Nova Scotia Community College
OP-10: Landscape Management

All NSCC campuses are contracted with Orkin Canada pest control services. Orkin Canada initiates a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management Program. In this program Orkin follows the four tiered pest management plan. Orkin has a seven step system: 1. A floor-level inspection of the facility, covering all five pest-activity zones: entry points, water sources, food sources, harborage points and employee areas. 2. An analysis of the layout of the facility, noting all potential problem areas, both inside and out. 3. Accurate pest identification, including identification of different kinds of pests as well as various growth stages. 4. A sanitation consultation at each visit to help you and your staff keep key areas of the facility clean and unattractive to pests. 5. A treatment strategy that centers on a commitment to IPM. This means that Orkin Canada uses the least-invasive and least-hazardous method for effective control. 6. A customized treatment program to address any immediate pest problem. 7. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance, with treatments adjusted accordingly to maximize effectiveness. Each visit includes a written Service Report. In this system Orkin implements the four-tiered approach: 1. Set Action thresholds: Orkin conducts monthly inspections of our NSCC campuses. They constantly monitor various pest to determine if there is an infestation problem. If there is concern NSCC staff will notify NSCC facilities management and they will notify Orkin to investigate. Orkin will make more visits per month if needed. By Orkins regular monitoring it can be determine by using the companies thresholds as to whether action needs to be taken. 2. Monitor and Identify Pests: Orkin monitors the NSCC campuses once a month. By conducting a monthly visit they can better monitor and identify pest. They have various methods in which to monitor various types of pest. By doing this they can identify what pests are present in order to make the appropriate controls decisions in accordance with their action thresholds. 3. Prevention: Orkin has a variety of tactics to prevent pest infestations. The initiate a Perimeter Defence System. In this system live traps are set around the exterior of the building to trap rodents before entering the building. Orkin recommends various prevention techniques upon inspection for the institution to follow. NSCC does follow these recommendations. Some of these techniques NSCC employs are: cleaning and sanitizing all areas attractive to pest, properly sealing cracks and crevices and using live traps and glue traps for constant monitoring. 4. Control- NSCC does not use pesticides or herbicides for pest control or landscaping. It is expected the Orkin uses considers the appropriate non-chemical methods of control before utilizing chemical options. Orkin states that pesticides are only used if and when non-chemical methods have been ineffective. Mechanical methods are utilized first when a pest infestation has been properly identified. Orkin uses various mechanical methods depending on the variety of pest.

NSCC uses all local vegetation, and works towards needing minimal landscape maintenance at each campus. NSCC has third party Orkin Canada for pet control, and with the use of local plants, maintenance of lawns, and gardens on campuses mainly includes mowing the lawns, and proper snow care.

At every NSCC campus it is standard practice to use native plants and that they take priority of other plants. Other than when plants are getting established, there is no regular irrigation required at any of the NSCC campuses. This has been a requirement under NSCC's BOMABEST certification.

NSCC keeps the grass cuttings on the lawn to keep the grass healthy. All other landscaping waste is removed and properly composted and mulched by the hired landscaping company.

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NSCC's procurement policy regulates that all purchases meet industry recognized certifications for environmental performance. The result is that all products being used have the corresponding relevant certifications and seals indicating they are safe for the environment.

Where ever possible, campus design and operations support natural hydrology. Some examples include: The Waterfront Campus has a bioswale to absorb and naturally filter surface runoff. All campuses are landscaped with native vegetation, thus do not require irrigation. At Middleton Campus in Annapolis Valley the Sustainability and Wellness Committee has made the effort to clean up the campus grounds and surrounding areas, include the nearby river.

At NSCC all campuses are a combination of contractors services as well as in-house. Contractors are used for the parking lots and road ways and the College takes care of the building entrances, sidewalks and steps. Many campuses use environmentally friendly ice melts for their in-house servicing. Our Cumberland Campus uses Calcium Chloride as opposed salt which is a more environmentally friendly, nontoxic option. Our IT campus, in Halifax, has stated in their snow and ice removal contract to use an environmentally friendly ice melt for the parking lots and roadways.

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