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Mayor Olivia Chow's Toronto

I've pretty much lost faith in Toronto and Ontario's recycling program. Unless someone proves me wrong, I assume that most of what goes into recycling is sent to landfill.

What we should be doing is putting all garbage and recycling into one bin, and then the city or province sorts and separates it. The cost for this service would be paid by any company that produces or imports product packaging or single use food and beverage containers. This is done in several cities in North America. For example, Edmonton accepts mixed household waste, and then recovers organics, recycling, and landfill material using automated separation. Same with Indianapolis, Indiana and San Jose, California.


Also helps that Alberta's deposit return system is the largest in Canada. Ontario is one of the only places in Canada and the modern world that doesn't have a deposit system on all beverage containers..

According to the latest Global Deposit Book, a European-based resource that tracks global bottle return initiatives, Alberta is not only the best province for returns in Canada but also the second best in North America, coming just barely behind Oregon, USA.

Albertans return 85% of their refundable recyclables, with Saskatchewan coming in behind us at 84%, and the average across Canada is 76%.

 
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I'm actually late in reporting that.....

Terry Ricketts has actually been installed as the new General Manager Parks and Recreation. She took over in November.

She arrives by way of Niagara Region where she ran Public Works.

She is a P. Eng by trade.

Because everyone needs to recognize her and keep in touch w/her........this is she:

View attachment 706954
So much for me bringing my vision and vibrancy to Parks :(
 
Not just Toronto having this problem. I follow a lot of Ontario cites on reddit, and noticed most cities are dealing with recycling carts not being picked up. Thanks to Dougie's privatization
As with anything, this City will only be as good as the province allows it to be. The Province of Ontario at this point is more of a hindrance than a help in regards to furthering urbanization.
 
Not just Toronto having this problem. I follow a lot of Ontario cites on reddit, and noticed most cities are dealing with recycling carts not being picked up. Thanks to Dougie's privatization



If I recall, they are not picking up the bagged excess either which makes this situation a whole lot worse.

I manage a Condo with City of Toronto pickup. When our rep discussed the changes with us, his simple answer was "nobody told us anything". They expected it to be an unmitigated disaster given the lack of communication.
 
If I recall, they are not picking up the bagged excess either which makes this situation a whole lot worse.
Seriously?!? I frequently have bagged excess. And due to the narrow passage between houses, I have two smaller bins which won't hold large amounts of cardboard
 
Seriously?!? I frequently have bagged excess. And due to the narrow passage between houses, I have two smaller bins which won't hold large amounts of cardboard

I remember someone saying that they left the bagged excess behind last week. GFL claimed it was accidental due to one person operation.
 
Proposed Property Tax increase for 2026 - 2.2%


1.5% for the City Building Fund, 0.7% for the general property tax.

There some choices being made to achieve this that are questionable. I approve of the idea of keeping the increase as low as feasible. But there are some choices on deferred capital projects that may come back to bite.

That's on top of some reserve fund draws that will not be repeatable next year.
 

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