Environmental Action

• Please ensure you wear gloves and thoroughly wash your hands after the clean up.
• Wear brightly colored or reflective clothing so drivers can see you clearly.
• If you encounter sharp items (needles and syringes), please leave them in place and report the items immediately to Customer Service who will dispatch Town staff who are trained in their safe handling and disposal.
• Share your clean up photos with us by emailing the environment team, or post them on social media with the hashtag #EGCleanup.
• You can also borrow signs for during and after your cleanup event, visibility vests and pickers.
• Please note regional roads require permission and coordination from York Region.
• If you are organizing a large group event, please include that in your email.

Burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil and gasoline raises the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming. You can help to reduce the demand for fossil fuels, which in turn reduces global warming, by using energy more wisely.
The following is a list of steps you can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Use less heat and air conditioning
• Replace lightbulbs with LEDs
• Drive less and drive smart (keep tires inflated, carpool, etc.)
• Buy energy-efficient products
• Use less hot water
• Turn lights off when not in use
• Plant trees
• Encourage others to conserve energy

Water is perhaps our most valuable resource; it is essential that water conservation be foremost in our minds to sustain supplies during periods of reduced rainfall and peak demand.  Essential water reserves must be maintained to provide unrestricted water use for activities of necessity associated with indoor water use and fire protection.

During the summer months, the Town's Outdoor Water Use By-law limits the use of municipally supplied water for outdoor activities, like watering lawns and gardens, washing vehicles, or filling swimming pools to specific days.

Tips to conserve water

• Wash clothes in cold water
• Scape dishes instead of rinsing before placing them in the dishwasher
• Repair leaks in fixtures and pipes
• Replace high-volume toilets with newer energy efficient ones
• Use rain barrels to collect and water gardens
• Water lawns and gardens early in the morning to reduce evaporation

Helpful links

• Outdoor Water Use By-Law 2002-100

• York Region Water Conservation Strategy

Disposal of all invasive species should be done by:

• Placing all plant material in heavy duty, construction grade black garbage bags. Seal the bags tightly, and cover any holes in the bag (e.g. with tape). When bagging root material, minimize the amount of soil being disposed of.
• Garbage bags with plant material may be left in direct sunlight for a week or longer, to help kill plant material.
• Care should be taken to not rip or otherwise put holes in the garbage bags so that the plant material remains contained.
• Garbage bags with invasive species should be disposed through the local collection general garbage system.
• Please note that invasive species can easily spread, they should not be composted.

Learn more about invasive species on the Ontario Parks website or the Ontario Invasive Plants website.

Please note that some plants (e.g. hogweed) need special treatment to avoid harm. If you are unsure of how to manage them, please visit the Species list at the Ontario Invasive Plant Council for detailed information.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) use ash trees to complete their life cycle. The most destructive period of its life cycle is in its larval stage, between August and October. The larvae feed on the inner bark and sapwood of the tree. This damage to the tree disrupts the movement of water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.

To fight the spread of the EAB, it is important for private landowners to be aware and consider the treatment and removal methods above. Many local private nurseries and arborists can assist you in this process. The Town will treat and/or remove trees on public property.

Helpful links

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency Pest Control sheet 
• York Region's EAB page
• EAB Tree Rebate Program 
• York Region Woodlot Owners, Emerald Ash Borer Advisory Services Program

Lymantria Dispar Dispar (LDD), previously known as Gypsy moth, now known as Spongy Moth, is an invasive species that is found throughout Ontario. In their caterpillar stage they feed on many types of deciduous trees (oak, maple, elm, birch, etc.) and during outbreaks are also known to feed on coniferous trees (white pine, spruce, etc.). Outbreaks are cyclical, typically occurring every 7 to 10 years and lasting anywhere from 1 to 3 years. The caterpillars feed on leaves and cause damage for a short period of time, normally June and July. Most deciduous trees will generate a second set of leaves when the weather is favourable, with periodic rain, or irrigation. Most coniferous trees will not recover from severe defoliation as they are not able to regenerate needle growth.

Property owners are responsible for managing trees (and pests) on their property. Residents are encouraged to inspect their trees and take action to remove LDD in any life cycle stage, which will help reduce the level of infestation.

Residents should wear gloves and long sleeves while removing pupae/cocoons and egg masses. Caterpillars secure themselves to leaves and bark then form a cocoon using their hairs as protection, and these hairs can cause dermatological reactions.

Helpful links

• York Region’s webpage about LDDs 
• Province of Ontario’s webpage about LDDs 
• Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Area