KANATA NORTH NEWS Marianne Wilkinson Councillor, Kanata North BUS ROUTES

Following the five public meetings, where the public clearly expressed their concerns with the proposed bus route changes, OC Transpo has made significant modifications to the plan. Several of these improve the situation in Kanata North for local residents and businesses. Despite these changes a few problems still exist and I have met with OC Transpo and am working on further changes that I hope to have approved within the next two weeks so check my website and the OC Transpo website for further changes. Further improvements can be made when the routes are being laid out since many changes can be made without additional cost by turning dead heading buses into ones picking up riders. You can view the present proposals on the OC Transpo website and clicking on Network Optimization and then going to our area. Since further changes will be coming I will wait until those are finalized prior to listing them. All changes will take effect in September.

WASTE MANAGEMENT
On Wednesday, April 13, 2011 after some discussion, council voted to implement changes to the residential curb-side waste collection service. Beginning in November 2012, the changes will change on areas with curbside collection to include weekly green bin pickup year-round; retain blue and black box pick up on alternating weeks; pick up residual waste every two weeks; and implement a special diaper and incontinence products pickup program for the weeks with no waste collection. The changes are expected to save taxpayers $9 million annually over the next six years, which will show on your tax bill through a reduction in the cost of waste services (presently $89 per year). The move to weekly green bin collection is expected to increase the Citys diversion rate, will preserve the life of the Trail Road landfill, will reduce vehicular air emissions, (which impact on persons with asthma or other lung diseases by reducing the number of trucks) and will meet required diversion limits for the future construction of a Plasco plant. Many people have expressed concern over a change to residual waste pickup and efforts will be made prior to the start of the program to deal with those concerns. This is not a change in the level of service but in how it will be done. The Ottawa Condominium Association, for example, will be working with City staff on how to provide service in each condominium.

In 2009 Ottawa ranked second last, behind Thunder Bay, for large municipalities in Ontario when it came to waste diversion. With the implementation of the green bin program last year, residential curbside waste diversion increased from 35% to 44%. With this service level change, diversion is expected to take another leap and reach up to 53 per centtaking us very close to the Citys and provinces target of 60 per cent within the next couple of years. Using a green bin is not costly or complicated and there is no need for specialized bags or solutions. The City will not be forcing the use of the green bin that decision is left to the resident. Senior citizens or others who do not produce much organic materials and who may find that arthritic fingers (like mine!) mean it is difficult to use the locking mechanism on the large green bin can ask to have it replaced with the smaller bin which has a simpler locking mechanism (to keep out raccoons and other small animals). For more information on what items should be disposed in the green bin, blue box, black box and residual garbage, please visit http://ottawa.ca/recycle.

TASTE FOR LIFE APRIL 27

Join me at Lapointes restaurant at 60 Colchester Square (Tel: 613 599 1424) for a healthy, delicious dinner out on Wednesday, April 27 for A Taste for Life. Lapointes will donate 25% of your bill to support Bruce House and the Snowy Owl AIDS Foundation organization. This is an easy way to support a worthwhile cause. Book early and mention that it is for a Taste For Life. I have a few spots at my table and if youd like to join me there please email me at my office.

CLEANING THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Remember to register for Cleaning the Capital by signing the form at ottawa.ca/clean or calling 311. With everyone working together we can keep our communities clean and beautiful. .