Markham Celebrates Earth Month

It’s Earth Month in Markham – and we are celebrating until April 30! As a leader of sustainable practices in North America, the City prides itself on its continual eco-friendly infrastructure and facility improvements, exceptional waste diversion rate, the Greenprint –  Markham’s Community Sustainability Plan and its commitment to educating and inspiring members of the community to become greener each and every day.

Earth Month Celebration
Saturday, April 23, 2016
9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
//www.google.ca/maps/place/CF+Markville/@43.8683312,-79.2885145,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x521289f6f3c71ec7?sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjVq-qbk8jLAhWFuIMKHaDnAoQQ_BIIcjAL">CF Markville – Centre Court – 5000 Highway 7

Free family-friendly event that features an engaging and educational sustainability fair.

Supported by Markham’s Environmental Advisory Committee.

10,000 Trees for the Rouge: Annual Spring Tree Planting
Sunday, April 24, 2016
8:45 AM – 4:15 PM
Milne Park

Looking for a great way to help the environment while getting some fresh air and exercise? Help reforest the Rouge Park! You will be making a difference for future generations, ensuring that the Rouge Valley remains lush and unspoiled in the middle of our city. Come join us, rain or shine!

Get a plot at one of the City’s community gardens 

Looking for some growing space? Markham has community gardens located throughout the City. This is perfect for condo-dwellers without space for a garden or those looking to expand their crop.

Take a gardening workshop
Are you planning on growing your own food this spring/summer? Become a Grow Pro by taking one of our workshops.

Weave milk bag mats for disaster relief zones
These waterproof and durable mats are sent worldwide as temporary sleeping and surgical mats, providing critical resources to those in need.

Get to know H20
Learn more about the City’s water system and how to be water wise. It’s not only good for the environment, but it also helps you manage your water and energy bills.  Check out these resources:

• Protect Markham’s drinking water
• Water efficiency tips to save water and money
• Don’t flush this stuff

Enjoy Markham’s parks and pathways
Get outdoors with your friends and family and enjoy what nature has to offer.

Organize a community cleanup
Each year, thousands of community members are keeping Markham beautiful by cleaning up litter on our streets, walkways, school yards, ravines and public spaces by participating in community cleanups. Organize your own by getting a group of friends, neighbours or colleagues together and we will set you up with free litter clean-up kits.


Take a ride on your bike
Markham has a 200km bike network, which includes 30km of multi-use pathways.

Go on a Geocaching adventure at the Markham Museum
Introduce your group or class to the world of Geocaching! Learn about safe hiking practices, how to use and care for a GPS unit, and the importance of dressing for an outdoor hike. Explore the Museum site while on an exciting geocaching adventure. Before enjoying a hot chocolate snack, participants will be able to create their own geocache. This fun activity is offered year-round.

Register your kids for ECO Camp at Chimo
The City of Markham’s award-winning ECO Camp at Chimo is a fan-favourite among kids and youth – providing a unique, educational and engaging outdoor summer camp experience.  Campers will enjoy everything from canoeing, archery, swimming, crafts, high/low ropes, nature hikes, environmental studies and other fun outdoor activities.

Recycle your textiles
Don’t let fashion go to waste. Drop off all your clothing, worn out towels and those old drapes you no longer want at a textile donation bin or at select recycling depots. Help us keep these items out of landfills.

Recycle your eWaste and batteries
Unwanted electronics and batteries are not accepted at the curb for disposal. Just like our plastic cans and newspapers do not belong in the garbage, neither do our unwanted electronics. Most components of electronics – steel, glass, copper, aluminum, plastics and precious metals – can be recovered and reused to make new products. Watch for additional weekend eWaste drop events at various locations across Markham.

Use our online ‘What Goes Where’ recycling and waste tool

Help keep material out of landfills by using this handy tool (available on our website or mobile app).

Get free compost for your garden

Markham’s annual compost giveaway will be happening once again this spring. Date, time and location to be announced shortly.

Borrow seeds from the Seed Library
Check out and return seeds just like a book! Grow your crop using our seeds. Save the new seeds. Return the new seeds to any library branch before December 31, 2016. The cycle continues each year. Available at Cornell and Milliken Mills Library only.