At first I was dismayed to read that the town is now saying that we will only have garbage pick-up alternate weeks. I have already had someone stick their garbage into my bin. Unfortunately they left it sticking out of the top of the bin. Aren’t the garbage trucks supposed to leave those bins? There are also rather unsavory odors when walking passed some garbage bins on hots day.
Then I went to the web to find out if organics should be put in plastic bags and found out that every program is different. The only consistent information was that biodegradable plastics were not allowed. Vancouver said no plastic bags. Ottawa also said no plastic bags, and to line your bins with newspaper or purchased paper green bin liners. Then Toronto said yes use plastic bags and recommended grocery store bags. Their reasoning was they didn’t think it was sanitary to not use bags and also that the waste could freeze to the bottom of the bin.
The most amazing thing was that organic waste could include: dirty facial tissue, paper towels, ice cream packages, fast food wrappers, and in some places, even diapers and animal waste.
Sounds like we might need organic waste pick-up every week. What’s to stop some desperate person with too much stinky organics on garbage pick-up week, from sticking the dirty Kleenex in the garbage?
Perhaps the town could provide more information. Things like the cost of all options – weekly vs alternate weekly vs alternate days pick-up. What is considered organic waste? How serious are they about this? For example, will they be providing dual garbage bins in the park – one for real garbage and the other for doggie waste and fast-food wrappers?
C Smith
