Drivers, stop your engines
May 21, 2008
The City of Toronto is launching an anti-idling blitz, part of a campaign to educate the public about the impacts of vehicles left idling. “Not idling vehicles is a simple thing that all of us can do in order to reduce pollution in our city,” said Glenn De Baeremaeker, chair of the city’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee. “In fact‚ if all drivers of light-duty vehicles in Canada avoided idling for just five minutes a day we would prevent more than 1.6 million tonnes of green house gases from entering the atmosphere. That’s the equivalent of taking 490‚000 cars off the road.”
Is your blue bin too big?
May 17, 2008
Two hundred Toronto households have been granted exemptions from using the new wheeled recycling bins because of space issues, says Robert Orpin, director of collection services. Because the households don’t have enough room to store the new bins, they’ll be permitted to use transparent recycling bags.
City delays local food plan
May 16, 2008
Despite heavy pressure from Mayor David Miller’s inner circle to move on his green agenda, a committee of councillors yesterday delayed taking action on a proposal to buy more local food to serve at the city’s homeless shelters, daycares and seniors homes. The initiative, touted as a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions, was attacked by members of the government management committee, who wanted precise information on costs and benefits.
City eyes local food
May 14, 2008
Toronto is considering making it a policy to serve more local food at its homeless shelters, daycares and seniors homes as part of Mayor David Miller’s green plan. The proposal, to be debated at city hall tomorrow, contains no hard targets, but calls for the city to spend up to $100,000 this year to test food containing more local ingredients and prepared with fewer chemicals. It also says all new food contracts with suppliers must include provisions to increase the amount of local and environmentally sustainable food.
Proposed bill threatens natural health products
May 10, 2008
Bill C-51, a proposed legislation to amend the federal Food and Drugs Act that would lead to more regulatory scrutiny of natural health products sold in Canada, is drawing opponents across the country. Critics say the bill will outlaw up to 60 percent of natural health products currently sold, making many natural health products that have been sold here for decades unavailable for purchase and penalizing parents who give herbs or supplements to their children.
Big blue bin woes
May 8, 2008
Some Toronto residents using the city’s new blue recycling bins have some extra-large complaints. They say the new bins are oversized, awkward, unsightly and difficult to store — and they’re not looking forward to the next step in Toronto’s recycling campaign: big bins for wet garbage.
Got a great green idea?
April 26, 2008
Get your thinking caps on, Toronto. The city has plans to pay its citizens to go green. Starting next month, staff with the Live Green Toronto program – which will receive $20 million in city funding over five years – will begin meeting with residents to discuss carbon-saving projects it will help subsidize. With an initial target of a 6 percent decrease in carbon emissions by 2012, Mayor David Miller said the plan’s success depends on residents creating change.
Ontario bans cosmetic pesticide use
April 22, 2008
Premier Dalton McGuinty introduced legislation today that makes Ontario’s grass a little greener. The new law outlaws the cosmetic use and sale of pesticides, making it illegal to spray them in your yard. The move is sure to please environmentalists and experts, who say that long-term exposure to pesticides can lead to birth defects and learning disabilities.
Toss more? Pay more under new garbage plan
February 8, 2008
Toronto’s ambitious new garbage plan, which includes a pay-as-you-throw garbage levy, takes effect this year. Under the new system, households that generate more garbage will pay more (up to $190 a year) and those that toss less will be rewarded with a small rebate.
Grassroots solar project
January 28, 2008
A proposed bylaw will be reviewed by city council this week to allow homeowners and businesses to install various renewable-energy devices on their property, including solar panels and wind turbines. The bylaw is a direct result of the work of the West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy (WISE) - a community-led renewable energy project.
