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Home My WebLink AboutOPD-004-17Operations Department Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Municipal Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: March 27, 2017 Report Number: OPD-004-17 File Number: By-law Number: Report Subject: Pitch In Week Recommendations: 1.That Report OPD-004-17 be received for information. Resolution: GG-156-17 Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-004-17 Page 2 Report Overview Clarington will once again be joining a nationwide initiative April 22 – 20; Pitch In Week. This report will detail planned events and how the community can get invoiced. 1. Background 2017 marks the 50th annual Pitch In Canada Week. Pitch In Canada is a national non-profit organization founded in 1967 by several volunteers concerned about the proliferation of packaging and its effects on the land and marine environment. They recognized that personal action with assistance from but not dependent on governments and other stakeholders is needed to conserve, enhance and protect the environment and to reduce and reuse waste. 2. 2017 Pitch In Week This year Pitch In Week will officially run April 22nd to April 29th. However, it is perfectly acceptable to complete your clean up at any time throughout the year. Staff have registered Pitch In Week in Clarington with Pitch In Canada. Residents can go to pitch-in.ca/ 2.1 Pitch In Week: Involving residents, young and old in local projects which clean-up, restore and/or preserve the environment, promoting environmental sustainability and involving residents in local partnerships which benefit and enhance their communities is one of the main objectives of Pitch In Week. Cleaning up, restoring and beautifying the environment by cleaning up litter and other garbage from urban and rural areas promotes respect for Canada's natural and urban environments. These events encourage civic pride and develop long-term working relationships for the future leaving lasting benefits. Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-004-17 Page 3 Individuals and groups wishing to participate in Pitch In Week are encouraged to register their activities by contacting the Operations Department. They will be asked when and where they plan to take action or staff can provide suggestions for locations that require clean up. Locations for clean up are determined from several sources. Staff report areas that contain large amounts of litter. Volunteer groups without a particular preference area are given these identified areas to clean up. Schools usually clean up areas in and around their home school. Lastly through advertising and inquiries, other groups or individuals come forward and let us know which area requires cleaning and volunteer to do these identified areas. In addition, there clean-up locations have been pre-established as noted in Attachment 1. As well, there are a number of related events planned that are described below. Registered participants will receive a participation certificate once their event is completed. The Municipality will supply gloves, garbage and recycle bags for any event registered with staff. Staff will work closely with representatives to ensure that safety is a priority for all clean up events and locations 2.2 Events Port of Newcastle: Port of Newcastle-SWNA-Bond Head Community Group is organizing a Port of Newcastle Operation Clean Sweep. This initiative is a community effort to beautify the waterfront area by removing debris and garbage. Once or twice a year they organize a major clean up event and everyone is welcome to assist in this effort. A spring clean-up is planned for Saturday, April 29, 2017. Please visit www.facebook.com/PortofNewcastleOperationCleanSweep/ for more information on this clean up. Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-004-17 Page 4 Firehouse Youth Group Clarington Safe Communities is organizing their Annual Spring Clean up for Saturday, April 22. This event encompasses all of Clarington as residents are invited to clean up predetermined areas or call and register their own clean up. A Free BBQ is planned for all volunteers at the Municipal Square after the clean up courtesy of Enbridge. Ontario Power Generation, Bowmanville Rotary, John Howard Society, Fire House Youth, COVANTA and the Municipality of Clarington are partnered to help make this a successful event each year. Compost Day Saturday, April 22nd Operations Depot 42 will be the site of the Durham Region’s annual Free Compost Giveaway Event from 8 am to noon. A local food bank will be on site and residents are encouraged to “trade” a non- perishable donation for free compost. 2016 saw a record number of vehicles attended the compost event. This event takes place at the Operations Depot 42, 178 Darlington/Clarke Townline Road in Bowmanville. Those wishing to participate should bring containers about the size of a blue box – maximum 3 – and a shovel. Participants will be required to fill their own containers with the fresh compost. Durham Region staff will be on hand to facilitate the exchange of damaged blue boxes and green bins for a new one. Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) and Electrical and Electronic Equipment Waste (WEEE) Event On Saturday, September 23 from 8 am to noon, Clarington will again play host to Durham Region as they sponsor a joint MHSW and WEEE event at Operations Depot 42. Residents will be invited to drop off their hazardous and E-Waste free of charge. The waste collected at this event will be recycled or disposed of in an environmentally safe and responsible way. All unwanted electronic equipment is classified as electronic waste (e-waste). Many electronic products contain materials such as lead, mercury and other Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-004-17 Page 5 hazardous materials that pose environmental impacts when disposed of improperly. Clarington has been participating in the waste events for a number of years with good response from our residents. The chart below provides results from these events for the last six years. 2.3 Battery Recycling Program Durham's household battery collection program is provided twice annually: once in the spring and once in the fall coinciding with Earth Week celebrations and the autumn Fire Department's promotion to change smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries. Durham's curbside battery collection program for 2017 is: • April 17-21, 2017 on regular residential Blue Box collection day • November 6th to 10th on your regular residential Blue Box collection day To date, Durham residents have diverted 145 metric tonnes (18,450 kilograms) of spent household batteries from the waste stream. For more information, visit www.durham.ca/battery #DurhamBattery 3. Comments Pitch In Week is a great way to promote to the residents of Clarington the importance of reducing, re-using, recycling and properly disposing of waste. From recycling and composting programs to cleaning and enhancing shorelines, streams, urban and wilderness areas protecting our environment is everyone’s responsibility. Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-004-17 Page 6 4. Concurrence Not Applicable 5. Conclusion Pitch-In Week is a chance for whole communities to work towards a common goal to help beautify and sustain our environment. Participation in Pitch-In Week events is open, and encouraged, for everyone. 6. Strategic Plan Application This initiative in in conformity with our Strategic Plan. The annual Pitch In campaign allows resident to become engaged in our community as well as enhancing access to our unique natural environment. Submitted by: Reviewed by: Frederick J. Horvath Curry Clifford, MPA, CMO B.A., R.D.M.R., R.R.F.A. Interim CAO Director of Operations Staff Contact: Susan Hajnik, 905-263-2291 ext. 527 Attachment 1 – Clean Sweep Poster There are no interested parties to be notified of Council’s decision. FJH/SH OPD-004-17 Attachment #1