Education Committee Newsletter Submission for December 2021

Submitted by Chris Taylor on behalf of Education Committee

The Education Committee held two successful Prospective Member’s Orientations on ZOOM on

November 3/21 at 7:00 pm and on November 6/21 at noon. In total, we had about 18 prospective

members attend. Thanks to Lisa Rouleaux and Susan Russell from Member Selection; Heidi Mithaug-

Cook from Buildings; Bob Bott from Planning and Development and Jane Roberts from Finance for their

presentations and Q and A sessions. In addition. thank you to the Social Committee, Grounds Committee

and Communications Committee for submitting a short description of their roles. The meetings went

well and even included a short YouTube video on The Food Forest Pilot.

In future, the Education Committee will try to hold one “in person” session and one ZOOM session for the convenience of prospective members and committee members.

Sunnyhill and Lead Water Pipes

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

We have had our water tested for lead and it came back negative (less than .5 micrograms/litre). This falls well below the allowable lead concentration levels set by the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality and the Health Canada limit of 5 micrograms per litre.

Based on these results, we can say that Sunnyhill probably does not have lead water pipes.

Coop Housing Board of Directors Descriptions

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

(Editor’s note: the Board of Directors descriptions in this article do not refer specifically to Sunnyside Housing Co-operative but to housing co-operatives in general. For information about Sunnyside’s bylaws, please see the documents page on our website. Marion Gauzer, Communications Committee)

• Chair: this position provides leadership to the board and the co-operative. The chair serves as chair for all board and general meetings, maintains a strong relationship with management, and often serves as the face of the organization. The chair should be familiar with important policies and procedures governing co-operatives.

• Vice-chair: this position is tasked with fulfilling duties assigned by the chair or filling in when the chair is not available.

• Treasurer: this position is often combined with the secretary position. The duties of the treasurer require some understanding of financial reporting and accounting practices and are often given to a manager or hired expert (e.g. an accountant) that can perform them efficiently. The treasurer often oversees the co-operative’s finances, filing the annual return, preparing a budget, and keeping the board and shareholders informed on financial matters.

• Secretary: this position maintains the records of the co-operative including policies and procedures, meeting minutes, and an up-to-date membership list. In many co-ops, the secretary serves as a point of contact for members on matters including share redemption, submitting resolutions, or concerns with the co-op.

Coop Housing Board of Directors Responsibilities

The board of directors is central to the operation of a co-operative business. Directors discuss matters affecting the co-op, make decisions that shape and guide the co-op, and prepare information and recommendations to members to discuss and decide on. Much of what a board does is responsive, reacting to events, ideas, and opportunities facing the co-operative. It’s important for directors to think about the future, and look for ways to improve their practices and the co-op’s well-being. This list gives an overview of the important responsibilities of the board of directors:

1. Manage financial matters of the co-operative: It’s important for the board to have a strong understanding of the co-op’s financial position. This can be done with support from staff or an accountant (depending on the size of the co-op). The board should lead the creation of an annual budget, monitor revenue and expenses, and present the annual return and budget back to the members at the annual meeting. Some members of the board will have signing authority on the co-op’s accounts and their signatures will be required for items like cheques, agreements, chequing accounts, annual returns, and applications.

2. Strategic Planning: The board provides leadership to the organization and shapes its direction. It creates, updates, and maintains strategic plans that include the co-op’s agenda, goals, and key opportunities. The board should regularly identify projects and manage the co-op’s investments.

3. Create policies and procedures: The board will create policies when first incorporating the co-op, and on an ongoing basis. Some policies will be created in response to the co-op’s business, or as challenges and opportunities arise. These policies relate to things like finances, membership, conflict of interest, information and technology, safety, and elections.

4. Give the co-operative a voice: Both the board and the management will promote the co-op to the public. The board, as representatives of the members, should speak on behalf of the co-op when working with partners, funders, media, or other audiences. They should provide information to members at meetings and give direction to staff. It’s good to have a communications strategy for the board and management that outlines how the co-op communicates with other parties, so everyone is sharing a consistent message.

5. Management: Depending on the size of the co-operative, the board may directly manage the day-to-day affairs. In larger co-ops, the board usually provides oversight to managers or an executive team. The board will have the final say on many important decisions and may have to deal with conflict or debate that could arise. For example, it’s the board’s job to decide how to allocate the co-op’s profits. To do this, it needs to take a number of things into consideration: adding to reserve funds, investing in the co-op, and distributing profit to members. Decisions like this can lead to conflict, but the co-op can help avoid this by including members in the discussion (and listening to their ideas).

6. Engage the members: At the end of the day, the co-op exists to serve its members. The board should engage members in important decisions and happenings with the co-op. The board can help ensure members have a sense of ownership with their co-op by communicating openly with them

 https://coopcreator.ca/resource/being-a-board-member-in-a-co-operative-business/

50 Recipes for Reducing Food Waste

Submitted by Rose Ing on behalf of the Education Committee

Happy Earth Day on April 22, 2021!

In honour of Earth Day and in light of the food wastage that we all contribute to, the Education Committee would like to provide you with some food for thought in the form of an unusual cookbook that provides inspiration to use food scraps that most of us would usually throw away or compost.

This book was recently released by Ikea as part of their commitment to reducing waste so some of you may already have seen it. The book contains 50 recipes created by chefs across North America. It provides some interesting ideas for reducing food waste by using up food scraps that most of us never considered eating.

Here is the link to the book: https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/files/pdf/58/9f/589f2b5d/the-scrapsbook.pdf

Bon appetit and enjoy your food scraps!

Notes from the BluPlanet Recycling Presentation

Submitted on behalf of the Education Committee by Belle Auld

• Foam food containers are NOT the same as food-soiled paper – foam containers always go in the garbage

• Food-soiled paper such as cardboard pizza boxes go in the green compost bin

• Plastic clamshell containers MUST be clean to be recycled 

• Single use plastic bags and all stretchy plastic must be combined into one bag and TIED closed

• Black plastic containers go in the garbage

• Please do NOT use compostable bags for garbage – these and any organic/food waste create methane gas in the landfill (methane is much more harmful to the environment than carbon)

• Please bag all garbage to keep it from flying out of the BluPlanet trucks

• Tin foil can be recycled only if it is CLEAN

• Small household items such as humidifiers do NOT go in the garbage – they go to electronic recycling (there is an electronic recycling bin at West Hillhurst Community Centre, inside by the ice rink)

• Yard waste in large bags – let Yvonne Sabraw know when you have these. She takes them to the dump so we avoid the extra costs BluPlanet charges when these are outside the bins

All About Sourdough: Information and Recipes

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

Better late than never…  For those of you baking (or thinking of trying to bake) with sourdough, here is some information about sourdough and links to some recipes.

Sourdough can be made with many different flours. Injera bread, traditional in Ethiopia, is made with gluten-free teff flour, though it is difficult to breed a successful starter with only teff flour. Most injera recipes call for the addition of either wheat or rye flour – which then makes it not gluten-free. Some injera recipes suggest substituting millet flour for teff. There are also basic sourdough starters made with gluten-free flours (see recipes below).

The starter can also vary – some recipes call for water to be added to the flour; some call for milk. You would think that adding milk and keeping it for years or decades might not be a good idea, but it seems to work without poisoning those who eat the products made with it. I used milk in my sourdough in my pre-gluten-free days when I lived in the country and never poisoned anyone (that I know of).  

A side advantage of having sourdough around is that it is then easier to make wine without having to add yeast. The sourdough produces yeast spores that hang around ready to turn zinfandel grape juice into wine. (I also did that successfully when living in the country – also without poisoning anyone – that I know of…).

Recipes:

Sourdough starters:

• With regular flour and water – Here is one recipe, complete with video - https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8392/sourdough-starter/

• With regular flour and milk - https://www.robinhood.ca/En/Recipes/Sherwood-Sourdough-Starter

• With gluten-free flour and milk (which I haven’t tried yet) - http://stage.robinhood.ca/En/Recipes/Sherwood-Starter-Made-With-Gluten-Free-Flour

Sourdough recipes:

• Bread – there are many recipes out there. Here is just one, also including another starter recipe https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-to-make-sourdough-bread/

• Injera bread, includes recipe for teff sourdough starter - https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/injera-ethiopian-flatbread-3364733

• Cinnamon rolls - https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2017/12/how-to-make-sourdough-cinnamon-rolls-step-by-step-guide/print/20758/

• Banana bread, cheese biscuits, challah, pancakes, tuna quiche, chocolate cake and sweet dough – go to www.robinhood.ca and search sourdough

• Gluten-free muffins and pancakes - www.robinhood.ca and search gluten-free sourdough

Anyone have a favourite sourdough recipe (or sourdough starter) they would like to share?

February Recycling Tip: Automotive Chemicals

Submitted by Peter Clyne on behalf of the Education Committee

It is quite icy out there! A reminder that there are some gravel bins available around the co-op to make our walkways a little less slippery. As well, the city has made its sand-salt mixture (called pickle) available for free again this year. There are a number of pickup locations around the city that can be found at this website: 

https://www.calgary.ca/transportation/roads/road-maintenance/snow-and-ice-control/sanding-material-pick-up-locations.html

I think the closest location to us is at the EMS station off of Memorial Drive (1940 Westmount Blvd NW).

Additionally, this month's recycling tip is about automotive chemicals like motor oil, transmission fluid, or coolant. These cannot be dealt with in our garbage, recycling, or composting receptacles. They are disposed of free of charge at hazardous waste drop off locations, either a designated fire hall, or the landfill's throw and go area. Just bring it in a sealed, spill-proof container and label it. https://www.calgary.ca/uep/wrs/what-goes-where/chemicals-automotive.html

Christmas Recycling Tips

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

Bubble wrap – goes in with your stretchy plastic bags.  Bag them all together and tie the bag closed.  They go into the blue cart.

Cards, envelopes, paper gift bags, sticky notes – blue cart.  Except for the plastic windows (please remove them) put envelopes in the black garbage cart. Please also remove ribbons, string handles, shoe strings and metal rivets from any of the above items and put in your black cart.

Foam and Styrofoam packaging – black cart.

Ribbons and bows - black cart.Wrapping paper and tissue – blue cart unless it is foil/metallic.  Foil goes in the black cart.  Remove all ribbons, string and as much tape as possible from the paper first.

For a full list, go to https://www.calgary.ca/uep/wrs/what-goes-where/holiday-birthday.html

Inexpensive Christmas Ideas

Submitted by Chris Taylor on behalf of the Education Committee

Fleece scarves:

One meter of fleece material costs approximately $10 (Fabricland had it on sale for $7/meter at the beginning of November). You can get three or four scarves out of 1 meter of 150 cm wide material.

No sewing necessary; no pattern necessary – just open up the material and cut three lengths that are approximately 10 – 12 inches wide. Then cut fringe at both ends of each scarf.

Material stores will also sell partial meters, so you could buy .3 of one design, .3 of another design and .3 of another so you have a variety of designs. All for approximately $10. (Most material stores won’t do .25 of a meter.)

Several of us at Sunnyhill have Fabricland memberships that can sometimes get you a good sale price. Contact Belle if you want more information.

Cookie Mixes in a Jar:

Almost everyone enjoys fresh home baked cookies!

Cookie mixes in a jar are easy and inexpensive to make yourself or with your children to give as welcomed gifts to friends and family. To give you some ideas on what you can put in your cookie mixes, here are links to websites that provide some ideas you might like using 1/2 litre and 1 litre canning jars.

Canning jars can be hard to find at this time of year. For a greener gift, consider recycling and reusing any glass jars you have on hand! Decorate your jar lids with scrap cloth, a hand drawn label and some ribbon.

For 1 liter jars:

https://www.delscookingtwist.com/chocolate-chip-cookie-mix-in-a-jar-a-printable-label/

For 1 quart jars

https://celebratingsweets.com/mm-cookie-mix-in-a-jar/

Enjoy!

Sock Snowman:

Here’s how to make a snowman out of a sock, rice, and a couple elastics.

Take a sock and cut it roughly in half (above the ankle), so that there are two sections: a rectangular shape, and a hockey-stick/foot shape.

Tightly close off one end of the rectangular shape with an elastic and fill it with rice.

close off the top end with another elastic.

Use a third and final elastic to shape a “head” and “body”

decorate with pens, paints, buttons, ribbons, whatever.

Now use that hockey stick/ foot shaped part of the sock to make a toque. You can roll the edges or leave it loose. It’s up to you!

Here is a site with instructions and more pictures.

http://www.darkroomanddearly.com/blog/rkroomanddearly.com/2011/12/10th-day-of-christmas-sock-snowmen.html

Recycled Christmas Card Boxes:

I used to make these with my daughters years ago. Rather than describe the process, I found a really good video that explains how to do it. See the link below

Spicy Mulled Cider:

Spicy Mulled Cider Mix (Put in a decorated canning jar)

¾ cups crushed cinnamon sticks

¾ cups chopped dried orange rind

1/3 cup allspice

¼ cup whole cloves

Spicy Mulled Cider (Print out the recipe and glue to a piece of stiff paper; hole punch and tie to the jar with ribbon or twine)

4 cups apple juice; OR red wine; OR ½ apple juice and ½ cranberry juice

2 Tablespoons Spicy Cider Mix

Combine all in a saucepan; cover and bring to a boil, then simmer gently for 20 minutes

Strain into mugs, add honey to taste

Serves 4

Recycling Tip

Submitted by Peter Clyne on behalf of Education Committee

Hello,

Here is this month's recycling tip from the education committee:
Please dispose of gloves and disposable face masks immediately after use into the garbage. They are not recyclable and if put into the recycling bins, they can jam the sorting machinery.

Propane tanks less than 30 lbs are taken at the landfill or designated fire stations (between 8 and 5). Vehicle tanks are not accepted, but alberta's recycling hotline ( https://recyclesearch.com/profile/recyclinghotline ) lists private companies that can take them at a price.

The whole list of waste items can be found at https://www.calgary.ca/uep/wrs/what-goes-where/default.html

- The Education Committee

Battery & Light Bulb Recycling

Submitted by Peter Clyne on behalf of Education Committee

We now have both lightbulb and battery recycling receptacles in the shed!

Currently, most batteries (rechargeable, non-rechargeable, cell phone, and laptop) can be disposed at one stop, so put them in there and they will be taken out monthly or when it gets full.

Please don’t put car batteries in there, those just go to the fire station hazardous household waste drop off.

-The Education Committee

Education Committee's Musings on Pandemic Lessons

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

What we are learning during our first pandemic

• That we can still get together to eat and/or meet via Zoom

• How to make pancakes without a recipe

• That a person can spend approximately three hours watching videos on how to sew a mask

• That a sewing machine repair shop is not considered an essential service

• That it IS possible to garden yourself into exhaustion

• That the 19 in Covid19 stands for the 19 pounds we gain

• That wearing a mask at home prevents constant eating

• That community is important

What we did not learn:

• Why toilet paper??

What to do with old lightbulbs

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

1. Incandescent light bulbs (regular old fashioned bulbs) or halogen light bulbs - go in the black cart.  It is recommended that you put them in a puncture resistant, non-breakable container or wrap them in two layers of paper and tie it closed.

2. Compact fluorescent bulbs – these do not go in any bin.
To dispose of these safely, wrap each bulb in paper and tie it closed.These need to be taken to either: -a *designated fire hall  or -one of the city’s free **Throw 'n' Go landfill areas. SO, we now have a small box in the garage where we will collect these and take them to a fire hall once every 2 or 3 months. The box is right behind the door when you enter (the small part of the garage where gardening equipment is kept.)

3. Fluorescent tubes – again, these do not go in any bin.
A maximum of three (3) – no longer than 4 feet in length - can be taken to a *designated fire hall 
More than three (3) tubes and tubes longer than 4 feet in length need to go one of the city’s free **Throw 'n' Go landfill areas.

*Our closest designated fire halls are:

• Vista Heights Fire Station #4 (1991 - 18 Avenue NE)

• Varsity Fire Station #17 (3740 32 Avenue NW)

**Free Throw 'n' Go landfill areas:

• East Calgary Landfill (68 Street and 17 Avenue SE)

• Shepard Landfill (12111 Avenue & 68 Street SE)

• Spyhill Landfill (69 Street and 112 Avenue NW)

If you would like to be part of a regular trip to our local fire station to drop off compact fluorescent lightbulbs please let us (Belle Auld, Rose Ing, Chris Taylor, Peter Clyne) know.

To find out how to recycle other things, go to What Goes Where Calgary  https://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/What-goes-where/A-to-Z-Listing.aspx

*Stay tuned for information about old battery collection.

BluPlanet continuing Operations

Submitted by Peter Clyne on behalf of Education Committee

Hello everyone,

If you were concerned about our recycling in light of the closure of some recycling facilities, we do not need to be concerned with that at this time as they bring recyclables to a different facility. BluPlanet is taking the following precautions:

-Staff who can work from home are and can still be reaches

- Field staff are working a safe distance apart from each other as much as possible

- BluPlanet is supporting any staff that require isolation

- Sick employees are required to stay home and contact 811 for further instructions

- Staff have increased cleaning and disinfecting their vehicles and equipment

- Proactively checking in with employees to see how they are doing, both physically and mentally

- BluPlanet is following recommended guidelines from the government and health officials

BluPlanet's communication with more details:

As some of you might have heard, the City is telling people to hold onto their recycling material as it might go to the landfill next week due to a Covid-19 outbreak at their processor. This might lead to a lot of questions from Boards and tenants about whether or not they should recycle or how it will affect us. 

Please note, BluPlanet Recycling services will remain as usual. We have not been impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak at Cascade (the processor the City uses). We have another processor that we are able to use that the City does not and the mixed recycling materials will still be recycled. 

In terms of safety for our workers we are requesting that residents keep at least 6ft of distance with our staff while on site. 

-The Education Committee

May Recycling Tip

Submitted by Peter Clyne on behalf of the Education Committee

As we emerge from winter and begin cleaning our yards, this is a reminder that pretty much all of that yard waste goes into the green bin! That includes:

    Leaves, cones, needles and berries

    Plants, tree fruits and flowers

    Branches, twigs and hedge prunings

    Grass clippings, sod and weeds

    Garden soil and untreated mulch

    Hay, straw and coconut planter liners

If you are wondering about disposable gloves and face masks, they all go into the dumpster as garbage!

This includes:

-          All types of mask

-          Rubber gloves

-          Latex gloves

-          Plastic gloves

-          Nitrile gloves

-          Dishwashing gloves

The city’s landfills are still open, but are not accepting cash payments. Additionally, the City of Calgary's Green Cart compost giveaway for 2020 has been indefinitely postponed.

-The Education Committee

Keeping clean and safe

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

Disclaimer – we tried to get information from the internet using the most reliable sources such as Alberta Health and the World Health Organization 

Bleach

Make your own bleach disinfectant cleaning solution for surfaces (not hands)

Info from Alberta Health Services:  https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/ppih/if-ppih-covid-19-environmental-cleaning-public-facilities.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2E3iYmF_bpGNEOIfzz8L4-dtuvm54sKeFoCzav_lLShQektCa_uMGYFwo

“You can prepare a bleach water solution with 100 ml of unscented household bleach per 900 ml of water.”

Also, do NOT combine bleach with any of these (they form toxic fumes)

• Ammonia

• Acidic compounds such as vinegar or window cleaner

• Alcohol

Note – once mixed, the solution loses its effectiveness after 24 hours.

Hand Sanitizer

Recipe 1 – using rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide and glycerol (recommended by the WHO)

• 1 2/3 cups alcohol

• 2 tsp glycerol

• 1 Tblsp hydrogen peroxide

• ¼ cup water

Mix 1 ⅔ cups alcohol with 2 teaspoons of glycerol. If you can't find glycerol, proceed with the rest of the recipe anyway and just remember to moisturize your hands after applying the sanitizer.

Mix in 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, then another ¼ cup of distilled or boiled (then cooled) water. (If you're working with a lower-concentration solution of rubbing alcohol, use far less water; remember, at least ⅔ of your final mixture has to be alcohol.)

Recipe 2 – using alcohol and aloe vera

From https://www.thespruce.com/make-your-own-homemade-hand-sanitizer-606145

• 2/3 cup 99 percent rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol

• 1/3 cup aloe vera gel

• 8 to 10 drops essential oil, optional

Recipe 3 -using just hydrogen peroxide:

From https://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/hydrogen-peroxide-uses.html

• spray 3% on your hands after washing, or dip hands into a container of 3%

And don’t forget Soap

According to National Geographic, soap is one of the best disinfectants:

“Soap works so effectively because its chemistry prys open the coronavirus’s exterior envelope and cause it to degrade. These soap molecules then trap tiny fragments of the virus, which are washed away in water. Hand sanitizers work similarly by busting apart the proteins contained in a virus.”

Cleaning electronic devices

From Alberta Health Services https://www.alberta.ca/infection-prevention-and-control.aspx

“Follow manufacturer’s instructions for use for specific recommendations. 

• Use a disposable soft, non-abrasive, lint- free damp cloth or wipe, pre-moistened with a cleaner/disinfectant. 

• Squeeze out excess liquid before use. 

• Never spray products directly onto electronic devices 

Examples of disinfectants that may be indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions for use: 

• Alcohol swabs and wipes (often used for phones, mouse, pagers) 

• Combination products such as alcohol/quaternary ammonium e.g. CaviWipes® 

• Hydrogen peroxide products such as accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP) products e.g. Virox RTU®, Accel®, Oxivir®, Percept Wipe®”

Do not use bleach on electronic devices

Make your own face mask

Check out websites if you are interested and able to sew your own face mask.  For example: 

• https://www.craftpassion.com/face-mask-sewing-pattern/

And, this is just rumour – but a student at Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association who was a Dr in her home country, recommends using a woman’s sanitary napkin.  If you do this, we want photos….

Myths:

And finally here is a link to debunk some of the myths about Covid19 going around:

https://www.thesun.ie/news/5107049/world-health-organization-blasts-13-dangerous-coronavirus-myths-about-how-to-beat-virus/

COVID-19 information

Submitted by Ren Stewart

On behalf of the Social Committee in collaboration with the Education Committee:

 AHS is suggesting neighbours keep an eye on each other in case anybody gets the coronavirus and needs to stay home for the recommended 2 weeks or 14 days. I think we should be proactive and make an emergency plan for our community to not only contain any outbreak but to prevent it from spreading.

 Links are provided for most of the information anyone would need.

 How do I protect myself?

• Alberta Health Services 

• To help protect against all respiratory illnesses, including the flu and COVID-19, you should: sh your hands often and well. Refer to hand-washing guidance
  here: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page14955.aspx

  1. Avoid touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. 

  2. Avoid close contact with people who are sick

  3. Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched

  4. Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling ill (14 days)

  5. When sick, cover your cough and sneezes and then wash your hands. Refer to respiratory etiquette guidance here: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page14511.aspx 

 https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx

 Includes: 

• Regular updates

• Cases

• How to prepare households and communities

• Building an emergency kit, etc.

Symptoms

 COVID-19 symptoms are similar to influenza or other respiratory illnesses. Common symptoms include:

• fever

• cough

• extreme tiredness

Symptom of serious illness include:

• difficulty breathing

• pneumonia

Most people (about 80%) recover without needing special treatment. However, it can cause serious illness in some, and there is a risk of death in severe cases.

While we are still learning about how COVID-19 people who are older or have with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.

If you have symptoms, stay home and call Health Link 811 for instructions.

More helpful information:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-dont-let-the-coronavirus-mutate-into-an-epidemic-of-fear-and-panic/

Politics Briefing: No need to be alarmist about ...

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-politics-briefing-no-need-to-be-alarmist-about-coronavirus-health/

David McKeown, MD served as Toronto's medical officer of health from 2004 to 2016, during the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in Toronto,

Yours in cooperation,

Ren Stewart

Tip: What Kind of Garbage Bag Should You Use?

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

Garbage tip:
Should you use biodegradable and/or compostible bags (instead of regular plastic bags) for your black cart garbage?

You would think compostable and biodegradable plastic bags would be more environmentally friendly, right? Turns out – not so much…

From https://sustainabilitysaturday.com:
“Landfills do not allow biodegradable or compostable bags to break down as intended, and it takes 2.7 times more energy to produce compostable bags than traditional plastic bags.”

The article also mentions that, in landfills, these bags break down by anaerobic (without oxygen) digestion which releases methane. Methane is approximately 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Compostable bags in composting facilities break down by aerobic digestion – with oxygen.

And more: “Trash bags labeled as biodegradable and degradable are often plastic bags with additives that break the plastic into tiny pieces. These pieces can be harmful to the environment and difficult to clean up.”

So what is best to use for household garbage that you put in your black cart:
“you should support the plastic recycling industry by purchasing trash bags made from recycled plastic.”

December Recycling Tip

Plastic - Tupperware and food storage containers

Submitted by Peter Clyne on behalf of the Education Committee

Recycle plastic food storage containers marked with recycling symbol 1-7:

• In your blue cart

• At a community recycling depot

Community recycling depot locations listed at this website: https://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/What-goes-where/Plastic-tupperware-food-storage.aspx

For more recycling tips, and specific directions for almost every consumer good, check out the city's what goes where listing at: https://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/What-goes-where/Default.aspx

-The Education Committee

Education Committee Meeting

Submitted by Belle Auld on behalf of the Education Committee

The next Education Committee meeting will take place on November 1 at 7:00 p.m.