Green Quarterly – April 2026 Updates

Celebrate Earth Month this April. Join us for Earth Week (April 19–25) and Earth Day (April 22) with three events:

Green Bin and Backyard Composting Workshop

Date: April 22, 2026

Time: 2 to 3 p.m.

Location: Whitby Public Library – Rossland Branch (701 Rossland Road East, Whitby, ON, L1N 8Y9)

Description: Small action, big impact! Learn how your food scraps and yard waste can be transformed into valuable nutrients for your garden through backyard composting. We’ll also share practical tips for using the Green Bin and Leaf and Yard Waste programs, helping keep valuable materials out of the garbage and supporting a greener, more sustainable community. Registration required.

Little Forests in Durham Region and Beyond – Earth Day Webinar

Date: April 25, 2026

Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting  

Description: In partnership with Durham Climate Justice and Little Forests Durham, the Whitby Sustainability Advisory Committee is pleased to host a free Earth Day webinar focused on little forests in Durham Region and beyond. Learn what little forests are, the environmental and community benefits they provide, and how residents can get involved in local planting and stewardship efforts. Registration is required.

LEAF Community Spring Tree & Shrub Planting

Date: April 25, 2026

Time: 1 to 3 p.m.

Location: Fallingbrook Park, 25 Fallingbrook St. Whitby

Description: Help grow the urban forest in Whitby! Plant native trees and shrubs at our family-friendly event in Fallingbrook Park. The event is held rain or shine, so be sure to wear appropriate clothing. Participants are asked to bring a water bottle, gardening gloves, and a lot of energy! Registration is required.

Whitby’s Spring Battery Collection Week is happening from April 20 to 24, 2026. Safely dispose of your old batteries by sealing them in a clear bag with masking tape over the ends and place it on top of your green bin. Don’t miss out on this opportunity – it only takes place twice a year.

Date: May 2, 2026

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Durham Region Headquarters Atrium and adjacent parking lot (605 Rossland Road East, Whitby)

Description: Discover how to make your home more efficient and affordable at the Home Energy Expo. Experts will be on hand to explain heat pumps, home retrofits, solar, EVs, and available rebates. Talk directly with contractors and energy advisors and enjoy EV test drives. Learn from homeowners who’ve already made the switch. The Expo is free to attend, register here.

Get free nutrient-rich compost made from leaves and yard waste at Whitby’s Compost Giveaway. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, May 2, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Whitby Operations Centre (333 McKinney Drive, Whitby). Compost is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of four reusable containers per vehicle. Bring your own shovel and containers (like blue boxes, bins, or yard bags). Non-perishable food donations will be collected for the local food bank.

Date: May 12, 2026

Description: On May 12, take action to prevent and reduce litter and waste in Whitby. Residents, organizations, businesses, and clubs can schedule a cleanup using Whitby’s Anti-Litter Cleanup Program. Let’s work together to keep our community clean and beautiful!

Date: May 19, 2026

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Location: Microsoft Teams

Description: Join us for the Home Energy Retrofit Orientation program, designed to help homeowners integrate energy-efficient upgrades into home renovations. These improvements can enhance comfort, increase resilience, and lower energy costs. In this webinar, you'll learn about the benefits of home energy retrofits, available rebates, incentives, and financing options to support your energy upgrades. Registration required.

Date: May 23, 2026

Time: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Location: Whitby Public Library, Central Library (405 Dundas Street West, Whitby)

Description: Discover the fascinating world of bees at this engaging workshop! Learn about different bee species, the magic of pollination, and the role of Wild Bee Home habitats through beautiful imagery and storytelling. Participants will also create their own DIY “bee mix” seed blend to support urban pollinators. Registration is required.

Description: Celebrate Pollinator Week by helping us maintain the urban forest in Whitby! Join LEAF and Town staff for hands-on stewardship activities, including removing invasive species and applying mulch to native trees and shrubs at our community planting sites. Events run rain or shine, so be sure to wear appropriate clothing. Participants are asked to bring a water bottle, gardening gloves and a lot of energy! Registration is required – stay tuned for more details.

Event Details:

·       The first event will take place at Rosedale Park (265 Rosedale Drive, Whitby) on June 13, 2026, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

·       The second event will take place at Whitby Civic Park (30 Bassett Blvd, Whitby) on June 27, 2026, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Date: June 20, 2026

Time: 9 to 11 a.m.

Location: Cullen Central Park, 4015 Cochrane St

Description: Celebrate Pollinator Week by joining us for a guided tree tour in Whitby’s Cullen Central Park! Discover how trees support native bee populations as we highlight different species and teach you how to identify them on your own. This guided walking tour will explore the important role trees and green spaces play in providing food and habitat for pollinators while enhancing our appreciation for the diversity of trees in our communities. Registration is required.

In addition to the events listed above, we encourage you to explore and participate in events taking place in the West Lynde Neighbourhood as part of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP). These events provide additional opportunities to learn more about local sustainability initiatives.

For more information about upcoming SNAP events and to register, visit:
https://www.cloca.com/snap

Did you know Durham Trees is a subsidized tree planting program available to private landowners, including residents, and businesses? Properties with space to plant a minimum of 100 trees may qualify for support. The program offers up to 85% funding for eligible projects, full planting services, native tree seedlings, and potted trees. Planting trees can help increase your property value, improve privacy, reduce home energy costs, cut down on mowing, and more. Sign up today.

It’s the perfect time to go for a ride through your neighbourhood. For a map of our trails, multi-use path, bike lanes, and six bike repair stands, visit whitby.ca/Cycling.

Whitby residents could qualify for up to $5,000 in incentives for deep home energy retrofits. 

Floodproofing helps make your property and belongings resilient to flood damage. There are two main approaches. Dry-proofing keeps water out of a building using measures like temporary guards, covers for vents, watertight doors, floodwalls, or permanent upgrades such as sealing cracks and elevating windows and doors. Wet-proofing allows water to enter and exit safely by using flood-resistant materials, installing wall openings, raising electrical components, and keeping lower areas unfinished. Understanding these options can help increase your property’s resilience to flooding. Learn more about retrofit options that can help protect your property from flooding.

The Energy Affordability Program from Save on Energy helps eligible Ontario households reduce energy use and lower monthly bills by offering free energy-saving upgrades. The program has two support options depending on income and needs:

·       Comprehensive Support: Households that qualify receive a free in-home energy assessment from an energy-efficiency expert, along with upgrades such as energy-efficient appliances, insulation, LED light bulbs, and other energy-efficiency improvements.

·       Energy Saving Kits: Eligible households can receive a free kit with easy-to-install products like LED light bulbs, weather-stripping, showerheads, faucet aerators, and retractable clothesline to help reduce energy use at home. Learn more.