Events and Initiatives
Events
The City of Airdrie hosts several events to raise awareness of local environmental issues and help residents to be stewards of their community. Most of these events take place annually and are at approximately the same time each year.
The City of Airdrie Bike Sale
The bike sales occur May through October each year and allows the City to dispose of all the bikes the Parks Department and the RCMP collect throughout the year. Each year more than 50 bicycles are found in parks and along pathways and go unclaimed. By selling these bicycles to Airdrie residents for a nominal fee (usually under $20.00); this prevents these unwanted bikes from going to a landfill. It also allows people to get great deals on bikes that are still in good condition. The City of Airdrie and the Airdrie RCMP hold bikes for a minimum of 30 days before they can go in the sale. If you are looking for a lost or stolen bike contact the Public Works Department at 948-8415 to see if the City has picked up your bike.
Rain Barrel Sale
The City of Airdrie wants to promote water conservation by giving residents the opportunity to purchase rain barrels at a discounted rate. These rain barrels are made available for a significantly lower price than those available at most home supply stores. The barrels come with a tap and have a screen in place over the top where the water drains in to prevent clogging and minimize the potential for mosquito breeding. Rain barrels are available for sale year round at the East Depot location during operating hours. Please bring cash or cheque for payment; $45 to Airdrie Residents or $65 for non residents.
Christmas Tree Chipping
The City of Airdrie will take your Christmas trees, chip them and reuse them in shrub beds in parks around the city. This prevents all those trees from going to the landfill! Watch for announcements on drop-off dates in January every year.
Initiatives:
E Waste
The City of Airdrie collects some electronics for recycling. The Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) dictates which electronics can be recycled as part of the program. Remember the environmental fee you paid when you bought your new TV? This money is used to recycle televisions and computers throughout Alberta. Used cell phones can be returned to the East Recycling Depot along with the electronics.
Bio Diesel
Biodiesel is fuel for automobiles made from canola oil and kitchen grease! After a pilot project in 2006 which utilized bio-diesel fuel in a smaller number of vehicles, the City expanded the use of bio-diesel to most of our equipment fleet. Because of recent information that has come forward regarding the overal ecological and social impacts associated with bio-fuels, the City will be further evaluating the use of bio-fuels.
Soil Bioengineering Project
In the spring of 2006, the City of Airdrie hosted a Soil Bioengineering Workshop for interested individuals from several municipal districts, cities and towns surrounding Airdrie. The project took place in Nose Creek Park, east of the Skateboard Park. The bank was severely eroding, so the City of Airdrie implemented this project to repair the stream bank. The bank was repaired by creating a retaining wall of live willow, poplar and dogwood stems which will grow into new trees and shrubs. This will prevent further erosion and provide valuable habitat for birds and mammals. Come and take a look.
Compost Tools and Tips
Earth Machine: The Earth Machine is a pre-manufactured backyard composting unit. Earth Machines can be purchased for $45 for residents of Airdrie or MD Rockyview $65 for non-residents at the City of Airdrie Recycling Depot (15 East Lake Hill). For tips on using your Earth Machine, visit www.earthmachine.com.
Backyard Composting: For information on how to set up, use and troubleshoot your backyard composter, please see the Alberta Environment Guide to Backyard Composting. (1.83 MB, .PDF)