On Monday, April 22, people all over the world will be celebrating Earth Day, an annual event that reminds us to celebrate and protect the natural environment. Here in Halton, we can all do our part to preserve the natural spaces that help keep our region a great place to live.
Halton Region offers a variety programs and services for residents to be environmental stewards not just on Earth Day, but throughout the year. Here are some things that you can do to contribute to a clean and green community:
- Participate in our reliable and easy to use waste management programs, such as the Blue Box and Green Cart. These programs significantly reduce the amount of materials that are landfilled. In fact, resident participation in these programs have helped to extend the life of our landfill, the Halton Waste Management Site, by over 30 years!
- Properly dispose of hazardous materials, electronic waste and other items by dropping them off at our convenient Halton Waste Management Site container station and depots.
- It is also important to use these waste programs properly. If you are ever unsure as to what goes where, use our Put Waste In Its Place sorting tool. Just enter an item and quickly find out the right way to dispose of it.
- If you are a landowner with woodland resources, you can apply to the Woodland’s Stewardship Program. To learn about the financial assistance available for preparing forest management plans and to apply, visit halton.ca.
- Help protect drinking water sources through responsible use and proper disposal of hazardous chemicals such as fuels, solvents, pesticides and fertilizers. Halton works closely with land and business owners to implement Source Protection Plans, aimed at reducing risks associated with potential contamination and overuse of our municipal drinking water sources.
Inspiring younger generations to be environmental stewards
Halton Region is also proud to work with local community partners on events and initiatives which help inspire residents to do their part to protect the environment.
This month, local Scouts will be planting 300 mixed-species trees at the Halton Waste Management Site. This event has been held for the past 18 years to commemorate Earth Day and Arbour Day, and during this time, Halton-area scouts have planted more than 6,000 native, mixed-species trees at the Site. The event gives young Scouts an opportunity to participate in an initiative that benefits the community and the environment.
I would like to thank all of this year’s Scouts for participating in this important event!
By working together to protect the natural environment, we help keep Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire today and for future generations. For more information, visit halton.ca.