Calgary, AB,
17
April
2014
|
14:45
America/Denver

Green your spring cleaning by composting yard waste

As the weather warms up, it’s a great time for Calgarians to tidy up their yards and get their gardens ready for the new season. With all the spring cleaning means plenty of yard waste that can find a second life as compost.

This spring, Calgarians are encouraged to drop off their yard waste at City landfills for free so it can be composted instead of thrown away.

Between April 18 and June 1, all three City of Calgary landfills will waive fees for residential loads of leaves, branches, plants and other yard and garden material. The material will be composted at the sites, turning it back into a useful resource.

“Yard waste makes up over one third of residential garbage during this time of year,” says waste diversion specialist Lindsay Seidel-Wassenaar. “When it gets buried in the landfill, it can’t be turned into soil or compost due to the lack of oxygen. It takes decades to decompose while producing harmful greenhouse gases. Composting makes fallen leaves, branches and other yard waste useful again and turns it into a product that will help new plants to grow.”

Here are three tips for Calgarians to know about the spring yard waste program before they come to the landfill:

  • Make sure your load only contains yard waste like leaves, branches and plants (no sod – it can’t be composted). Charges will apply if the load contains other items.
  • Residents are encouraged to leave their material loose or put it in paper yard waste bags, which can be composted as well. If loads are loose, residents should make sure they are secure before transporting them.
  • Before leaving for the landfill, people are encouraged to visit calgary.ca/waste or contact 311 to confirm landfill hours, locations and other details.  The service is intended for residents only.

 

WHAT:  The spring yard waste program encourage residents to compost organic garden material at City landfills for free.

WHEN/WHERE:  April 18 – June 1, 2014 at all three City landfills

Spyhill Landfill - 11808 - 69 Street NW

East Calgary Landfill - 3801 - 68 Street SE

Shepard Landfill - 12111 - 68 Street SE

WEB: Spring yard waste page on calgary.ca

MEDIA: Audio, raw video, b-roll and photographs are available for download.

            For audio files email media.relations@calgary.ca 

 

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