copper, aluminum, plastics and precious metals that can be recycled and reused.

Drop these off at participating retailers. Find out where you can return your electronics, by using the Waste Explorer, or by visiting recycleyourelectronics.ca (link is external) or drop them off at any e-waste depot listed below. Local businesses and charitable organizations run and operate these e-waste depots.