19 | Thursday, May 22, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Halton.ca 311 Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any accessibility needs at Halton Region events or meetings. What rigid plastic packaging is accepted? Halton Region accepts the following rigid plastic packing in the Blue Box: Blue Box GreenCart What compostable papers are accepted? Halton Region accepts the following compostable papers in the GreenCart: Black & clear plastic take-out containers Clear plastic "clam shell" containers Plastic plates, cups & coffee cup lids No cutlery Paper towels, facial tissues, toilet paper rolls Waxed paper, parchment paper, meat paper Paper cups (plastic lids go in Blue Box) Paper plates, paper bowls Paper egg cartons, paper coffee take-out trays Plastic plant pots & trays No dirt Beverage, soap, cleaning bottles, caps go in garbage; cottage cheese, cream cheese, dips, margarine, yogurt tubs & lids; maximum size 4 litre (1 gallon) Plastic bottles, tubs & lids Single-serve plastic food containers No film or foil To determine whether paper products are compostable and can go into the GreenCart give them a rip. If the paper product is difficult to rip, or if there is visible plastic or metallic lining, it cannot go in the GreenCart. The following items do NOT go in the Blue Box: plastic laundry baskets, plastic dish racks, plastic toys, plastic chairs, plastic bags, plastic film, Styrofoam, and garden hoses. If you can't reuse them, these items go in the garbage. Help reduce contamination With less contamination in the GreenCart, the final compost will be a better product that can be used in agricultural and landscaping projects. Following these tips will help reduce contamination: No plastic packaging. When cleaning out your fridge, please remember to remove food from plastic bags, plastic wrap and Styrofoam. Plastic bags, plastic wrap and Styrofoam go in the garbage and the old or leftover food goes in the GreenCart. No elastics. Please remove elastic bands from vegetables including broccoli, celery, green onions and asparagus. The elastic bands go in the garbage, and the old food goes in the GreenCart. No stickers. Please remove the sticker from fruit such as bananas, apples, pears and peaches. The stickers go in the garbage, and the fruit peels, cores and pits go in the GreenCart. No diapers. Please place diapers and sanitary products in the garbage. These materials do not compost, and result in compost that does not meet Ontario provincial quality guidelines and would have to be disposed of as waste. Meetings at Halton Region May 28 June 10 June 11 June 11 Gary Carr Regional Chair 9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Keep your neighbourhood clean Use Blue Boxes only. Recyclables in plastic bags, cardboard boxes, grocery bins, laundry baskets, milk crates, or garbage/recycling cans will not be collected. Place acceptable materials loose in your Blue Box. Rinse all containers and ensure they are clean. Papers can be bundled and tied or placed loose, but no plastic bags. Tie corrugated cardboard in bundles no larger than 90 cm x 90 cm x 30 cm (3 ft x 3 ft x 1 ft) and place beside your Blue Box. Help reduce Blue Box litter by following these tips to keep your neighbourhood clean: Squeeze cans, bottles and cartons, but please don't flatten them. Flatten cardboard. Stack your Blue Boxes and place heavier items such as phone books and magazines on top of loose materials. Avoid windy weather during the night and put your Blue Box at the curb by 7 a.m. the morning of your collection day. 220514 Celebrate Paramedic Week, May 26-June 2 May 26 to June 2 is Paramedic Week. In Halton, we have highly-trained paramedics responding to the emergency medical needs of our residents each and every day. Halton Paramedics do their work with dedication and care. In 2013, Halton's paramedics met 100% of response time targets. As part of their commitment to the health and safety of this region, Halton's Paramedic Services also offer CPR and defibrillator training. Defibrillators have been installed in municipal buildings across Halton. On May 28, the Region will also be donating three decommissioned ambulances to local charities. Please join me in saying "thank you" to our Paramedic Services. For more information, visit Halton.ca/paramedics. Regional Council Health & Social Services Cttee. Planning & Public Works Cttee. Admin & Finance Cttee. Meetings can be viewed at www.halton.ca/meetings