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KEN is a volunteer-run organization in the community of Kanata, Ontario. We share information about sound environmental practices, encourage sustainable lifestyles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote ecological gardening.
Rethinking Garbage
At this time of year many residents are busy cleaning out garages, closets, basements, and halls, finding items they don't need any more and would like to pass on.
We all know that the landfills across the province are filling up, as we can plainly see to the west of Kanata. The expense of finding and building new land-fill sites, as well as hauling the refuse further a-field, is a growing financial burden for Canaidan cities.
Kanata has a proud history of diverting material from the landfill. Diana Pilsworth, a Kanata resident, initiated the first municipally-funded, curb-side collection of waste paper back in the 1970's. It was such a success that municipalities across the country followed suit, leading to the familiar blue-box program. Now, decades later, the blue box is recognized as an essential part of responsible waste management.
Growing Healthy Lawns and Gardens
Ontario has recently passed a law banning the use of pesticides on lawn and gardens. For help with growing healthy lawns, visit KEN's new Healthy Lawns web page for advice and useful links.
If you have any bottles and bags of unused pesticides in your garage, you must take care to properly dispose them. These products contaminate soils and water, and they must not be poured down the drain or put out with your garbage. For a list of the City of Ottawa's Household Hazardous Waste drop off days, visit www.ottawa.ca/residents/recycling_garbage.
For more information about the new Ontario Pesticide ban, visit the Ontario's Ministry of Environment webpage www.ene.gov.ca.
Recent Seminar on Trees
KEN's last seminar entitled "Caring for Suburban Trees" was a great success. Information from this talk is available on KEN's website. Visit our new Trees web page to find out about trees in the City of Ottawa.