Ask Ashley
Every drop is sacred. Every drop is great.
August 18, 2008Q:
I have a relatively new roof and the usual granular material in runoff is obvious. That settles out, of course, but it makes me wonder about other things added after the rain lands. Are chemicals from roofing carried into rain barrels collecting rain water? I would appreciate any information you can give me.
Thanks.
Jim
Save the Water
July 15, 2008Q:
Hi Ashley,
Someone recently posed the question to me. "Why do we need to save water anyway?" This may seem like a ridiculous question - but I really didn't know how to answer that question! His argument was that the glaciers are going to melt whether we use the water or not. It's not like we are 'bottling' it and saving it for a time when we will need it. I understand the glaciers are going to keep on melting so how does our water use and consumption make a difference?
Sincerely,
Heather
Why Carwashes Are Best
June 16, 2008Q:
Dear Ashley,
My husband and I have a neighbour who washes his car at home at least twice a week throughout the summer and it makes my skin crawl to see all the water and soap going into the storm drain. I’m wondering what I could say to him without causing a big ruckus. It seems like a terrible waste, so any advice you might have would be greatly appreciated.
Kindly,
Sally
Dealing with Waste Paint
May 15, 2008Q:
Dear Ashley,
My husband and I just moved into a new (used) house and we have inherited dozens of cans of old paint. Most of it doesn’t look fit for reuse and I couldn’t even tell you if the paint is latex or oil-based. What is a person to do with used paint in Calgary?
Kate
A Perfect Garbage Bag?
April 19, 2008Q:
Dear Ashley,
Assuming that I am already using reusable shopping bags (for groceries and any shopping!), reusing fruit/vegetable bags and recycling as much as possible… What is the best option for garbage bags? I am reusing old/used plastic grocery bags (from someone else). Is there really any advantage to using compostable or bio-degradable plastic bags for the landfill? I didn't think they would break down much in landfills if there is little air or water.
Thanks,
Debbie
Let the Breeze Do Your Dirty Work.
March 18, 2008Q:
Dear Ashley,
With spring quickly approaching I was reminded of an incident involving a next-door neighbor last year. It involved my clothesline. This particular neighbor claimed that my clothesline was not only unsightly but it brought down property values in the neighborhood. He went so far as threatening to call bylaw services if I did not remove it promptly. Although I have since moved I am still curious to know if Calgary has a bylaw that would favor aesthetics over my right to do something good for the environment.
Kindly,
Anne
Greywater Gains Ground
February 19, 2008Q:
Dear Ashley,
I’ve come across several do-it-yourself greywater systems in magazines and I’m wondering if they are permitted for use in Calgary. Is there a preferred system for Calgary?
With regards,
Paul
A:
As the pressure on finite supplies of water increases people are forced to look for creative ways to stretch the water available to them. Calgarians, not unlike most North Americans, receive all of their water treated. This means that water for washing the car, watering the lawn and garden and flushing the toilet is all the same – water treated to the highest standards such that it is deemed potable (drinkable). Treating water to this level for all purposes streamlines the process but this comes at a great financial and environmental cost, as treatment is highly energy intensive. Water reuse has been shown to not only take pressure off of the treatment infrastructure and local watershed but also supply abundant and cost effective water to areas where treatment is unnecessary.
Disposing of Prescription Drugs Safely
January 14, 2008Q:
We’ve recently sold our house and now we have the arduous task of cleaning it out and moving all of our things. What we won’t be keeping, giving away, selling or recycling will sadly have to go to the dump. We’ve tried our best to recycle most of the odds and ends but we’re having trouble with what seems to be an endless supply of old prescription and over-the-counter pills, tablets, syrups, etc. etc. Should we flush them, throw them in the garbage or is there somewhere we can take them for proper disposal?
Your help is greatly appreciated,
Peter & Jill
Why Babies Prefer Glass
December 13, 2007Q:
Ashley,
We are currently feeding our 5 month old son out of Avent baby bottles. There are no labels on the bottles indicating which types of plastics are used in them. First, do you know how we could find out what grade of plastic we are using? Secondly, do you know of a better bottle alternative?
Thanks!
Jason
Ho, Ho, Hold the PVC
November 14, 2007Q:
Dear Ashley,
I recently bought my first home and after spending twenty-five Christmas’s around my parent’s plastic Christmas tree I’m wondering if I should make the same choice for my own home. Are there benefits to the fake plastic tree or should I be buying a good old-fashioned real tree?
Thanks,
Sara
A:
Dear Sara,
Somehow I knew this question would appear in my inbox as the signs a Christmas started popping up the day after Halloween. Luckily for you, Sara, I know your story very well as I, too, grew up in a home where we’d unpack the raggedy old plastic tree from its sorry looking duct taped box, wrapping it in garland as tightly as possible to prevent the branches from sagging to the floor. I missed the pine smell enjoyed by many of my friends but the reason we had a fake plastic tree was simple: real trees dried out and posed a great threat to everyone in the house. At least this is what my mother told me. She’d often tell the story of how, when she was a young girl, their house nearly burned to the ground because of a real tree. I didn’t think about it again until years later when I came to the realization that plastic was made of oil and from what I knew of oil, it burns very, very well.