Sloppy trash disposal may spread bedbugs
One person’s trash is another’s treasure, even if it is lousy with bedbugs.
By now, Star readers know that Toronto Community Housing buildings in St. James Town have infestations of bedbugs, cockroaches and vermin.
It’s too easy for people to drag furniture that was discarded — often due to bedbugs — back inside, perpetuating the infestation.
Heather Schwartz, a photography student at Ryerson University who lives in a privately owned building in St. James Town, emailed me about her efforts to document life in the TCHC buildings around her.
She gave me a list of problems, including sloppy disposal of trash behind the buildings.
Schwartz said the bins often overflow with trash, which attracts rodents and scavenging animals.
I went on a tour of St. James Town, and found dumpsters packed to the top, along with garbage enclosures surrounded by tall fences and gates that can be locked but weren’t.
Behind every TCHC building I visited, discarded furniture and mattresses had been tossed into the enclosures, unsecured.
I also saw three people picking through garbage and furniture, searching for treasure.
If TCHC officials know that people are recycling furniture, shouldn’t the enclosures be locked and an effort be made to ensure scavengers can’t get at it?
STATUS: Ian McConachie, who handles media questions for TCHC, emailed to say “we cannot lock the enclosures, as that would prevent residents from disposing their bulk waste. The enclosures are built to provide residents with a designated area to place their bulk garbage, and it is also where full waste bins are stored. Bulk garbage, such as furniture, mattresses and other large items, must be moved outside the enclosure before collection day, so that municipal solid waste services is aware of these items.” I’ve been polite about the TCHC’s shortcomings. Not today. It’s just plain stupid not to prevent scaven- gers from accessing discarded furniture. To not initiate a procedure for disposing of mattresses and furniture is negligent. What’s broken in your neighbourhood?