With the fall season comes falling leaves, final tree pruning and a bundle of other yard chores.
The Cochrane Eco Centre wants to let Cochranites know that they have options to help them do these things in an eco-friendly way.
“The biggest thing we encourage in fall is taking advantage of the seasonal cleanup programs down at the Eco Centre,” said Sharon Howland, Cochrane’s waste and recycling manager.
The centre accepts leaves, grass and garden cleanup debris, such as dead flowers, right through until the middle of November and they accept tree trimmings year round.
Howland stressed that people should not put these types of organic debris in waste collection carts, but rather bring it down to the Eco Centre and they will ensure that it is handled correctly.
She explained that when organic debris is going to landfills, it decomposes in the absence of air and that means green house gas emissions like methane are produced.
“Organics in a landfill have a significant contribution to climate change, as well when they decompose in the absence of air they produce toxic leachate which eventually can make its way into our groundwater,” she said.
Howland pointed out that people can help prevent climate change and save valuable landfill space by bringing those materials to the centre and with these materials they are able to produce a really valuable product in the form of compost or mulch, which returns nutrients to the soil.
Another tip Howland offered was when residents are doing a final mow of their lawns to leave the grass clippings on the lawn rather than raking them up. She said they retain moisture throughout the winter and return nutrients back into that soil.
As for what to do with branches and fallen trees that may be around town from the early September winter storm, Howland said to keep an eye on the Eco Centre Facebook page at facebook.com/cochraneecocentre and visit their website regularly at cochrane.ca/ecocentre. She also said to call the town waste and recycling hotline if further assistance is required at 403-851-2277.
