New Year, New London

At last nights GreenDrinks gathering our group came together to discuss the current environmental “state of the city” - what’s working and what’s not. Here is what you came up with.

In 2009, I would like the City of London to:

-improve our existing blue bin recycling program by expanding the materials that are accepted, extending service to the downtown core, and effectively engaging constituents in using it (our current program just scratches the surface and is, quite frankly, embarrassing)
-implement a ‘green bin’ organic waste program throughout the city. (St. Thomas has one). Interim, city rebates on at home composters/clothelines.
-put recycling bins in all public spaces (parks, buildings etc.)
-convert all city building’s to “green” power (Bullfrog), all city vehicles to hybrid, electric, bio diesel (buses)
-stop post-poning the ban of bottled water
-carpooling – where is it?
-add more drinking fountains
-change street lights to LED – all public lighting
-more accessible hazardous waste depots
-resurface and continue to develop new bike paths / lanes on the city streets
-partner in developing more “green” building projects (LEED)
-partner with London Hydro - Solar Buildings
-replace the neon statue trees downtown with real trees
-ANIMATOR / PORTAL - needs to be created so that environmental info and resources are more easily accessible to the public (green issues, green resources, etc. etc.)
-local eco-friendly business listing
-funding for green businesses – to support start-up’s

Things to celebrate (what’s working):

-Sister of St. Joseph’s (a shining local example of what is possible)
-EnviroWestern - UWO’s Environmental Group
-Clean & Green
-Community Gardens
-GREENDRINKS, GreenDrinks, GreenDrinks