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Public recycling/compost bins - do their contents just get tossed with the trash?

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Thu, 2009-05-21 13:55

#1

Michelle

Public recycling/compost bins - do their contents just get tossed with the trash?

A couple of weeks ago, I was waiting for a bus at Dufferin Station in Toronto at Dufferin and Bloor later at night. I watched a garbage truck come along, open a combination trash/recycling receptacle and empty the entire contents of both the trash AND recycling into the garbage truck.

I was kind of outraged, but I didn't dwell on it long.

Then, on Saturday (May 16th), my son noticed this bin at Union Station. What's wrong with this picture?

Seriously, is it all just a big joke or something when you see these separated bins? Are we being duped?

And if we ARE being duped, do they think it's really a good idea to make it so obvious, as they have done with this particular trash bin?

Thu, 2009-05-21 13:59

#2

G. Muffin

I've heard stories about office cleaning staff doing the same thing at the end of the day. Pretty discouraging.

Thu, 2009-05-21 14:02

#3

Michelle

It's funny, because when my son came to me after tossing his garbage (I didn't see the bin at first) and told me, "They have composting here now!" I was thrilled. I said, "Really? That's great!" Then he told me, "No it isn't." I said, "Sure it is," and started to explain why composting is so important. He interrupted me and told me, "Look at it."

I was so annoyed when I saw it that I took a picture so I could post it here!

Thu, 2009-05-21 19:02

#4

Policywonk

The fact that people are ignorant enough to toss garbage into recycling bins doesn't mean they aren't separated later. However when there is no market for recycled materials it is likely that much is being dumped in landfills or incinerated, particularly if there are inadequate regulations and reporting requirements.

Thu, 2009-05-21 19:15

#5

Tommy_Paine

I think what is happening is the City is creating awareness and habit before David Miller can arrange a composting site somewhere in rural Ontario.

There's a kinda neat show that airs on the Discovery Channel called "Dirty Jobs". I watched an episode where the host worked with the sanitation people in San Francisco. They had him climbing stairs up to people's apartments in the middle of the night to collect unseparated garbage.

From there it went to a depot where it was mechanically and manually separated. San Francisco demands little public involvement in it's recycling plan. And, the worker at the depot boasted that they have over 60% diversion from landfill. The best percentage on the continent.

Mind you, I'd like to see the sanitation budget.

To date, all Toronto has managed is 100% diversion to a landfill adjacent to a First Nation's Reserve.

Fri, 2009-05-22 21:05

#6

Aristotleded24

Makes the "reduce" and "reuse" parts of the equation all the more pertinent.

Sat, 2009-05-23 07:06

#7

Tommy_Paine

The reduce, reuse and repurpose ideas are great.

But even this week I read a report from our friends in the plastic bag industry who say they conducted a study on the unsanitary conditions of cloth shopping bags.

Industry fights tooth and nail for every nanometer of ground.

When it comes to waste, I think it's efficient that the public does some rudimentary sorting. But, mechanical and manual sorting has to be done at the end of the line, too.

But even that is a waste of effort if industry isn't regulated. There's not even a simple step of regulating packaging, such as if it's not recyclable, it's not allowed.

Right now, the whole system is a two legged stool.

Sat, 2009-05-23 07:24

#8

richard s connolly

I no longer work for WSI in Brampton, but i know for a fact the garbage is all mixed together because they were making me do it.

Even in waste services there is coruption

Sat, 2009-05-23 08:53

#9

nussy

We have recycling bins in our apartment complex. They placed them in the garage areas, in the garbage room and at the enterances. In fact they did a great job in making the bins eye pleasing. Most people take advantage of the bins and I see different trucks coming for the garbage and the bins.

We have many older people here and its interesting to see people with their walkers seperating the garmage and placing it in the proper bins.

I don't know what happens after the garbage is picked up...

Sat, 2009-05-23 09:45

Refuge

Refuge's picture

Tommy_Paine wrote:
But even this week I read a report from our friends in the plastic bag industry who say they conducted a study on the unsanitary conditions of cloth shopping bags.

Industry fights tooth and nail for every nanometer of ground.

When it comes to waste, I think it's efficient that the public does some rudimentary sorting. But, mechanical and manual sorting has to be done at the end of the line, too.

From what I can see with the study they didn't test washed bags, I think putting them in the laundry would likely clean them up and voila no unsanitary cloth shopping bags.

Sat, 2009-05-23 10:06

Tommy_Paine

Oh, I know. It was totally rediculous fear mongering, not even worthy of being picked up as a news item.

But it was. Which gives you an idea of what we're up against when it comes to changing industry.

Sun, 2009-05-24 08:00

Michelle

Hey, Derrick put my photo on the front page a couple of days ago! Hee. :)

Sun, 2009-05-24 08:06

Michelle

richard s connolly wrote:

I no longer work for WSI in Brampton, but i know for a fact the garbage is all mixed together because they were making me do it.

Even in waste services there is coruption

Thanks for sharing! I couldn't believe it when I saw the trash collectors dumping all three bins into the garbage that night at Dufferin and Bloor. I've heard this before from people, that stuff we put in recycling bins doesn't necessarily make it to the recycling, but this is the first time I've seen proof of it with my own eyes.

Sun, 2009-05-24 23:13

Cueball

Cueball's picture

Policywonk wrote:

The fact that people are ignorant enough to toss garbage into recycling bins doesn't mean they aren't separated later. However when there is no market for recycled materials it is likely that much is being dumped in landfills or incinerated, particularly if there are inadequate regulations and reporting requirements.

That is why you are supposed to look at the picture, to see what is wrong with it. Try looking again and you will see what the problem is. Three recepticle ports, one for trash, one for compost, and one for recycling... but there are only two collection bags.