City’s trash bins aren’t worth fixing

There comes a point when some things aren’t worth fixing. And we may already be there with the city’s trash and recycling bins.

Anyone who reads this column regularly knows that we long ago concluded the curvy plastic receptacles have miserably failed their assignment and aren’t much better than the junk that goes into them.

In theory, they were great; attractively designed, with little doors over the holes for waste that are opened by stepping on a pedal, to keep people from having to touch the ickysticky flaps on the openings.

But from Day 1, the flaps were a problem. The cord connecting them to the pedal would stretch until the doors wouldn’t open, while pedals that got a lot of stomping broke.

More recently, the plastic panels have been coming loose and even falling off. One thing is for sure: The more use they get, the more certain it is that they will fall apart.

That may also be the reason why Astral Out of Home, which supplies the bins in exchange for the right to sell advertising posted on street furniture, hasn’t exactly been Johnnyon-the-spot about fixing them.

Had it not been for a persuasive plea from Rosemarie Chrichton, we wouldn’t have bothered trying to get another receptacle fixed.

When every second bin seems to be broken, what’s the point? Status: Since it wasn’t taken care of on Monday, we sent a note to Ryan Lanyon, who’s in charge of city street furniture. He emailed to say Astral would be asked to fix it ASAP. He then sent us a photo of the bin, showing a side panel that had been swinging in the wind and wouldn’t close is now reattached. What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Send an email to jlakey@thestar.ca. Report problems and follow us on Twitter @TOStarFixer.