A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm.
For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA website: www.ontario.ca/omafra.
ARE YOU WASTE WISE?
Disposing of non-nutrient agricultural waste responsibly needs to be a year-round effort.
Burning and burying non-nutrient agricultural waste can pollute the air, contaminate water and can have other potential harmful impacts on the environment, which can harm people and livestock. Consider recycling or reusing your waste instead – recycling and reuse not only lowers your dump costs, it can also help you keep your property waste-free, and protects your soil and local drinking water supplies.
Not sure where to start? See CleanFARMS’ Guide to Recycling Non-Nutrient Agricultural Waste in Ontario (http://bit.ly/2c3hI0N) for ways to reduce the amount of agricultural waste going to landfill.
There are different programs and resources in Ontario that can help you dispose of your waste responsibly.
Check these out:
– Many municipalities in Ontario have agricultural waste recycling programs, such as Kincardine’s Agricultural Film Recycling Program (http://bit.ly/2g10iap). Contact your municipality (www.mah.gov.on.ca/page1591.aspx) to see how you can reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
– You can prevent containers, machinery fluids, electronics, hazardous materials and other non-nutrient agricultural wastes from ending up in landfills. Check out the CleanFARMS recycling programs and collection sites across the province (www.cleanfarms.ca/default.html).
– Visit the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s website (ontario.ca/cyed) to learn more about Ontario’s plan for waste reduction and the new Waste-Free Ontario Act, and other waste-diversion programs in the province. Contact the ministry at 1-800-565-4923 or submit a message on their website (ontario.ca/cyef).
– Add the disposal of farm wastes into your Environmental Farm Plan (http://bit.ly/2bCiwIM).
– The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has two factsheets, “Recycling Farm Plastic Films” (ontario.ca/cwz9) and “Responsible Disposal of Unwanted Medicines and Sharps” (ontario.ca/cyei), that can help you with safe non-nutrient waste disposal.
Visit the OMAFRA website (ontario.ca/cyej) for more information.
COMING EVENTS
Nov. 19-20 Transition Smart Workshop. Georgian College, Owen Sound Campus. Please see website – www.GeorgianCollege.ca/Farmers or call 705-728-1968 ext. 1605 for more information and to register.
