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Treasures at the Ottawa Public Library
If you thought the only things you could get with your Ottawa Public Library card are books, read on and be astonished. Your library card unlocks a treasure trove of tools, trinkets, trappings, and other worldly goods.
can get more than just books with your library card! The library has cool and useful tools, including telescopes, CO2 monitors, sewing and embroidery machines, a green screen, and even a VHS digitizer! You can even borrow musical instruments from some branches. ​
Visit https://booking.biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/equipment for a full listing. Or drop into your local branch and ask at the main desk.
Help Available for Energy-saving Retrofits
article by Debra Mair
Making your home more energy efficient isn’t just about helping the environment. It can also be a financial decision connected to monthly bills and the long-term value of your house. Check out the resources at https://greenbuildingcanada.ca/energy-efficient-home-upgrades-payback/ to help you decide which energy upgrades are worth it for you.
If the upfront costs of energy-saving renovations seem prohibitive, the City of Ottawa has a solution for you: no-interest loans. The City of Ottawa’s 2026 Budget included additional support for the Better Homes Ottawa loans program.
The program issues loans of up to $125,000 (or 10% of the current value assessment of the home, whichever is less) to cover the cost of energy improvements. Eligible measures include thermal envelope upgrades (e.g., insulation), mechanical systems (e.g., for heating or cooling), renewable energy, EV chargers (Level 2), and the addition of rental suites. Loans are low interest or no interest loans and are paid back over 20 years. The loan is attached to the house, so if you sell, the remaining debt goes forward with the house.
To learn more, including the eligibility criteria for obtaining a 0% interest loan, look on the City of Ottawa website https://betterhomesottawa.ca/rebate-and-incentive-programs/better-homes-loan-program/ or contact betterhomes@envirocentre.ca.
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Big Changes to Ottawa's Recycling Program as Province Takes Over
New rules for the blue and black box program mean you’ll be able to recycle more than ever before in Ottawa. On January 1, the list of items that can be recycled in Ottawa grew as responsibility for collecting and regulating recycling transferred from the City to the Province.
Among the additional recyclable materials are:
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hot and cold beverage containers,
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ice cream tubs,
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deodorant and toothpaste tubes,
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frozen juice containers
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black plastic containers.
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plastic packaging such as chip bags, bubble wrap and plastic bags,
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foam packaging such as meat trays and takeout containers
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Curbside collection won’t look much different. continue to use your existing standard sized blue and black bins Put your bins out by 7 am on your collection day. Blue and black bins will be collected on alternate weeks on the day you currently have assigned. One change will be the collection truck. It will look different and may collect at a different time of day than usual.
If you live in a multi-residential building that is already served by the City of Ottawa recycling program, your building is included in the new system. But if you live in a multi-resident building that has private recycling, you will not change to the new system; what you can recycle will not change until 2031.
The government of Ontario transferred recycling responsibility to Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit. Its board of directors includes members from major food, beverage, and consumer products manufactures, restaurants, and retailers.
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The City will continue to collect garbage, green bins, and leaf and yard waste.
Need More Information?
For questions or issues related to:
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Recycling bins
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Missed collections
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What you can recycle
Contact Miller Waste at 1-888-852-2374 or area2@millerwaste.ca
For any other recycling related questions, contact Circular Materials at customerservice@circularmaterials.ca or 1-877-667-2626.
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For garbage and organic waste collection services, contact the City of Ottawa.​​
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Recipe Corner
Cynthia's Cheese Scones
Ingredients
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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1 tbsp baking powder
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1 tsp salt
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6 tbsp cold, unsalted butter
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2 eggs
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1/2 cup heavy cream
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1 2/3 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
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Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry knife and blend until coarse crumb consistency.
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In separate bowl, whisk together eggs and cream. Stir into dry ingredients until until dough forms, about 30 seconds. Add cheddar and stir.
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Transfer dough from bowl to floured countertop. Knead a few times.
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Shape the dough into square, 1 3/4-inch thick. Cut into 16 squares (about 2 ½ inches square) and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 14-18 minutes. Great with any soup.
