Five ways you can make a difference during Waste Reduction Week

Waste Reduction Week, October 19 to 25, is an ideal time to take action to reduce waste in your home or workplace. The City wants to help you, with tips and programs to help divert waste - two of which are taking place this week. Every little bit helps extend the life of Ottawa’s landfill.

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 Give Away Weekend
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One person’s trash is another’s treasure. Set out your gently used items at the curb on October 24 and 25 for the Fall Ottawa Give Away Weekend . Tour your neighbourhood and city to find hidden treasures.

Simply place items such as clothes, furniture, sports equipment, books and more at the curb and place stickers or signs on items with the word “FREE.”

At the end of the day, you could donate uncollected items to a local charity. Construction materials can be donated to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. ** **

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 Waste Explorer
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Don’t know where an item goes? Visit the waste explorer at ottawa.ca . ** **

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 Household Hazardous Waste Depot
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During Waste Reduction Week, the City will host its final one-day Household Hazardous Waste Depot of 2015. ** Date ** :  Sunday, October 25 ** Time ** :  8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ** Location ** : OC Transpo Park & Ride at Fallowfield Station 3355 Fallowfield Road

For a list of retailers that accept returns of household hazardous waste, please visit ottawa.ca

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 Take it Back! Program
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This is a voluntary program for businesses and charitable organizations to take back specific used items such as used motor oil, paint, batteries, CFL bulbs, computer equipment, used clothing, plastic bags and more. The Take it Back! Partners ensure the household items are reused, recycled or disposed of properly. Visit ottawa.ca for more information.

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 Less is more
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You can reduce the waste you discard by buying less of something, buying reusable products, choosing products with less packaging, or recycling packaging materials. Wherever you make your purchases, chances are the store you’re in is one of the City’s Take it Back! partners.

For more information on waste management and recycling, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401 ).