Green space and the industrial park: can they co-exist?

Green space and the industrial park: let’s be friends.

Industry plays a big part in Winnipeg’s overall growth and economy. Successful businesses employ people who, in turn, spend their earnings on necessities and luxuries.

Green space also plays a big part in Winnipeg’s overall growth. Not only does it supply wildlife with homes and nourishment, it gives Winnipeggers and their families a place to relax and play.

Can the two coexist?

As you drive down the maze of roads in an industrial park, you’ll see a wide range of buildings – all shapes and sizes, with freshly manicured lawns and landscapes of fresh flowers and trees pruned to perfection. The entrances to the businesses are immaculate with not a scrap of paper or garbage to be seen.

Some businesses have incorporated spaces where their employees may enjoy the luxury of picnic tables, sun umbrellas – a space to relax or socialize during lunch and coffee breaks.

Added to that, most industrial parks have a man-made pond or green space which was developed to provide added peace and tranquility to the area. Not only do these spaces give wildlife species such as birds, insects, grasses and fish a place to live, but they are also an enjoyable place to walk when it’s a nice sunny day.

Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Here’s the reality.

Businesses of various industries which inhabit industrial parks all have one thing in common. Garbage.

From boxes, paper, plastic bags and materials such as wire, metals, plastics, concrete and even foam insulation – all must be disposed of somehow.

Fortunately, all businesses in an industrial park have large metal garbage bin containers which conveniently get picked up on schedule.

What happens when something goes wrong – such as, a container left open, indifferent business owners who leave their trash left in the open, or careless disposal?

Yes, the green space gets it. All of it.

You see, Mother Nature created this thing called “wind.” The wind picks up the trash and conveniently dumps it where it gets caught in trees, shrubbery, grasses and even in pond water. The result is an uninviting, garbage-filled, littered space where nobody (nor their dog) wants to explore.

Business landscapers are paid to clean up trash on a business property, but nobody takes into account the trash that is blown into the green space.

Who picks up the trash and cleans up the green space? Who is responsible to clean it? What are the possible solutions?

Perhaps organize a cleanup day where volunteers from surrounding businesses help clean up the area. Have the offending businesses be responsible for the cleanup out of their own pocket.

How about preventing this from happening all together? Managers and owners can have policies in place to dispose of garbage safely, with possible hazards taken into account.

We can all help to keep green spaces green and garbage free. Let’s try.