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Green Facts about Halifax

— A Member of the Sustainable Cities Group

Pesticide By-Law

In 2000, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) became the first City in Canada to implement a pesticide bylaw. There are now more than 85 municipal pesticide bylaws across the country, often as part of efforts toward more healthy and sustainable communities. Sportsfields in HRM have actually been managed without pesticides for much longer since the municipality had felt a leadership role was needed before passing restrictive legislation for residents. Over the years, they have developed alternative approaches to natural turf sportsfields that have replaced the former practices and even surpassed the performance results from previous years. The city has incorporated a compost topdressing program using the source-separated green cart compost material. A or inch layer (1.25- 2.5 cm) layer of compost and sand topdressing is applied to over 30 of the 150 sportsfields each year. HRM is also developing approaches using compost teas on sportsfields.

In areas of HRM with very high demand for recreational fields, the municipality has recently opted for artificial turf fields. These are the same fields ultimate players would be familiar with from the Molson Stadium where the national finals were played three years ago. From an environmental perspective, these fields use recycled materials as part of the field base and the primary benefits come from avoiding the intensive regular maintenance and renovation of natural turf sportsfields in these areas.

Halifax Harbour Solutions

Three advanced primary sewage treatment plants are being constructed to divert raw sewage from direct disposal into Halifax Harbour.

Composting program

Residences in the HRM area have been provided with Green Carts for the municipal composting program - compostables are collected bi-weekly (winter months)/weekly (summer months).

For more information on these programs, visit the HRM Naturally Green Website: www.halifax.ca/environment.