We Need Your Worms

Each autumn Laurie and I are busy starting up worm composting bins in grade 4 classes across Edmonton as part of our "Squirmy-Wormy Vermicomposting" presentation. To ensure that we have plenty of worms to give away this September and October I would like to make a call out to all Master Composter Volunteers - Please save us your worms!

If you would like to donate some worms to this deserving cause send me an email or call, I will contact you at the end of the summer to arrange pick up or drop off.

Thanks!
Laura Henderson
780-496-6059
laura.henderson@edmonton.ca

Sharing MC/R Inspiration

Hello,

Just thought that you might like to see this. MC/R grads deserve to know that they inspire...

simple moodlings

Maria K

Down Home Revival

Hi all!

I did indicate that I would endeavour to transform my front yard from lawn to re-usey, gardeny complete-with-compost-bins goodness and some of you were interested in my progress.

Please follow along at my REVIVE page, the photos are in the album “Front Yard Transformation”.

Neil B (class of 2011) was kind enough to arrange a clandestine visit (kidding) to the MRF to scour the Yellow Pages bins and I’ve built the rough drafts of some of my raised beds. Suggestions are always welcome!

I completely appreciate feedback, comments, and advice.

Thanks much!

-Karen P

Heads, you load...

Refuse Collector Kevin Gall takes a turn at collecting while fellow
Collector Dan Zilinski drives. The vehicle is one of two rear end loaders
in our current waste fleet.

The advantage? - smaller wheel base for ease of access into tight areas plus the obvious - taking turns at the wheel...

Second Nature & Eco Stations good mix

Eco Station attendant Chris Semple hoists a 30 litre bag of Second Nature compost at the Coronation Eco Station.

“Customers love it,” states Coronation Eco Station Foreman Hal Whitford referring to the bagged Second Nature compost available at all three Eco Stations. In fact, customers like the 30 litre bags of compost, which are available for $6 apiece, so much that the Eco Stations are having a hard time keeping the material in stock!
“Some customers will purchase 10 or 15 bags at a time and use it to top dress their lawns or in their flower beds,” says Hal.

This is the second year the Eco Stations have carried the Second Nature compost in the new, stylish bags. The Second Nature compost is produced at the EWMC and is made up of a mixture of residential organic waste and biosolids. The compost is also available in bulk at many local retail outlets.

Check www.edmonton.ca/waste for more information.

Come check out these talks!

There are some great presentations coming up this summer as part of The Way We Green Speakers Series 2011. Upcoming free events include:

Building Capacity: Renewable Energy Potential in Edmonton
Presented by Gordon Howell, P.Eng., Howell-Mayhew Engineering Inc.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
12:10 to 1:00 pm

Transcending Change: Making the Green Transition
Presented by Vik Maraj, Human Relations Specialist,VIKMARAJ Consulting
Tuesday, July 12
12:10 to 1:00 pm

Urban Biodiversity: Oxymoron or Conservation Opportunity?
Presented by Dr. Guy Swinnerton, Professor Emeritus,University of Alberta
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
12:10 to 1:00 pm

The location, unless otherwise specified, is City Hall – City Room (1 Sir Winston Churchill Square).

Bring a friend, your lunch and a refillable mug with you. Hope to see you there!

2011 Big Bin Events - coming to a neighbourhood near you!

Depot attendant Miles Curry (class of 2010, at right) helps a customer off-load some material at the May 8th
Big Bin Event.


The year’s Big Bin Events got off to a great start with a steady stream of residents taking in the opportunity to dispose of unwanted large items.

In 2010 the events accepted a whopping 2,202 tonnes of material - the equivalent weight of 174 ETS buses. For dates and locations of the 2011 Big Bin Events visit www.edmonton.ca/waste





Depot attendant Patricia Cuteri directs
customers to the appropriate disposal area at the May 8th event.




THIS WEEKEND - Woodcroft
NEXT WEEKEND - Northlands

Take an EWMC tour for Environment Week

Celebrate Environment Week in Edmonton

On Saturday, June 4 take in an Eco Solar Home Tour. The free tours demonstrate practical and timely examples of sustainability. Follow your own timetable. Homeowners and volunteer will be available to answer questions from noon until 4 p.m., and there’s no pre-registration. Look for more information at http://www.ecosolar.ca/.

On Sunday, June 5, pack up the family and head to the north Legislative grounds for a fun, informative Environment Week Kick-off event. Everyone ‘caught’ enjoying a waste-free picnic will be given tree seedlings, while supplies last. There’ll be kids eco-games and activities. Take a close look at a mobile air monitoring lab, and check out a hybrid car. Enjoy a fashion show with a ‘re-use’ twist, music and dance. Learn how easy it is to go green at information sessions. Feel the heat generated by the sun through a solar panel. Be part of the launch of Green Shopper Expo and the Edmonton Green Catalogue.

Head down to Churchill Square for Clean Air Day on Wednesday, June 8. Check out the student displays of the Lung Association’s EnviroBlast competition. There’ll be free mechanical bicycle checks, and you can try all sorts of self-propelled locomotion with the Try-it Library. Displays and activities will fill the square from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., with music, popcorn and excitement.

The following day, June 9, Churchill Square will again be hopping from 4 to 7 p.m. for Gardens and Green Spaces. Learn more about the Community Garden Network, bring the kids to make some interesting crafts, and get tips about food, your garden and biodiversity.

At each of these Environment Week events, your enter to win some super prizes! There’s a total value of over $10,000 in terrific prizes available. You can enter at any of these events, and the draw will be held at the end of Environment Week.

For details about these and more Alberta events during Environment Week, visit the Green Stop website at http://www.environment.gov.ab.ca/edu/eweek/2011/greenstops.asp.

For City of Edmonton events, visit www.edmonton.ca/environmentweek

It’s in the mail...

This year’s Collection Schedule and Urban Recycler have been mailed out to residents instead of being delivered by staff to their homes. Residents should have recieved their calendar and Urban Recycler during May, in a "Sweepstakes" style envelope clearly labelled "IMPORTANT - Open and Keep what is Inside!"

Did you?


Why the change?

Mailing the schedule is more efficient and is now possible because of changes made to the format of both pieces of information.