Earth Week Events For City of Peterborough
/The City of Peterborough will celebrate Earth Week with three key initiatives to raise awareness of protecting the environment which will start on April 22.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Peterborough Blogs
City of Peterborough's Rain Garden Subsidy Program Open For Fifth Year
/The City of Peterborough’s Rain Garden Subsidy Program, in partnership with GreenUP, is launching its fifth year that provides eligible property owners with educational resources and up to $1,000 toward the cost of installing a rain garden.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF PETERBOROUGH.
“Currently, only 25 per cent of Peterborough’s stormwater is filtered for pollutants before entering natural waterways, such as the Otonabee River or Jackson Creek,” said Curtis Mei, City’s stormwater systems coordinator. “Rain gardens are an important part of a greener stormwater management strategy. Rain gardens reduce the amount of polluted runoff entering local waterways, which keeps the watershed healthy and can also reduce the risk of localized urban flooding.”
Rain gardens must be designed and located in a particular way to function properly. This subsidy process provides support for property owners, including design templates, educational resources, and on-site consultation from GreenUP staff.
“We know folks can be intimidated by the idea of designing and building their own rain garden, but it’s doable with a bit of support,” explained Laura Keresztesi, GreenUP coordinator with Neighbourhood and Residential programs. “That’s why GreenUP has partnered with the City to support this subsidy program. We help applicants through the process, step-by-step.”
This year, the maximum subsidy amount is $1,000 per garden, and GreenUP provides up to two on-site visits to advise on design and construction.
“The number of subsidies is limited and are awarded on a first come, first serve basis,” explained Keresztesi. “We encourage you to reach out as soon as possible.”
Interested property owners, organizations and businesses can learn more and begin the application process online at peterborough.ca/RainGarden.
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City of Peterborough Receives 2023 Call2Recycle’s Leader in Sustainability Award
/The City of Peterborough has been recognized as a recipient of Call2Recycle’s Leader in Sustainability Award for 2023 in recognition of the community’s outstanding results in diverting batteries from landfills, announced on Monday.
File Photo.
Peterborough residents diverted 4,241 kgs of batteries from the landfill in 2023 using the municipality’s battery collection options, helping to ensure the environmentally responsible disposal and reuse of the materials.
The City of Peterborough works with Call2Recycle, a not-for-profit organization that provides battery recycling programs nationwide to divert batteries from going to the City’s landfill.
“Thanks to your contributions and support of valued partners like you, Call2Recycle increased collections by 32 per cent in 2023, diverting almost 6 million kilograms of batteries from landfill,” in a statement made by Call2Recycle.
Batteries can be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. and at locations throughout the city for safe disposal:
City Hall, 500 George St. N.
Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. ptbolibrary.ca
Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.
Other battery drop-off locations in Peterborough:
GreenUP Store, 378 Aylmer St.
Kingan Home Hardware, 167 Simcoe St.
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Kawartha Land Trust Receives $2.9-Million Investment To Help Protect 1,400-Acre Nature Reserve
/After a $2.9-million investment from the Province of Ontario’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership, Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) has purchased its largest conservation property of the 1,400-acre Hammer Family Nature Preserve announced in Trent Lakes on Monday.
(Left to right) Chief Keith Knott, Curve Lake First Nation; Dave Smith, MPP, Peterborough-Kawartha; Hon. Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Parks; Mike Hendren, Senior Advisor to the Ontario Conservation Community, The Schad Foundation; John Kintare, Executive Director, Kawartha Land Trust; Paul Downs, Chair of the Board, Kawartha Land Trust; Laurie Scott, MPP, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock; Mayor Terry Lambshead, Municipality of Trent Lakes. Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Lake for Kawartha Land Trust.
The purchase is the largest in the organization’s 22-year history.
The property contains acres of forests, wetlands, fields and natural shoreline along Pigeon Lake. The preservation of this property ensures the protection of its important ecological values, maintains vital natural connectivity in the region, and provides future opportunities for public access and nature connection according to John Kintare, KLT executive director.
“Kawartha Land Trust is extremely grateful for the government funding partners and private donors who made this ambitious project possible,” he said. “The protection of this natural gem of the Kawarthas is an important investment in nature, in the Kawarthas, and Ontario at large. It was only through our strong partnerships that we were able to achieve such a positive conservation outcome.”
“The Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) congratulates Kawartha Land Trust on protecting the amazing Hammer Family Nature Preserve,” said Alison Howson, OLTA executive director. “The Greenlands Conservation Partnership protects habitats for many species at risk and has made significant increases in the availability of green spaces for the people of Ontario to enjoy.”
Funding for this project was also received from the Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF) and private donors. The fund helps conserve, restore and enhance the management of ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and grasslands to help tackle the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss according to a press release.
Three-quarters of KLT’s Hammer Family Nature Preserve is home to tracts of forests and wetlands. KLT says this property's preservation will ensure that the vital ecological services it provides — clean air, clean water, and mitigating the effects of climate change — will be protected for current and future generations.
“The support and financial investments from the Province of Ontario, Government of Canada, and private donors, has resulted in the creation of a regional and provincial community asset,” said Kintare. “This conservation outcome would also not have been possible without the countless contributions of KLT’s dedicated community of volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters throughout our 22-year history.”
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$9.3 Million Investment Made For New Net-Zero Fire Station At Former Northcrest Arena Location
/The federal government and Federation of Canadian Municipalities have invested $9.3 million to construct a new net-zero fire station at the former Northcrest Arena location on 100 Marina Blvd., announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The Green Municipal Fund, a $1.6B fund which since 2001 from the Government of Canada, has helped municipalities and local actors switch to sustainable practices faster and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by close to 3M tonnes. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The announcement was made by Whitby Member of Parliament Ryan Turnbull, who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. He was present on behalf of Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Scott Pearce, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
“This transformative project will incorporate renewable energy, mass timber construction, and water-saving technologies, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and substantial operational cost savings of $24,270 per year for the city,” said Turnbull.
The $9.3 million investment is divided into $1,226,080 in grants and $8,173,910 in loans through the Green Municipal Fund.
The new station will replace the existing Fire Station 2 at Carnegie Road.It can no longer meet the city’s needs since being built in 1967, according to the City.
“The new Fire Station #2 will be the City’s first building that is designed, built, and certified as a Zero Carbon Building for both performance and design categories,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “This key investment in the City of Peterborough Fire Services will enhance community safety by reducing emergency response times while also protecting our environment by producing zero emissions.”
The net-zero building features automated control systems, ground source heat pumps, rooftop solar panels and a heat-recovery system. The building will also be constructed from mass timber instead of concrete, steel or aluminum to achieve a lower carbon footprint. It will also include water-saving features and be resituated to reduce flood risk and meet operational standards.
Construction completion is slated for this fall. The City and Mayor Leal have yet to determine what will happen to the Carnegie fire station location.
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City of Peterborough to Begin Curbside Collection of Christmas Trees On Jan. 2 Throughout the Month
/The City of Peterborough begins curbside collection of natural Christmas trees throughout January starting on the second.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Collection takes place (weather permitting) and does not follow traditional collection schedules. Residents do not need to call to request collection.
Trees will be composted, therefore all decorations and tinsel must be removed and trees must not be in plastic bags.
Residents are asked to place trees at the curb in a visible location within safe reach for collection staff. Please avoid snowbanks and ensure that trees do not get buried in them.
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Recycling Services Shift to Circular Materials Starting On New Year's Day
/Recycling collection services in the City of Peterborough will be provided by Circular Materials starting Jan. 1 under a new province-wide system that shifts the responsibility of recycling programs to producers (those that produce and supply Blue Box materials to residents).
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The local municipal government will no longer provide recycling collection and processing services.
There is no change in recycling services for residents, who will not notice any difference in their recycling schedule and will still be able to recycle the same materials.
Residents will continue to place their Blue Box recyclables curbside weekly, precisely as they do now, on their same collection day, separating container and fibre (paper) items into separate boxes for collection.
For recycling collection and processing services in Peterborough, Circular Materials has hired Emterra Environmental, the same company that the City of Peterborough has contracted for recycling curbside collection and processing. Using the same company that currently delivers the service will help ensure a smooth transition for residents.
For recycling collection issues, residents can contact Emterra Environmental at 705-742-3139 or 1-888-597-1541 as of Jan. 1, 2024.
To reach Circular Materials, residents can email customerservice@circularmaterials.ca or call 1-877-667-2626.
For recycling service information, including to search for collection dates and a “What Goes Where” tool, please visit circularmaterials.ca/peterborough.
Circular Materials is a national not-for-profit organization that builds efficient and effective recycling systems where materials are collected, recycled and returned to producers to use as recycled content in new packaging and paper. As the administrator of Ontario’s standard collection system, Circular Materials is responsible for operating the new system for blue box materials. It is committed to increasing recycling rates across Ontario and ensuring more materials are looped into the circular economy, benefiting both people and the environment.
In 2021, the Ontario government released the Blue Box Regulation that shifts the financial and operational responsibility of recycling programs to producers – those that produce and supply blue box materials to residents. In this new extended producer responsibility framework, producers become financially and operationally responsible for collecting and recycling blue box materials.
Historically, Ontario’s blue box programs were operated by municipalities responsible for paying about half of the program's costs, with producers accountable for the other half. Under the Blue Box Regulation, Ontario is transitioning to a new model where producers – the organizations that produce the products and packaging – are 100% responsible for operating and funding the program.
Transition to extended producer responsibility will occur between 2023 – 2025, with the new framework entirely in place on Jan. 1, 2026. Along with the Regulation, the government released a schedule that assigns a transition date to each of the 376 Ontario communities.
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City of Peterborough Installs 35-Foot Tree In Quaker Foods City Square
/A 35-foot-tall tree was installed at the Quaker Foods City Square and put up by the City of Peterborough to add vibrancy to the downtown community space, including winter outdoor skating on Thursday.
free two-hour holiday parking is at all downtown municipal parking spaces including on-street parking, municipal parking lots, the King Street Parking Garage and the Simcoe Parking Garage until Dec. 31. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
Sourced from Ennismore, a tree lighting ceremony at the Square is planned for Dec.15 at 5:30 p.m. The City is releasing further information within the next couple of weeks.
“Quaker Foods City Square brought a tremendous amount of energy to the downtown last winter with thousands of people enjoying the new outdoor skating rink,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “The tree will add to the festive spirit and vibrancy. I look forward to celebrating the season with the community at the upcoming tree lighting event.”
The square opened in December last year. The City says it provides a year-round space for community events and family-friendly features including a refrigerated outdoor skating rink in the winter. The space is meant to bring the community together, similar to Springer Market Square in Kingston and Mel Lastman Square in Toronto.
The refrigerated skating rink is anticipated to open for the season by mid-December (depending on weather conditions). City staff are preparing the site and monitoring conditions to make and maintain safe ice conditions.
For the first time, Runner’s Life is offering skate rental services for visitors to the Square’s outdoor rink through a sponsorship with the City. Rental skates, helmets and skate sharpening services are available through this service.
“Runner's Life is excited to provide skate rentals and sharpening to downtown Peterborough. Downtown has always been a vibrant place, the heart of the city, and with the addition of Quaker Foods City Square, it’s only become better,” said Dave Dame of Runner’s Life. “The rink was very well received last year and we hope to open the door for more people to try skating and enjoy the dynamic spirit of downtown.”
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City to End Seasonal Yard Waste Collection On Dec. 1
/The final week for the 2023 curbside yard waste collection service will be Tuesday to Dec. 1.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The City of Peterborough reminds residents that in late fall, when temperatures drop below freezing, yard waste can freeze, sticking to the sides of bins and causing issues with collection.
The City adds that to ensure full pickup of yard waste, residents should consider using bags for disposal to avoid partially frozen material being left in a bin after collection.
The curbside yard waste collection program will resume in April.
Yard waste collection program details include:
Unlimited quantities of yard waste are accepted when set out in paper yard waste bags or reusable containers that are labelled, bushel baskets.
Rigid open-top containers with a maximum volume of 80 litres, with two fixed handles. Lids must be removable and not secured by any means. Yard waste material must empty freely when emptied/dumped by the collector.
Bins must have two clearly identifiable yellow yard waste labels, available for no charge at City Hall, 500 George St. N.
Plastic bags are not accepted for yard waste.
Each bag or container must weigh less than 13 kilograms (30 pounds).
Brush can be tied in bundles weighing not more than 13 kilograms (30 pounds), with a length of up to one metre (three feet) and a diameter of up to 30.5 centimetres (12 inches).
Yard waste is accepted year-round at the Peterborough landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. in Otonabee-South Monaghan; fees will apply.
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RBC Donates $20,000 to Jumpstart Local Net Zero Farms Pilot Project
/RBC has donated $20,000 to Net Zero Farms for a new pilot project that will assist farmers in incorporating sustainable practices into their operations at Woodleigh Farms on Thursday afternoon.
Representatives from RBC cut the ribbon to represent the launch of the Net Zero Farms Pilot Project alongside non-profits GreenUP and Farms at Work. Pictured from left to right: RBC Community Manager Karalee Murray, Green Economy Peterborough Net Zero Farms Program Coordinator Natasha Sheward, GreenUP Director of Programs Natalie Stephenson, GreenUP Executive Director Tegan Moss, Green Economy Peterborough Hub Coordinator Jackie Donaldson, RBC Relationship Manager for Business Markets Deanna Baker, Farms at Work Executive Director Heather Ray, RBC Relationship Manager for Agriculture & Agri-Business Specialist Scott McCaig. Photo courtesy of GreenUp.
