THE FIXER Old asphalt gets a new life

City workers have cleaned up most of the illegally dumped trash in an alley behind a row of stores on Kingston Rd. and found an ingenious use for a load of crushed asphalt.

Last Friday, our story was about a torrent of trash that had been discarded in a rutted alley running behind stores on the north side of Kingston Rd., between Manderley Dr. and Warden Ave. A tip from a reader led us to 20 to 25 dumped tires, as well as a big load of crushed asphalt. We also found a load of household garbage. When we called the city, we were told that since the alley is private property, the city’s role in getting it cleaned up is limited to enforcing the illegal dumping bylaw. In other words, the property owner has to clean up the mess. When we drove through the alley yesterday, both the tires and asphalt were gone. Even better, the asphalt had been spread along the laneway, which was full of potholes last week but is now smooth. That’s imaginative recycling. When we were there last week, we consulted with two guys drinking beer on the back steps of one of the stores for information. They were there again yesterday, and said city workers took away the tires and spread the crushed asphalt.

But the load of illegally dumped trash wassmellier than ever after a couple of days of hot weather. WHO GOT IT FIXED: Resourceful city workers. 198 Days…

That’s how long it’s been since we reported on a sign in Bluffers Park that explains the workings of a rainwater filtration system. The letters had worn off the sign. It still needs fixing.

What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. To email us, go to thestar. click on the GTA tab, then click on The Fixer. Or call us at 416-869-4823.