In mid-July of this year, Gatineau City Council decided that, despite being the second lowest city in waste disposal in the province, residents would no longer be allowed to dispose of 'bulky' waste. "We are not doing enough to meet unrealistic provincial goals."
Their claim is that over 17,000 tons per year of compostable products are found in the garbage collection. "Bulky refuse and construction residues will also be prohibited in domestic waste. These materials will no longer be picked up as part of garbage collection." According to their web site announcement:
As far as being a concerned citizen, I go out of my way to purchase items (usually more costly) that are wrapped or boxed in compostable or recyclable containers. I spend extra time sorting my kids waste into the various components. I purchased LED light bubs to save energy, lower my consumption and - mostly - so I don't have to throw out those compact fluorescent or incandescent light bulbs.
What they didn't say in their communique actually speaks volumes.
A few weeks ago, I changed some of the baseboards in my living room and dining room. The old baseboards and trim were tied together in a single grouping, and put to the roadside for pick up. In the past, this small stack of refuse was simply thrown in the back of the truck. For the sake of the workers, I cut the baseboards in 5 ft lengths, tied and taped them into a single pile and stood them upright. The whole thing could not have weighed more than 2 lbs and was neatly tied together.
So I watched and waited for the garbage people to come by but they refused to take the baseboards. When I asked the young man why, he said; "Check the city website." So I did, and basically it says everything the aforementioned communique states.
The issue, in my mind, is one of logic and targeting the proper areas. A very wise man once told me, the governments are famous for targeting everyone in order to deal with a small select group. These 17,000 tons of compost found in the refuse, is primarily from food services and restaurants. Many restaurants have long had services to pick up their used cooking oils (which are cleaned and reused), but there is no composting or recycling plan or service in the city for the rest of their waste. They pay for this de-greasing service directly.
The fact remains; the issue is not one of large items, the issue is 17,000 tons of 'compostable' waste (as the communique states) mixed in with the garbage. I don't think an old arm chair, kids stroller or old plastic children's toys are considered compostable. A door or wooden skid can't be considered 'compost'. (see photos)
Again, this is just Gatineau council refusing to spend money on the real problem (no composting by businesses) and bouncing it off the bank accounts of residents. Is the city so naive that it really believes reducing large item waste from garbage collection will manage to fix this issue?
Ever wonder what happens to the food you don't eat at a restaurant? If you don't doggie-bag it and bring home, it gets thrown into a garbage bin and then put in their dumpsters. What about the food that isn't purchased before it's best-before date on grocery store shelves? Yes, some of it gets collected by food banks, but a large majority of stores simply heave it into their dumpsters.
These are the real issues to solve, not this quick fix the City has tried to pass off on residents. If any of us care enough to check this time in 2019, I'm certain we will not see 17,000 tons less 'compostable' waste has been picked up because of the large item ban.
I also wonder if a poll of restaurant owners would show if they would be willing to comply to some sort of service involving composting food stuffs? I would bet - that many of them would comply and some might even have an idea or two on how it could be managed.
We will never know, because initiating a service like this would cost a great deal of money, time, and planning, something, this city is not very good at! The city will blame business owners for not wanting to pay, and the business owners will blame the city for not picking up the compost or for charging too much for this service. Either way it goes down, if at all, residents of the city will continue to take the brunt of the blame and pay taxes for it.
Our residential services have been cut significantly over the years, yet there is no indication of a reduction in taxes.
Didn't they cut back on garbage collection a few years back - was there a reduction in taxes?
The city wants us to compost, recycle and reduce - yet at the same time, punishes us for not doing enough. The spanking - so to speak - is being applied to the wrong bottom. I don't blame restaurants or food services, this City council needs to start making some decisions based on real needs, not knee-jerk reactions. Telling residents they are not doing enough, is counter productive. Most of us actually do more than they ask. Let's talk to the business owners. Let us see if they can come up with a real solution?
addendum: For anyone interested, The City of Gatineau is spending $9.7 Million dollars buying and replacing new blue and green bins for residents as part of this cutting back plan. Over $5.2 Million of that is for the new green bins we are to start using to contain our garbage. Wonder if that means they won't pick up the green garbage bags anymore?
Their claim is that over 17,000 tons per year of compostable products are found in the garbage collection. "Bulky refuse and construction residues will also be prohibited in domestic waste. These materials will no longer be picked up as part of garbage collection." According to their web site announcement:
As far as being a concerned citizen, I go out of my way to purchase items (usually more costly) that are wrapped or boxed in compostable or recyclable containers. I spend extra time sorting my kids waste into the various components. I purchased LED light bubs to save energy, lower my consumption and - mostly - so I don't have to throw out those compact fluorescent or incandescent light bulbs.
What they didn't say in their communique actually speaks volumes.
- If you have garbage that is not part of their list, but is considered bulky, they won't pick it up.
- If it isn't in a garbage bag or container of some sort, they won't pick it up.
- I noticed - nowhere in the statement did it say "residential waste" was the problem.
- They are targeting residents, not businesses.
- Even if it is light (as in weight), tied up and easily picked up, they won't take it.
A few weeks ago, I changed some of the baseboards in my living room and dining room. The old baseboards and trim were tied together in a single grouping, and put to the roadside for pick up. In the past, this small stack of refuse was simply thrown in the back of the truck. For the sake of the workers, I cut the baseboards in 5 ft lengths, tied and taped them into a single pile and stood them upright. The whole thing could not have weighed more than 2 lbs and was neatly tied together.
So I watched and waited for the garbage people to come by but they refused to take the baseboards. When I asked the young man why, he said; "Check the city website." So I did, and basically it says everything the aforementioned communique states.
The issue, in my mind, is one of logic and targeting the proper areas. A very wise man once told me, the governments are famous for targeting everyone in order to deal with a small select group. These 17,000 tons of compost found in the refuse, is primarily from food services and restaurants. Many restaurants have long had services to pick up their used cooking oils (which are cleaned and reused), but there is no composting or recycling plan or service in the city for the rest of their waste. They pay for this de-greasing service directly.
But this is different
If this isn't just anther way to cut costs, without cutting taxes, I would be 100% behind it. However, I - for one - don't believe it is.The fact remains; the issue is not one of large items, the issue is 17,000 tons of 'compostable' waste (as the communique states) mixed in with the garbage. I don't think an old arm chair, kids stroller or old plastic children's toys are considered compostable. A door or wooden skid can't be considered 'compost'. (see photos)
Again, this is just Gatineau council refusing to spend money on the real problem (no composting by businesses) and bouncing it off the bank accounts of residents. Is the city so naive that it really believes reducing large item waste from garbage collection will manage to fix this issue?
Ever wonder what happens to the food you don't eat at a restaurant? If you don't doggie-bag it and bring home, it gets thrown into a garbage bin and then put in their dumpsters. What about the food that isn't purchased before it's best-before date on grocery store shelves? Yes, some of it gets collected by food banks, but a large majority of stores simply heave it into their dumpsters.
These are the real issues to solve, not this quick fix the City has tried to pass off on residents. If any of us care enough to check this time in 2019, I'm certain we will not see 17,000 tons less 'compostable' waste has been picked up because of the large item ban.
I also wonder if a poll of restaurant owners would show if they would be willing to comply to some sort of service involving composting food stuffs? I would bet - that many of them would comply and some might even have an idea or two on how it could be managed.
We will never know, because initiating a service like this would cost a great deal of money, time, and planning, something, this city is not very good at! The city will blame business owners for not wanting to pay, and the business owners will blame the city for not picking up the compost or for charging too much for this service. Either way it goes down, if at all, residents of the city will continue to take the brunt of the blame and pay taxes for it.
Didn't they cut back on garbage collection a few years back - was there a reduction in taxes?
The city wants us to compost, recycle and reduce - yet at the same time, punishes us for not doing enough. The spanking - so to speak - is being applied to the wrong bottom. I don't blame restaurants or food services, this City council needs to start making some decisions based on real needs, not knee-jerk reactions. Telling residents they are not doing enough, is counter productive. Most of us actually do more than they ask. Let's talk to the business owners. Let us see if they can come up with a real solution?
addendum: For anyone interested, The City of Gatineau is spending $9.7 Million dollars buying and replacing new blue and green bins for residents as part of this cutting back plan. Over $5.2 Million of that is for the new green bins we are to start using to contain our garbage. Wonder if that means they won't pick up the green garbage bags anymore?
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