Well…it’s another typical Thursday morning at 7 a.m. on our stretch of Rumsey Road. The clatter of rolling bins can be heard as sleepy-headed neighbours in pajamas haul their bins to the curb before even drinking their first coffee of the day.
Here’s a typical conversation at our place.
The Good
My husband Doug: “Hey Mike, how’s it going? Can I use some space in your recycle bin as mine is full? I’ve got space in my green bin if you need it.”
Mike: “Sure Doug, no problem. We’ve got the ginormous one, so use it any time. I think I will take you up on your offer of the green bin as I don’t have much and it’ll save the garbage guys some time.”
Doug: “Thanks. Have a great day!”
Mike: “Hey Doug, you too.”
Doug: “You know Cheryl; she’ll be picking up the dregs after the garbage guys come along. She has a passion for litter.”
Then they both laugh and shake their heads. Now that’s what I call ‘the good’.
The Bad
Then there’s ‘the bad’.
Doug: “I get so ticked off when someone leaves their dog poop in my yard waste bag. Can’t they take their doggy doo home and put it in their own green bin?”
Mike: “I hear ya. I get even more ticked off when they leave their hot steamy mess in my green bin. Now I’ve got to wash it out. Gross. So rude.”
The Ugly
Then there’s ‘the ugly’.
Doug: “I actually saw a guy pull his car up the other day and throw a big honkin’ green garbage bag into the park trash bin and drive away. Now it’s overflowing. What’s he thinking? I have no idea what the pickup schedule is.”
Mike, shaking his head: “Guess that’s part of the territory when you live across from the park. I’ll call 311 and report it.”
Doug: “Thanks a lot.”
Mike: “Hey, no problem. Just want to keep our ‘front yard’ looking good and be a good neighbour.”
It’s great to have neighbours looking out for one another, pitching in when their bins are full and sharing the waste. And it’s also great when they help to fish out the unwanted dog poop leavings from the leaf bags. But you shouldn’t feel you’re in this on your own. The city is also there to help. If your bin is regularly filled to overflowing, consider ordering a larger, replacement bin from the city. Just visit 311 Toronto or use this link: www1.toronto.ca. The city also has a very handy tool called Waste Wizard that will answer your waste questions…even where those pesky, smelly dog poop bags go! (For the record, they go in the green bin.)
