Volume 2 | January 2021

Waterloo Region's newsletter about waste, water and the environment

It's almost here! Help shape our new 2050 Climate Action plan

Be part of the local solution to a global problem. Through the ClimateActionWR collaborative, the Region, area municipalities and non-profits are working with the community to develop a long-term strategy to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by the year 2050. ClimateActionWR has consulted with people across the community through workshops, interviews, written submissions and online surveys.

The draft 2050 strategy will be available early in the new year, along with a 10-year plan to guide the next crucial steps of building an equitable, prosperous, low-carbon Waterloo Region. Visit the project’s EngageWR page to learn more, and subscribe with your email address so you’ll be first to see the new draft plan.

Here's how to green your snow and ice clearing Did you know salt and ice melter products are damaging to groundwater – your drinking water? When clearing your driveway and walkways, there are steps you can take to remove the snow and ice and limit the amount of salt spread on the ground.

1)    Shovel or plow the snow as soon as you can before it packs down and turns to ice 2)    Break up ice with a steel ice chopper and then clear away ice with a shovel 3)    Add traction when needed with sand, grit or non-clumping kitty litter 4)    Do not use salt to melt snow. Salt is for ice only. 5)    If salt is required: Follow product directions for application rate and working temperature Sprinkle small amounts on icy areas only and give it time to work before clearing the ice

The two-box sort is why our blue box materials get recycled

There is a market for blue box materials but the recycling processors are very strict; they want only well-sorted and clean materials for recycling. This is why doing the two-box sort in your home is so important. Your sorting is the key to our success: Over 90 per cent of our collected blue box materials gets recycled.

The two-box sort is easy: Put all rigid containers in one blue box and put all flexible materials in another box.  Your blue box sort is the first and most important sorting step. Watch what comes next at our sorting centre.

Cambridge company saves 2.9 million litres of water per year

Grand River Foods knows that water efficiency can create big savings. Recent upgrades at the Cambridge company are now saving up to 9,600 litres per day. That’s 2.9 million litres per year, or the annual water use of 19 homes.

Grand River Foods was recognized with this year’s Water Efficiency Excellence Award, presented by Regional Chair Karen Redman. Our community has a limited supply of groundwater, so conservation helps ensure we have affordable water for the future.  Grand River Foods received funding and resources from the Region’s Water Efficient Technology (WET) Program. Could your workplace benefit too? Visit our website to learn how we can help you save.

Reminder: waste collection and COVID changes

What a year! Week after week, our collectors were out there. To the men and women who crew our trucks, we appreciate all you do! To keep us all safe, a reminder of COVID collection changes: Put all garbage into bags and tie closed. No loose garbage at the curb. Use a liner in your green bin. Roll down the top of the liner for collection. Tissues and napkins should go into the garbage for the time being. Put masks, gloves and wipes in the garbage. Please, not the blue box.

Watch the “Smart about Water Softeners” webinar Many of us dutifully buy salt to fill a home water softener. But do you actually know how it works? Check out this recent webinar from Reep Green Solutions and Region of Waterloo called “Smart About Water Softeners.” The video covers how softeners work, how they impact our environment, and ways to soften efficiently to save water, salt and money. To learn more about efficient water softening, try the Water Softener Facts website. How does groundwater get to your home? Groundwater is the rain and melted snow that soaks into the ground. But have you ever asked yourself “if groundwater is deep underground, how the heck do we get it to where I am?” Well, we use…wells. The Region of Waterloo manages over 120 wells that supply the groundwater we use everyday. Each well is from 30 to 90 metres deep. Want to learn more? The I Am Groundwater blog “How the heck do you even get groundwater?” discusses wells and what’s involved to move groundwater from underground to your home.

Take action with this free carbon footprint calculator

Our daily choices are having a huge impact on the planet. But there’s a lot you can do to help. Project Neutral is an award-winning, online carbon calculator that lets you discover the carbon emissions connected to your life. Reep Green Solutions has partnered with Project Neutral, with support from the Region of Waterloo,

to empower people in Waterloo Region to take action. So far, more than 1,800 households have used the tool.   Visit the easy online calculator and take five minutes to get a snapshot of your household carbon footprint, learn how to start taking action, and share your journey with others.

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