Composting & Yard Waste Program
Haverford Township's composting and yard waste program allows the Public Works staff to collect the leaves in the fall and process them throughout the winter and spring - creating excellent mulch material. The township plans to continue expanding this program in order to reduce the trash stream - which will be beneficial to our operational cost and help accomplish our goal of a green friendly township.
The final composted/mulched material is now available for FREE to township residents.
Residents can pick up the material at the recycling yard or any of the locations identified below, or pay a nominal delivery fee of $40 for up to a truck load of the material.
Pick-up locations:
1. Composting site - end of Hilltop Rd
2. Merry Place Parking Lot
3. Polo Field Parking Lot
4. Paddock Parking Lot
5. Steel Field Parking Lot
6. Nitre Hall Parking Lot
7. Veterans Field Parking lot
ICLEI Software Tracking
Haverford Township is attempting to track its carbon footprint with the help of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability - software (originally 'International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives'). The township is currently collecting data for the year 2010, with the intention of comparing it to 2005. This effort is part of the township's Climate Action Plan, established in 2008, with the goal of reducing the municipality's collective carbon footprint by 20% by 2012, and 30% by 2020.
Sustainable Parks
Did you know that one hour of use by a lawn mower emits the same amount of carbon as 11 cars? A riding mower equals 34 cars. By reducing the number of mowings and the area mowed at township parks, the township hopes to reduce the carbon emission and improve the habitats and ground water. We are also introducing native plants and seasonal wild grasses to some areas of our parks, and have placed recycling cans at multiple park locations.
Single-stream Recycling
The township has moved to single-stream recycling. Single-stream recycling creates a reduction in collection costs, as recycling is picked up less often. In areas that have adapted it, single-stream recycling has also been seen to increase recycling practices among residents. Recyling is coordinated by the Public Works department. Click here for more information and collection schedules.
Trail Clean-up Days
The township invites residents and volunteer groups to help remove invasive species from the trails at Haverford Reserve. Invasive species are plants and growths that are not natural to the environment and can disrupt the environment. They are also often over-growths that disturb the path of the trails. This fall, there are two opportunities to volunteer:
Sunday, October 18 or Sunday, November 15; 1 to 3 p.m.
Skatium Renovations
The recent renovations to the Skatium are projected to decrease the amount of energy used by the facility each year. Renovations included repairs of leaking pipes and the facility's cooling system, and the installation of a new, better insulated roof. The Skatium will reopen to the public on October 2, 2011. For more information about the reopening, or this year's events at the Skatium, click here.
Geothermal Community Recreation & Environmental Center
Commissioners approved the geothermal component of the proposed Community Recreation and Environmental Center to be constructed at Haverford Reserve. A geothermal energy system generates heat and cooling free from the earth, so there is no burning of fossil fuels. Geothermal energy uses a heat pump based system rather than a boiler or direct expansion system. The architects at Kimmel-Bogrette who are working on the design, project that the proposed geothermal element will allow the center to use about 211 metric tons less CO2 annually than a similar facility with a standard system. To read more, visit Kimmel-Bogrette's site.
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