In an enviable commitment to green practices, the City of Leduc recently released its second public Environmental Progress Report, highlighting advancements made over the 2014 year.
“The report offers an excellent way to assess our community's progress in reaching our environmental targets,” said Kerra Chomlak, City of Leduc environmental sustainability coordinator, in a media release.
“Leduc has shown its strong commitment to a healthy, vibrant and sustainable environment and staying on track within each area will help us meet our targets,” she added.
By releasing the report online and in key areas within the community the City of Leduc is also keeping its commitment to regularly report to the public developments made. “It's really a way to celebrate with the community the progress we've made,” said Chomlak in an interview with the Pipestone Flyer.
The report focuses on the outcomes in enhancing natural areas, environmental benefits of the Leduc Transit's increasing rider numbers, leadership, waste diversion and water conservation.
During 2014 the city continued with its tree planting programs. With volunteers and the Leduc Environmental Advisory Board (LEAB) 960 trees were planted in Aileen Faller Park; 600 during the LEAB Arbor Day celebration and 360 during TD Tree Days.
The city also orchestrated two resident-driven bird count days. “In the spring there were 3,000 birds counted by residents,” said Chomlak. Of those 3,000, 109 species were identified.
Another was held near Christmas with 690 birds and 31 species spotted.
“The idea is two-fold. To get people out into nature but also for the city and the LEAB board, it's a way of getting started on an environmental inventory,” said Chomlak.
The city also focuses on recycling initiatives and Chomlak says the community is well on its way to meeting its waste diversion goal. By the end of 2014 the city had reached 54 per cent and a goal was previously set to hit 60 per cent by 2020. “We just want to thank residents for embracing the sorting programs, that's why we're ahead of target,” said Chomlak.
Waste diversion is organics and blue-bag recycling that was not put in a landfill. “We have a whole program to help residents sort smarter,” said Chomlak.
“We're just heading into our fall campaign,” she added.
Targeted mainly to children, the City of Leduc offers an online sorting game and recently released the iPad version. “It tests players' knowledge on the best option for sorting material,” said Chomlak.
A toxic roundup is also being held at the Leduc Eco Station on Oct. 17.