oh Toronto
the other day I was telling my mom about Toronto’s garbage strike.
I think I said something like this:
‘I’m only following the strike passively because I live in an apartment, so the strike wouldn’t affect my garbage collection. Now, if I lived in a house and the strike did affect my garbage collection I would be mighty upset. In fact, I would move to Montreal.’
well, hold on to your hats Quebec! Here I come!!!!
…I’m only kidding.
I was chatting with a coworker today and she made me realize that my garbage is indeed collected by the city.
I’m gonna have a problem.
[pic]
In other news, Toronto implemented a new policy related to plastic bags - I think it started at the beginning of June.
In order to encourage shoppers to use reusable shopping bags, all retailers are charging customers 5 cents/ plastic bag, if they require one.
I’m shocked!
I wonder what other large cities have done this.
I mean, I think it’s great, but I’m shocked that T.O could get this idea approved without major yelling and screaming from consumer groups.
or maybe this policy has been in the works for like 10 years and now it has finally come to fruition.
I wonder if there will be an evaluation of the policy in a couple years.
It’d be interesting to see if the policy affects consumer spending in any way.
As silly as it sounds, I feel like the policy has helped to curb my spending on impulse items.
For example, sometimes I stop off at the grocery store on the way home. A few times these past weeks I have thought of picking something up at the store but then realized that I left my reusable bag at home and figured I didn’t have enough space in my bag to carry extra items. And who wants to pay 5cents for a flimsy plastic bag?
your analysis of reusable bags was really interesting. i never considered the implications on consumer spending. i thought it would just make people spend more money buying bags. you should get a foldable bag that fits in your purse so you can have it with you all the time ($4 at solutions)
Comment by hana — June 25, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
I think charging for bags is brilliant. From my circle of friends/family, they’d rather bring reusables.
Haha, some of my dt friends are carting their garbage to other friends/family in the suburbs.
YOu could do the same…
Comment by ceci — June 25, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
hana: I have one! And I usually remember to bring it everywhere with me, but every so often I use it and then leave it in my apartment.
hmm, maybe I should get another one!
ceci: hah! Did you hear about how there are investigators for the garbage that is being illegally dumped in the city? they actually search through the bags to try and identify who you are!
Comment by Cat — June 25, 2009 @ 7:13 pm