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THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009 16 Tanner March 5 09 The Regional Municipality of Halton www.halton.ca 05030 9 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 Dial 311 or 905-825-6000 Toll Free 1-866-442-5866 TTY 905-827-9833 www.halton.ca By flattening boxboard, you help prevent litter, save space in your Blue Box for more materials, and save space inside the collection truck. Tie It! Before putting corrugated cardboard in your Blue Boxtie it up! Tie corrugated cardboard in bundles no larger than 90 cm x 90 cm x 30 cm (3 ft x 3 ft x 1 ft) and place beside your Blue Box. Not only will tying corrugated cardboard prevent litter, but it will help speed up collection because collectors can more easily pick up the tied cardboard. Blue Box materials remain the responsibility of the homeowner until the materials are collected. Help reduce litter by following these tips to keep your neighbourhood clean. Blue Box Tips Squish It! Before putting containers in your Blue Boxgive them a squish! Squish your aluminum pop cans, plastic pop and water bottles, beverage cartons and Tetra Paks. Not only will squishing save space in your Blue Box for more items, but it will help collection because space will be used effectively inside the truck. Flatten It! Before putting boxboard in your Blue Boxflatten it! Stack It! When putting your Blue Boxes at the curbstack it! Stack your Blue Boxes and place heavier items such as phone books and magazines on top of loose containers. Automotive Batteries (rechargeable and disposable) Cell phones Cork Eye glasses Ink cartridges Light bulbs Medications Paint Plastic shopping bags Refrigerators & freezers Sharps (needles, syringes, lancets) Many local businesses take back household materials they produce or sell, ensuring these materials are reused, recycled or disposed of properly. Items currently accepted by Take It Back! Halton partners include: Conditions may apply. For a complete list of Take It Back! Halton partners, please visit www.halton.ca/takeitback or call Halton Region between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday by dialing 311or 905-825-6000 or 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442- 5866) or TTY 905-827-9833. Take It Back! Halton will assist Halton Region in reaching a 60 per cent diversion of residential waste away from the landfill. This initiative is part of the 2006-2010 Solid Waste Management Strategy to promote product stewardship. If your business is interested in becoming a Take It Back! Halton partner, please visit www.halton.ca/takeitback for more information. Focus on turning sunlight into energy at Solar Fair Sat. With the end of winter in sight, Halton residents are looking forward to seeing more hours of sunlight. This Saturday, March 7, the Halton Environmental Network (HEN) will host a Solar Fair at Halton Regional Centre on Bronte Road in Oakville focused on turning more sunlight into energy with fewer green-house has emissions. The Solar Fair is being presented as part of the Halton Residential Solar Project. HEN recently received funding for the pro- ject from Environment Canadas EcoAction Community Funding Program. For homeowners interested in solar ener- gy technology, the fair will be like a one stop shop for essential information and an opportunity to meet qualified installers of solar energy systems. Starting at 9am, speakers will give an overview of solar energy applications and discuss the costs and benefits of harness- ing solar energy. Among the speakers will be a financial advisor who will talk about financial strategies and incentives that are associated with installing solar energy sys- tems. From 10 am to 12 pm, vendors of solar energy equipment will be available to answer technical questions and will display a variety of solar energy technologies. Two photovoltaic systems were in- stalled in Halton in December one in north Milton and the other in Oakville. Both homeowners credited our Solar Fair in October with giving them the informa- tion they needed to make the decision, says Lisa Seiler, the project coordinator. We are looking forward to seeing more solar panels on homes around Halton once the weather warms up. In the afternoon following the Solar Fair, a representative from Ontario Sustainable Energy Association will give a presenta- tion on the Green Energy Act and how the policy will affect the future of the province. With respect to the future of the Halton Region, there will be a speaker from the Halton Region Health Department to give a presentation on air, climate change, and the built environment as they relate to the Regional Official Plan. The day will conclude with HENs Annual General Meeting. All events on March 7 are open to the public and free to attend. For more infor- mation, call 905-901-3501 or visit http:// halton.ourpower.ca.