Ottawa does it again

Although I left Ottawa 13 years ago, I am still impressed when it comes to recycling. This city operates in the right direction regarding garbage. When I lived there I was able to put out my recycling bin along with my garbage same as here. However, when I wanted to recycle clothing, I could put this out too as long as I tied a shirt, scarf or other visable indicator onto the bag. Appliances could be put out on the street too, just remove the door on the fridge or stove.

Now Ottawa is going even further and I'm impressed again....wish muncipalities in Victoria would get on the bandwagon to reduce what we are sending to Hartland Landfill.

Here is what is happening in Ottawa:

City Council today approved the next step towards implementing aresidential curbside organics collection program to begin by fall 2008. Under thisnew program residents will be able to annually compost over 100,000 tonnes of kitchen scraps and other organic materials that otherwise would go to local landfills. "City-wide composting means that the residential sector will be able to meet the provincial target of keeping 60% of our garbage out of landfills. It is a huge step forward compared to the current 33% diversion level," stated Councillor Peter Hume, Chair of the City's Planning and Environment Committee. "Investing in this program now will benefit future generations and will add years of life to our local landfills." This program lets residents put fruit and vegetable peelings, food scraps, meat,bones, egg shells, vegetable oil, paper towels and napkins, waxed and/or soiled corrugated containers, wood shavings, and yard waste into a different container than the normal garbage can or recycling boxes. "City staff look forward to being able to offer residents a new organics collection and composting program," said Richard Hewitt, Deputy City Manager of Public Worksand Services. "We will review proposals from potential private-sector partners to provide organics processing services and bring forward a report for Council's consideration on the preferred partner with complete costs and details about the new program by fall 2007." The City's Compost Plus+ pilot project, which is in its sixth year of operation,offers a voluntary program of collection of household organics to nine communities comprising 5,300 households. On a yearly basis, the program has successfully captured and diverted approximately 2,000 tonnes of residential organic waste that would have gone to the landfill. Experience gained with this pilot project will be used to design the city-wide program.The City is also exploring new technologies as an alternative to landfills and is pursuing increasing recycling rates in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors, which currently generate approximately 70% of the city's solid waste. Formore information on all the City's recycling programs visit ottawa.ca/rethinkgarbage