COMPOSTING
We can also provide resources and guidance on the best approaches to start composting at your school, workplace or organization.
Backyard Composting
1.5 hours, in person or online
Composting is a great way to reduce waste and at the same time reduce your environmental footprint. Learn how to recycle your kitchen scraps and yard waste into a rich natural soil amendment. Learn the benefits of composting, how to get started, key factors for successful composting, and how to use your finished compost. Request this presentation.
Vermi-composting
1.5 hours, in person or online
No yard or space for an outdoor compost bin? No problem! Vermi-composting is an easy and compact way to reduce your waste. Learn the basics behind composting with Red Wriggler worms, including setting up a bin, feeding your worms, keeping them healthy, and harvesting your finished compost. Request this presentation.
COMMUTING
Our presentations on greening your commute range from creating a commuter friendly workplace to details on bike route planning, safe riding skills and bike maintenance.
Bike Maintenance (Currently not being offered)
1 hour, in person
Hands on workshop to learn how to keep your bike running smoothly so you can ride carefree. Topics covered include proper bike fit, how to clean, lubricate and adjust your bike components to keep the bike operating properly, and how to change a flat tire. Bring your bike and get it ready to roll. Tools and bike stands will be provided. Request this presentation.
Winter Cycling
1 hour, in person or online
Are you ready to try winter cycling? Or extend your cycling season? Learn the ins
and outs about what to wear, cold weather gear for your bike, and riding tips for
snow and ice.
Green Commuting Options
1 hour, in person
Get the tools and tips you need to ride your bike, hop on a bus, carpool, or walk to work and elsewhere. Learn how to use the various transit tools, plan your route to bike to work, and begin thinking of your daily travel options in a whole new way. Create a commute that you’ll enjoy!
Commuter Friendly Workplace
1.5 hours, in person or online
Learn the basic steps to create a friendlier environment for employees to walk, bike, take transit, carpool or telecommute. Tap into resources to help meet your sustainability or corporate social responsibility (CSR) mandate, increase employee health and wellness, or simply find a better way to get to work. Request this presentation.
Bike Route Planning
1.5 hours, in person or online
Learn the ins and outs of the Winnipeg Cycling Map to plan a bike route that suits your comfort level. Become familiar with the various types of infrastructure – from cycletracks to sharrows to bike lanes. Find tips and tools to help you ride more often to more places. Request this presentation.
Bike Blender Rental
Bring something new to your next office party or event with Green Action Centre’s bike blender! Great for smoothies or frozen cocktails. This rental does not include Green Action Centre staff. Please email asrts@greenactioncentre.ca for availability and prices.
GREENER LIVING
Presentation topics include greening your workplace, household sustainability and cleaning products, and greening the holidays.
Greening the Workplace
1 hour, in person or online
Get highlights and helpful resources on how to reduce waste, increase recycling, save energy, improve commuting options, move toward a green procurement policy, and track progress. Request this presentation.
Buy Less, Fix More, Trade Often
1 hour, in person or online
Have you ever thought about the resources required to make your cell phone? Or what it took to produce the jeans you are wearing? From resource extraction to disposal, the materials economy has created a linear system of consumption on the finite planet we call home. This presentation covers ways to help our planet – buy less, fix more, trade often, and divert all waste from the landfill. Request this presentation.
Household Cleaning Products
1.5 hours, in person
Household cleaning products are a significant source of chemical pollution both in our environment and in our work spaces. Get off the chemical treadmill with this presentation. Learn the benefits of reduced chemical dependence and explore practical, natural alternatives. Request this presentation.
Greening the Holidays
1 hour, in person or online
With the pressure to buy, buy and buy some more during the Xmas holidays, it can be tricky to be green without being a Grinch. Learn practical ideas on how to reduce stress, spend less, and survive the consumer frenzy of that time of year. From gifts and cards to wrapping and decorating. Request this presentation.
CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS
Please visit our school services page for a comprehensive list of what we can offer.
I live in a multi-unit 55+ condo with 48 individual units. It is attached to an assisted living complex which has a large dining room. There is some interest in composting but we need to learn how to do that for a complex this size and how/where this compost can be used. Do you have a workshop that would address this or would someone be willing to come and meet with a few of us to discuss this possibility?
Hi Evelyn, that’s so great to hear! Please reach out to Karrie from Compost Winnipeg – info@compostwinnipeg.ca to set something up! ♻️
Hello, I’ve been involved on and off with Green Action Centre and the Eco-Network for some years. I’m wondering if anybody at Green Action Centre has any experience with destructive introduced (i.e., so-called “invasive”) species. That would make a great topic for a presentation.
Hi Mike, that is an excellent idea for a presentation. At this time we do not have a particular program that covers this area of interest. However, we do have staff, including myself, who have an environmental studies/ecology background and could perhaps look into incorporating this into our programming one day. Thanks for your interest!
Is there any way to know where and what happens to all the recycling from the Blue bins? They did an undercover test in B C and after every one spending time and effort to recycle, not to mention the extra costs, the recycle went to the dump. Do we know what is done in Manitoba?
Hi Donna,
I definitely understand your concerns after some of the investigations that have been done on recycling in Canada. It’s always disappointing to see end markets not being used responsibly. This is a really complicated system that needs some overhauling, but at the same time, it’s the best we have at the moment. Based on tours we’ve taken as staff, what I can tell you is that what goes in your blue bin, if not contaminated, goes to a “MRF” (materials recovery facility) and is properly sorted. It is then baled, and sits in a warehouse ready to be sold. What happens at that point is that it is sent to whomever buys the bales, and then the responsibility for what happens to it is passed on to the buyer. Recent changes in the recycling landscape are shifting where the recyclables go (namely, not to China anymore). Unfortunately there are not a lot of end-markets in North America anymore. It is my guess that much of what we recycle and is properly baled DOES get sent to markets that turn it into new products, but also likely that some escapes the proper process – which is really unfortunate.
Hi ! Our municipality had a composting program here in our village and then they stopped it with little reason given . I am trying to encourage them to start up a prog again . Would you be willing to come to a council meeting to offer a presentation on the benefits and challenges of composting ?
Thanks for your question Catherine! We will send you an email to discuss details further.