The City of Winnipeg has committed to many environmental initiatives to help residents live greener and reduce their carbon footprints. Finding out about these initiatives is as easy as visiting Winnipeg.ca/greenspace. Here is a basic rundown of some of what the city has to offer.

Waste Minimization

Recycling and composting helps citizens of Winnipeg to reduce the amount of waste going into our landfills. It also has the added benefit of decreasing trash collection related costs, property taxes and increasing revenue from the sale of recyclables. Since 1997, the city of Winnipeg has sponsored a blue box program creating on-site recycling centers in all communities including multi-family dwellings. This makes recycling easier and more convenient, and it encourages more residents to get involved.

For residents interested in learning about composting, the city of Winnipeg offers educational information thanks to Water and Waste. Here you’ll find easy to understand information clarifying what can be composted, what can’t be composted, how to compost and what to do with composted materials. Information on grasscycling is also available, helping residents to reduce yard waste placed in landfills.

Organic Lawn Care

Greenspace of Winnipeg also has a page devoted completely to organic lawn care. Organic lawn care practices reduce the amount of herbicides and pesticides placed in our soil and that drain into our water supply. This keeps the Earth healthier as well as all of us who live in the community. This style of lawn care also encourages planting native grasses and plants so that they are hardier in the soil naturally found in Winnipeg and can withstand temperatures and native insects with less interventions. When this is done, an added benefit is that landscaping is easier and less time consuming to maintain.

Responsible Energy Consumption

Winnipeg wants to encourage citizens to use energy responsibly and conserve whenever possible. Two initiatives to help with this include Earth Hour and Earth Day. During Earth Hour, residents are encouraged to turn off lights from 8:30 to 9:30 PM on Saturday, March 28. This is part of a global campaign helping to bring awareness to the concerns surrounding our energy consumption. The take away from Earth Hour might include citizens making more conscious choices about setting their thermostats, using blinds and drapes, turning lights off when not in a room and air drying dishes. Just by taking these simple steps, every family can do their part and help to create a healthier, more sustainable Earth.

Earth Day is April 22. On this day all of Winnipeg is encouraged to come together and celebrate our Earth. Local businesses getting involved and offering special events include Downtown Biz (sponsoring a clean-up initiative), the Children’s Museum, Oak Hammock Marsh and more.

In addition to these important initiatives, the City of Winnipeg’s Greenspace site also offers citizens access to important information about sustainable transit, water quality, what they can do to help with climate change reduction, sustainable green space management and sustainable corporate operations. Take the time to browse the site to learn more, get involved and find your way toward a more sustainable lifestyle.