The Town of Carleton Place is about to get even greener! Carleton Place Environmental Advisory Committee (CPEAC) presented to Council in the Fall of 2025, expressing interest in developing an Event Greening program for all events in Carleton Place with a goal of zero waste by implementing a sorting station at Town events. Encouraging bicycle travel to reduce vehicle congestion and alleviate parking issues at events was an additional goal.
Soon afterward, the Town of Carleton Place secured funding from the Lanark County Municipal Climate Grant and the Lanark County Municipal Tourism & Economic Development Grant to help cover the equipment costs of launching the program. Purchases included large recycling containers, compost container rentals provided by Just Good Compost, tents, tables, portable fencing, and bicycle racks for events.
The sorting station was modeled after the success of Climate Network Lanark’s waste diversion depot at the Stewart Park Festival which started four years ago. Stewart Park waste depot volunteers now collect and process over five hundred pounds of recycling. This is a wonderful achievement. Local change to reduce waste and other similar initiatives are a way we as communities can effect positive change, reduce methane gas emissions, and act in a responsible way to help protect our local environment. Far too much goes to landfill, and events often do not fully have the mechanisms to provide recycling and composting in the proper manner.
For its first year, the CPEAC and its “Green Team” sub-committee offered their first Sorting Station at the Carleton Place Canada Day event and used this opportunity to launch the Bicycle Valet program as well. They will also provide a sorting station at Pumpkinfest on October 3 and 4.
The Green Team will continue to expand their efforts by expanding the program with additional events annually, and the goal of having all municipally-run Special Events use the same consistent Event Greening practices.
A CPEAC Green Team representative will be reaching out to Carleton Place community groups, non-profits, and service clubs during 2027 to further encourage zero-waste best practices at events of all sizes. It is our hope that these best practices will be added to the Town’s website as well.
Pumpkinfest, held on October 2–4, is a popular, free, family-friendly event presented by the Town of Carleton Place, with fun activities for all ages at Carleton Junction. For all event details, find Carleton Place Pumpkinfest on Facebook or visit carletonplace.ca/event/pumpkinfest.
If you or someone you know may be interested in joining our fun Green Team as an occasional volunteer for future events, please come by to say hello, or reach out to the CPEAC Green Team’s Laura Cupper at 883–4558.