EXPANDED TAKE IT BACK PROGRAM KEEPS WASTE OUT OF LANDFILLS

Last month the new Take-It Back Directory with the names of businesses that reuse, recycle, or safely dispose of goods was released. There are now almost 600 businesses accepting 130 different products.

Directories can be picked up at Client Service Centres, including 580 Terry Fox, libraries and community centres. Information is also available on line at ottawa.ca/takeitback.

With the debate around the expansion of the Carp Road Landfill, people recognize the best way to avoid the expansion of landfills is reducing what goes into them. Programs like Take-It Back provide a way for people to do that.

Hazardous Waste Depots are not always convenient. The Take It Back program provides another way to dispose of hazardous waste.

There are also expanded opportunities to dispose of electronic waste. Many of the materials in electronic goods are potentially hazardous if left to breakdown in a landfill. With the Take It Back program these materials can be recovered and reused.

Currently the Take It Back program diverts 500 tonnes of material that would otherwise have gone to the landfill. There is a lot of room for growth.

HAZARDOUS WASTE DEPOT IN KANATA

This Sunday the City and the Kanata Business Park Corporation will be hosting a one-day hazardous waste depot. Details are:

Sunday, July 12 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
411 Legget Drive in the Kanata Business Park

Hazardous waste includes products like aerosols, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, energy efficient light bulbs, insecticides, pool chemicals, stains, needles and syringes, expired medications. More information can be found at www.ottawa.ca/hhw. These products should be disposed of through a hazardous waste depot, not the regular garbage pick-up.

URBAN BOUNDARY VOTE INTENDED TO KEEP EXPANSION TO A MINIMUM

One very good question that was asked recently is why would I vote for any expansion of the urban boundary, given the impact on costs and the loss of open land.

What was proposed was to expand the urban boundary by 842.6 hectares. At both the Committee and Council meetings, I voted to reduce the expansion to 230 hectares. Reducing the urban boundary expansion by 612.6 hectares was approved by council.

In 2005, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) added 470.6 hectares between Glen Cairn and Stittsville to the urban area. Most of the 230 hectares that was added by Council was two pockets of land that remained rural after that decision.

These parcels were surrounded or almost completely surrounded by urban land. Leaving them designated as rural would have made it harder to ensure the land was used efficiently and the transportation network was developed in a way that met the needs of the community. This was acknowledged when the Terms of Reference for the Fernbank Community Design Plan were approved in 2006 and it was recognized that the only way to plan effectively was to include the remaining parcels.

WORKING FULL-TIME FOR KANATA SOUTH

I appreciate the chance to hear from you about issues affecting our community. You can reach me at 580-2752 (office), 580-2762 (fax), www.feltmateforkanata.com or peggy.feltmate@ottawa.ca