Planning a fall clean up? Well just in time, Waste Reduction Week in Canada kicks off this week from October 21 – 27. For Ontarians planning a final fall garage and shed cleanout, OTS has made responsible recycling during Waste Reduction Week even easier by partnering with CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) for the third year to host our province-wide RecycleDrive community events.

Now extended into a two-week program, Ontarians can drop off their used tires, motor oils and dead household, automotive and marine batteries for free at one of 29 participating CAA garage locations from October 15-31, 2013. For a list of participating locations, visit www.RethinkTires.ca/RecycleDrive.

To encourage some friendly community competition, OTS and CAA SCO are also offering a Sustainable Revitalization package to the garage that collects the most used tires during the RecycleDrive event this year. The winning garage will be given the opportunity to donate this package to a local school of their choice to green their playground, gym, outdoor area or any other shared space to benefit students and community members! The package includes $20,000 worth of innovative recycled tire products and landscaping greenery. Last year’s winner, Car Medics, donated the package to John Graves Simcoe Public School in Kingston, which recently unveiled their “GreenSpace” outdoor classroom!

While you’re in fall cleaning mode, here are four Fall Clean-Up Tips to consider as well:

• Closet Cleanout: Storing away your summer clothes for warm winter jackets, bulky sweaters and boots? It’s a great time to de-clutter and make some space in your wardrobe. For any old but gently used clothing, shoes and accessories, consider donating them to a local charity or holiday collection event.

• Daylight Savings: Don’t forget to change your clock batteries and time! We gain an hour of sleep on November 3 at 2 a.m. ET. And don’t forget to recycle your batteries – check out a drop off location at www.makethedrop.ca.

• Patio Furniture: It’s officially the appropriate time to put away our beloved patio furniture to make way for Halloween and winter holiday dressings! Make sure your furniture is stored away in a dry shed or garage space and covered, if possible, to avoid dust and rust. If you need to get rid of old or damaged furniture, consider donating anything that can be refurbished or contact your municipal waste management department to schedule a special garbage pickup for oversized furniture items. Fees may apply depending on the region, frequency and garbage size.

• Garden Care: We still have a few more weeks to enjoy the warm autumn colours in the leaves, but soon your backyard and lawn will be due for a good rake before the snow sets in. Dead leaves are naturally biodegradable so you can use your compost, mulch the leaves into smaller pieces with your mower to enrich your soil in the spring or use a yard waste bag. Here’s more good news: the first 50 community members dropping off recyclables at their local participating CAA garage during CAA RecycleDrive will receive a free pack of yard waste bags!

We encourage everyone to join us during Waste Reduction Week and our annual RecycleDrive event to dispose of waste responsibly. But we hope this conversation, and the practice of properly recycling tires and other waste materials extends beyond these special events and awareness weeks. We hope eco-friendly choices become an important part of Ontarians’ everyday lives so that we can make greater strides in creating more livable communities for future generations.