Toronto to Get Tough on Non-Recyclers

The City of Toronto plans to conduct more garbage inspections and go after the roughly eight per cent of residents who don't recycle. Starting in April, residents could be fined $105 if they repeatedly disregard the city's curbside recycling, green bin and leaf and yard waste programs.

Officials say the goal is not to harass people who could make more use of the waste diversion programs, but to target people who are completely ignoring them by, for instance, repeatedly setting out garbage in bags without a recycling box or organics bin.

The mandatory recycling bylaw, in combination with a new four bag limit -- down from six -- could result in an additional 7,000 tonnes of recyclable material. The percentage of non-recyclers consists of 40,000 homes that aren't recycling, but there are no specific problem areas in Toronto.

[Source: Solid Waste & Recycling in March 2006 WasteWatch]

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