ENVIRO CORNER
The objective of the community association’s Environment Committee is to engage residents to make Champlain Park a model of a sustainable community with the outcomes of lower waste, a lower carbon footprint, and an increase to or maintenance of biodiversity. We hope to provide info and tips to the community on how it can contribute. Here are some ideas that each individual can do to lower waste.

• Our local Metro at the corner of Carleton Ave. and Richmond Road takes plastic bags for recycling. A large blue bin is set up just inside the first set of doors, amongst the shopping buggies.
• Did you know that batteries can be recycled at any Ottawa Public Library branch? Our nearby branches are Rosemount and Carlingwood. There is usually a plastic cylinder in the entry area in which to place the batteries.
• The City held a hazardous waste collection day in early November at Tunney’s Pasture. Instead of each individual driving over with their fertilizer, paints, oven cleaner, etc., many neighbours pooled their hazardous waste and made only one trip. This is a great initiative and we will announce upcoming similar events.
• Other good tips on recycling, including green bin and specialty items, can be found at the City of Ottawa website: http://www.ottawa.ca/online_services/recycling/index_en.html
• Garbage cans often overflow after the holiday festivities. Avoid sending stuff to the landfill by wrapping your gifts in reusable fabric gift bags, using the comic strip page to wrap gifts for kids, and using natural materials such as pine cones and evergreen branches for decoration. If you prefer to buy gift wrap, please purchase paper that uses recycled content.

– Maija Adamsons