Ottawa – Starting Tuesday, April 6 City of Ottawa residents will have their green bins and leaf and yard waste collected every week. Organic food scraps, soiled paper products and other allowable waste from residential homes can now be placed at the curb for weekly collection.

Weekly green bin and leaf and yard waste collection starts in April and continues during the spring, summer and fall. In December green bins will return to collection every other week.

Residents are reminded to put their green bin and recycling out with their garbage by 7 a.m. for collection on their assigned pick-up day. Lock the lid to deter animals and prevent pests from getting into the bin. Leaf and yard waste can be used to top up the green bin. It can also be placed in a separate container such as an unused garbage container with the lid off so that collection workers can see it is leaf and yard waste.

The Green Bin program is contributing to increasing the amount of residential garbage diverted away from landfill. This is a strong indication that residents are embracing the program, and together we are achieving our goals. The City expects the diversion numbers will increase when weekly collection starts next week.

Any resident who has curb side collection and has not yet received a green bin and information package, can contact 3-1-1.

More information about what goes in your green bin and collection dates check your Collection Calendar or visit ottawa.ca/greenbin

Ottawa – As a result of staff initiative, the City’s Solid Waste Operations Branch almost tripled scrap-metal diversion from the Trail Waste Facility in 2009 when compared to 2008.

In 2007, 452 tonnes of metal, that otherwise would have been disposed of in the landfill, were recovered and sold to recyclers generating revenue of $23,157. However, in 2008 the tonnage dropped to 222 with revenue of $11,369.

Knowing the potential for recovering more scrap metal and the importance of preserving capacity in the City’s residential waste landfill, in 2009, the Solid Waste Operations Branch reviewed the program, made adjustments, and set aggressive targets for recovery.

The new program was implemented within existing staffing levels and budgets, and it succeeded. In 2009, 600 tonnes of scrap metal was recovered from the residential waste stream and diverted from the landfill generating revenue of $60,000 for the City.

“This is the kind of initiative we like to see from City employees,” said Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien. “They saw an opportunity to save both taxpayers' money and landfill space at the same time, and they capitalized on that opportunity.”

The 2009 scrap-metal recovery rate was roughly 270 per cent higher than that of 2008, and Solid Waste staff is looking to do even better in 2010.

“This is a good example of how City staff are examining and adjusting all programs with the goal of making them more sustainable,” said Alta Vista Councillor Peter Hume. “We all have a role to play when it comes to doing the right thing for the environment, and the City is making progress.”

The City continues to encourage residents to bring their scrap metal to local Take it Back! retailers. A list of retailers can be found at ottawa.ca/takeitback or by calling 3-1-1.

Residents are welcome to register now for Spring programs at the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre. Plenty of great programming is available for residents of all ages.

You can register online at www.ottawa.ca, by phone at (613) 260-1299, in person at the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre or at any Client Service Centre or recreation facility.


Attached you will find the Spring Program Guide for the Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre.


Click here to download.

In an increasingly competitive local, national and global economic environment, the updated Economic Strategy is intended to provide direction and priorities for the City’s economic development policy and programming through 2015.

There is a market for unique shops and a diverse mix of retail ventures that complement existing businesses in the Glebe and Old Ottawa South, says a third-party study of commercial development at Lansdowne Park.

Last November, Ottawa City Council approved the redevelopment of Lansdowne in principle under the Lansdowne Partnership Plan. In doing so, Council asked that a consultant carry out a study clarifying the vision for the commercial aspects of the development. The retail strategy was also to “add to the quality of the public realm,” profile the region’s rural character and be part of the revitalization of Bank Street as a traditional mainstreet.

All residents are welcome to register now for March Break programs. Plenty of great programming is available during the week of March 15-19, 2010 when most school-aged children are away from school.

Register your children or grandchildren for programs like swimming, dance, arts and all sorts of other activities and interests for children of all ages.

You can register online at www.ottawa.ca, by phone at 613-580-2588, or in person at any Client Service Centre or recreation facility.

Ottawa – Students interested in summer employment with the City of Ottawa can apply online beginning Monday, January 11, 2010.

The Summer Student Employment Program is a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience and insight into today's workforce, discover a career path, showcase skills and enhance academic goals.

Ottawa – Additional funding for the Toilet Replacement Program was approved by City Council on December 9 to provide homeowners with a cash incentive to replace their old inefficient toilet with a City-approved, water-efficient toilet.

Ottawa – The City of Ottawa has opened its 50 approved sledding hills. Outdoors enthusiasts are invited to sled while weather and hill conditions permit, and to keep safety in mind while sledding.

Approved sledding hill locations and safety tips are available on the City’s website at ottawa.ca.

Ottawa – Saturday is the final day for Ottawa Public Health’s seven fixed mass H1N1 vaccination clinics. All flu-shot clinics will be closed on Sunday, Dec. 13, and a new schedule of one-day roving flu shot clinics starts on Monday, Dec. 14.

The newly announced roving clinics schedule will be in operation from Dec. 14 to Dec. 22, and will provide residents continued access to both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. Both vaccines are also available at many local doctors’ offices, community health care centres, university campuses and some workplaces.

Ottawa – Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has opened its H1N1 vaccination clinics to the general public, said Dr. Isra Levy, Ottawa's Medical Officer of Health.

"After more than three weeks of concentrating on priority populations, we now have the supply and the capacity to begin offering vaccine to the general public,” said Levy. “The H1N1 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against the flu this year and I encourage all residents to get vaccinated.”

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) will begin providing free pandemic H1N1flu vaccinations to Ottawa residents who need it most. Citywide clinics begin October 26, 2009.

As the initial supply will be limited, OPH will focus on providing the vaccine to the following groups of residents in the first seven to 14 days of operation: 
       • People 6 months old to 65-years-old with chronic medical conditions 
       • Pregnant women
       • Healthy children between 6 months and five years of age
       • Health care workers
       • Household contacts and care providers infants younger than six months and people with compromised immune systems.

The City has the necessary plans, partnerships and resources in place to respond to this fall’s expected busy flu season.

Below are the best methods to prevent the spread of the flu:
-Cough and sneeze into the arm or sleeve, not the hand
-Stay home when ill
-Get the vaccine

There will be sufficient vaccines for everyone who wishes to be immunized. The vaccine will initially be distributed to those people with existing health conditions and seniors since they are at greater risk of developing complications from the H1N1 virus.

The majority of wading pools will close today, Thursday, August 20, 2009.

VIA Rail Canada has undertaken track maintenance work on approximately ten kilometers of track located in the Billings Bridge and Mooney's Bay areas of south-west Ottawa along the Rideau River. The work is scheduled to take place from May 20 to May 31. In order not to interfere with daytime passenger train movements, the work must be performed overnight between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

While work-related noise is inevitable, individual residents should not be subjected to it for more than three nights as the crew and machinery progress along the track.

Last fall was a busy time at City Hall when City Council approved the new Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The TMP includes the Rapid Transit Network, a schedule for implementation of the transit projects, as well as road projects, pedestrian policies and cycling plans.

The TMP sets in motion steps to achieve a world-class and sustainable transit system.

Earth Hour is a global campaign, initiated by the World Wildlife Fund in Sydney, Australia in 2007. The campaign encourages individuals and businesses to join together to demonstrate the potential for action on climate change initiatives. Through their participation, individuals can understand that it’s possible to make a real difference on their environment.

Registration for the TREE program is year-round and trees will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, while quantities last.