King office is now participating in the Call2Recycle program, which allows for easy rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling. We have two collection boxes currently set up for use by all staff and residents.

Collection Box Locations:

1. On the counter in the main entrance of the Township foyer
2. On the counter in the west entrance of the Township building

We are now recycling the following batteries:

• Nickel cadmium
• Nickel metal hydride
• Lithium ion
• Small sealed lead
• Nickel zinc
• Alkaline (AA, AAA, 9V)
• Lithium primary

These are types of rechargeable batteries commonly found in portable electronic devices such as cell phones, cordless phones, laptops, video cameras, digital cameras and cordless power tools.

We also recycle all used cell phones!

Visit the Call2Recycle website to learn more about this great program.

The Power Pledge Community Challenge

Last summer (2009) King Township was one of over 80 communities across Ontario to compete in Ontario Power Authority’s Count Me In!Community Challenge to be the most energy efficient in the province.

King came in 14^th out of the 83 participating communities for the number of pledges received per capita and when it came to energy consumption reduction, there was a 7.5% reduction in electricity used.

This summer (2010), King once again participated in Ontario’s Conservation Community Challenge – the Power Pledge Community Challenge. King called on the support of its residents, businesses and staff to win a $10,000 grand prize to be used towards a renewable energy initiative within the Township.  Based on King’s participation rate, if everyone who participated fulfills their pledge, over one year there will be a savings in energy of 150,004 kilowatt hours, $33,249 saved in energy costs and a total of 15,565 kilograms of green house gases avoided.

SHOP LIKE THE PLANET’S WATCHING

Did you know that...

• For every one garbage can of waste put out at the curb, 70 garbage cans of waste were produced upstream to make the junk in that one garbage can.
• Since the 1980s, 1/3 of the planet’s natural resources have been consumed.
• If everybody consumed at the rate of Canadians, we would need 4 planets to sustain us.

While we all know that the best thing for the environment is to reduce and reuse, the reality is that we do and must buy products for ourselves and our families. However, 99% of our purchases are no longer in use 6 months after they were purchased.

York Region Environmental Alliance has established the SHOP LIKE THE PLANET’S WATCHING campaign geared towards consumers on how to become a savvy eco-shopper. The SHOP LIKE THE PLANET’S WATCHING booklet provides helpful tips on how to shop green, what to buy and what to look for when making a purchase. For more information on the initiative and SHOP seminars visit the York Region Environmental Alliance website.

What is Orange Drop?

Orange Drop is here to help recycle the household hazardous and special waste materials that we use and that need extra care when they’ve reached the end of their useful lives. In Ontario, there are now 22 household hazardous and special waste materials that can be collected, recycled or safely disposed of. You can now return things like aerosol containers, fertilizers, fluorescent tubes and bulbs, paints and coatings, toxic and radioactive materials, and many other types of hazardous waste materials. For a full list of materials accepted and for the Orange Drop locations nearest you, visit www.makethedrop.ca

Donate your old kitchen to Habitat for Humanity and you will receive a tax donation receipt for the retail sale price. Their salvage team will remove your old kitchen at no charge, so you save the demolition costs. It’s that simple!

See what other great things Habitat for Humanity York Region has to offer and ways you can help by visiting www.habitatyork.ca

Green Fleet

Currently, the Township has purchased one hybrid vehicle, a Ford Escape, driven by our Facilities Maintenance Manager. The Township plans to purchase more hydbrid vehicles in the future.

The New Schomberg Arena and King Township Curling and Fitness Centre

It is anticipated that the Recreation Centre’s design features will decrease energy consumption more than 40% compared to the Model National Energy Code for Buildings. LEED^TM certification for the facility is also being pursued. This means it will be King Township’s 2^nd LEED^TM building, as the Shopper’s Drugmart is the also LEED^TM certified, and is in fact the first LEED^TM Shopper’s Drugmart in Canada!

Learn more about green building and LEED^TM.

We are currently working on a green building policy for the Township. Once complete, this policy will demonstrate and secure King’s on-going commitment to green building practices.

Outdoor Pool at the Nobleton Sports Park

The Township’s first solar project has been installed this fall at the Nobleton Pool. With a total of 80 small panels on both the north and south sides of the small change room next to the outdoor pool, we hope to see a reduction in the energy requirements to heat the pool by as much as 50% next summer.