unimaginative2
Senior Member
GARBAGE: PAY-AS-YOU-THROW
How much greener can we get?
They're happy to recycle, but some Torontonians say user fees for garbage are a step too far
GEOFF NIXON
June 2, 2007
When it comes to diverting waste, Anita Moller is Toronto's ideal citizen. Ms. Moller diligently picks through her waste each day to put items in the blue box, green box and grey box. She shops around to avoid accumulating wasteful packaging, and her thriving backyard compost produces enough soil for her entire garden in High Park. Her household of three typically produces only one bag of garbage every two weeks.
So you'd think she would be pleased about the city's new waste plan, which imposes stricter standards and "pay-as-you-throw" fees for garbage collection. But, as it turns out, even the most dedicated of recyclers have their limits.
"With the amount of taxes we pay, they want to charge us for extra garbage?" Ms. Moller asks. "I think that would be crazy because I think that is the only [useful] service they provide to a household."
She says the city's policies are fussy enough to begin with - even without people having to adjust to the city's latest rubbish ruminations. "You're not putting out garbage for fun," she says. "It's garbage!"
Like Ms. Moller, many Torontonians are less than enthusiastic about the new proposal, feeling that they are already as thrifty as they can be about paring down their trash.
The plan, which has not yet been approved by city council, would introduce four new household garbage collection bins, ranging from a slim single-bag container to a hefty 4½-bag container that would come with a higher price tag.
Geoff Rathbone, acting general manager for the city's solid-waste services, says the plan has two goals: to raise funds to accomplish the city's goal of 70 per cent waste diversion, and to get people to more readily recycle.
Mr. Rathbone says the average single-family household puts out about 600 kilograms of garbage every year, and the new bin arrangement would probably cost about $62 per household on average.
For people who can get by with the smallest bin, there would be no additional charge for garbage disposal. Those who choose a larger bin would be faced with shelling out a yearly premium of up to $151 per year.
But during an informal survey this week, many locals who were putting out their garbage said the plan unfairly targets families.
"I think there is a general sense that this is the right thing to do," says Cheryl Regehr, who regularly combs through her recyclables as required and whose midtown household of four produces about two bags of garbage every two weeks. "You feel a sense of guilt if you're not putting things in the correct bags," she says.
But Ms. Regehr also notes that for most families, there is only so much they can do to stem the flow of waste. In her house, they joke about the "executive vice-president of garbage," the person they designate to be engaged in the complex process of sorting out recyclables from waste.
While Ms. Regehr admits that recycling has certainly reduced the amount of waste they put out to the curb over the years, she thinks it has gotten to a point where her family have very little left that they can filter out from their garbage bags.
"I think there's a finite number of things you can do to reduce garbage," Ms. Regehr says. "It's just a reality."
At the city's downtown waste-transfer station on Commissioners Street this week, many of those waiting in line to drop off extra garbage have similar sentiments.
Adam Mernick, a 36-year-old Leslieville contractor, says he sees a point in helping to offset the environmental costs of disposal. But he adds that the city's plan unfairly targets families, who will inevitably produce more garbage than other households. "We all have to do our part, and that's fair enough," he says while waiting to drop off some garbage from a renovation. Mr. Mernick figures his family will probably just roll with the punches, whether they end up paying for a larger bin or not. "It's one more way that they stick their hands in our pockets," he says.
A few cars behind Mr. Mernick, Ede Grindley is less cordial about the city's latest waste-reduction innovation. "All that City Hall seems to do is dream up new ideas for garbage," she says, adding that she rarely puts out more than one garbage bag per week.
"If it happens, it happens. We have no choice."
How much greener can we get?
They're happy to recycle, but some Torontonians say user fees for garbage are a step too far
GEOFF NIXON
June 2, 2007
When it comes to diverting waste, Anita Moller is Toronto's ideal citizen. Ms. Moller diligently picks through her waste each day to put items in the blue box, green box and grey box. She shops around to avoid accumulating wasteful packaging, and her thriving backyard compost produces enough soil for her entire garden in High Park. Her household of three typically produces only one bag of garbage every two weeks.
So you'd think she would be pleased about the city's new waste plan, which imposes stricter standards and "pay-as-you-throw" fees for garbage collection. But, as it turns out, even the most dedicated of recyclers have their limits.
"With the amount of taxes we pay, they want to charge us for extra garbage?" Ms. Moller asks. "I think that would be crazy because I think that is the only [useful] service they provide to a household."
She says the city's policies are fussy enough to begin with - even without people having to adjust to the city's latest rubbish ruminations. "You're not putting out garbage for fun," she says. "It's garbage!"
Like Ms. Moller, many Torontonians are less than enthusiastic about the new proposal, feeling that they are already as thrifty as they can be about paring down their trash.
The plan, which has not yet been approved by city council, would introduce four new household garbage collection bins, ranging from a slim single-bag container to a hefty 4½-bag container that would come with a higher price tag.
Geoff Rathbone, acting general manager for the city's solid-waste services, says the plan has two goals: to raise funds to accomplish the city's goal of 70 per cent waste diversion, and to get people to more readily recycle.
Mr. Rathbone says the average single-family household puts out about 600 kilograms of garbage every year, and the new bin arrangement would probably cost about $62 per household on average.
For people who can get by with the smallest bin, there would be no additional charge for garbage disposal. Those who choose a larger bin would be faced with shelling out a yearly premium of up to $151 per year.
But during an informal survey this week, many locals who were putting out their garbage said the plan unfairly targets families.
"I think there is a general sense that this is the right thing to do," says Cheryl Regehr, who regularly combs through her recyclables as required and whose midtown household of four produces about two bags of garbage every two weeks. "You feel a sense of guilt if you're not putting things in the correct bags," she says.
But Ms. Regehr also notes that for most families, there is only so much they can do to stem the flow of waste. In her house, they joke about the "executive vice-president of garbage," the person they designate to be engaged in the complex process of sorting out recyclables from waste.
While Ms. Regehr admits that recycling has certainly reduced the amount of waste they put out to the curb over the years, she thinks it has gotten to a point where her family have very little left that they can filter out from their garbage bags.
"I think there's a finite number of things you can do to reduce garbage," Ms. Regehr says. "It's just a reality."
At the city's downtown waste-transfer station on Commissioners Street this week, many of those waiting in line to drop off extra garbage have similar sentiments.
Adam Mernick, a 36-year-old Leslieville contractor, says he sees a point in helping to offset the environmental costs of disposal. But he adds that the city's plan unfairly targets families, who will inevitably produce more garbage than other households. "We all have to do our part, and that's fair enough," he says while waiting to drop off some garbage from a renovation. Mr. Mernick figures his family will probably just roll with the punches, whether they end up paying for a larger bin or not. "It's one more way that they stick their hands in our pockets," he says.
A few cars behind Mr. Mernick, Ede Grindley is less cordial about the city's latest waste-reduction innovation. "All that City Hall seems to do is dream up new ideas for garbage," she says, adding that she rarely puts out more than one garbage bag per week.
"If it happens, it happens. We have no choice."
