Uncollected garbage magnet for more trash
A pile of garbage left on the street to moulder for weeks will attract more trash, like flies to honey.
When it comes to putting out garbage or recycling, people get it wrong. That’s why stuff is left behind when the truck pulls away.
Many people don’t know what can or can’t be put out to the curb, and some don’t care.
The city just mailed out its 2018 waste management guide and collection schedule, which offers the best information — right down to pictures, for those who refuse to read — about how and when to put out garbage and recycling.
Whoever left a pile of garbage outside a townhouse complex on the west side of Leslie St., just south of Queen St., didn’t appear to know about the rules and likely had no idea it would get a lot bigger.
Adam Howell sent us a note saying he’s been walking past the garbage, piled outside the gate to the townhouses, since early October and filed an online report with 311 on Oct. 31.
He sent us a screen grab of its status on the city’s website, toronto.ca. It shows his report as cancelled because “the request may be a duplicate, work is previously scheduled or no work is required.”
He also sent us two photos, one taken on Oct. 31 and another shot last week. There’s a lot more junk in the second photo than in the first, including a mat- tress and box spring and a bunch of bicycle tires.
We went there Saturday and found even more garbage than in the second photo. The additions include renovation trash, an orange tarp, cardboard boxes and lots of small plastic bags containing food waste, a feast for rats and raccoons.
When people who can’t be bothered to do the right thing with their garbage spot a trash pile that remains for weeks or even months, it seems to act like a magnet. It’s like winking at them to say it’s OK to dump your junk. Status: We sent a note to solid waste management asking it to get rid of the trash and got the following reply: “Solid Waste visited this location in June and spoke with the property manager about proper set out areas for collection and what materials can and cannot go in the bins. Based on the (photos) you provided, there are a number of materials, which appear to be on private property, that are not set out properly: cardboard not broken down; garbage container not regulation; mixed materials not separated — recyclables, organics and garbage all in one container; shopping cart — Solid Waste does not collect; all types of materials set out at same time (not following collection schedule); loose debris.” 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.