Could Ban On Plastic Grocery Bags Help Keep Toronto Clean And Green?

While many different areas have been fingered as being the ‘trashiest’ in the GTA, one thing remains constant — plastic garbage bags are a major culprit wherever trash accumulates.   That begs the question, ‘Would an outright ban on plastic bags help solve the escalating problem?’

Before you dismiss the idea as too far-fetched, take note that plastic bags have already been banned in Leaf Rapids, Manitoba , and San Francisco looks to be next in line.

Toronto currently sends billions of plastic grocery bags to landfill sites every year, and they’re wreaking havoc on the environment.  

“No one knows (how long they take to disintegrate),” warns Toronto councillor and environmentalist Gord Perks.

“Since the creation of the first plastic bag, we haven’t seen them disintegrate yet. So it could be thousands of years.”

As for recycling them, it doesn’t see possible.  

“You get goo,” Perks adds.   “They simply can’t be recycled into a useful product.”

The best solution, according to Perks, is to adopt reusable cloth bags.

Last week, we asked you for your suggestions about the dirtiest parts of the GTA. It appears you were primed and ready. We were flooded with your letters about garbage (does that make them “junk” mail?) in advance of a series of stories about the worst and dumpiest areas of the city.  Here’s what you had to say:

“One of the dirtiest areas is Mabelle Street, at Islington and Bloor. 49 Mabelle is surrounded by garbage.  Eight years ago this neighbourhood was beautiful, now it looks like a dump.”

Bebe

“I was looking out my window this weekend and couldn’t believe that people were letting their kids outside to play in such conditions. It was nasty!  There was garbage everywhere and no one was attempting to clean it up.

“This is in the area of Eglinton and Mason Rd in the apartment buildings 3101, 3111 and 3121.  What a dump!!”

Sandra

“On Kelvin Ave. east of  Dawes Rd. and Danforth Ave there is a lane way full of garbage, filling over dumpsters, dog crap, big pot holes and other crap littered all over the lane … It has been like this for nearly 15 years!”
Shane Dasilva

“Take a look at the north west corner of Don Mills Road and York Mills Road.”

Lyn Hickey

“There is garbage on both sides of the street and also shopping carts abandoned. As you go north towards Eglinton just where the wall ends on the west side, it is filled with garbage on both sides of the fence, Highway 27 and East Mall. Garbage from the highway accumulates there against the fence.

“It is disgusting what people throw out on the highways and streets. Few times a year I have to call the Ministry of Transportation and the City to clean it up. It looks disgusting from my backyard.”

Tony Loreto

“Rankin Cres., North side – “quiet” residential street.  Gross…”
David Silverberg

“If you want to see trash, you should take a ride on the GO train (the Milton line). You will see a spectacular view of garbage upon garbage. The Line runs through the back of apartment buildings, residential homes, and businesses and there is garbage from Toronto all the way to Mississauga. 

“I’m still fascinated by all of the garbage (general litter, sofas, mattresses, chairs, etc.) behind these buildings, lying by the tracks – it’s just shocking .”  

Sherry Persaud

“There is a laneway between Montrose and Crawford just south of College in Little Italy that the surrounding residents and stores use as a dumping ground throughout the year. From mattress to benches, from strewn garbage to old tires and tree branches.”

Joe Maneli

“I live in West Etobicoke off a laneway at 33rd Street and Lakeshore. Now that the snow and ice have finally melted, a short walk down the laneway and onto Lakeshore provides you with a very clear picture on just how filthy this area of the GTA remains and makes me ashamed of my fellow neighbours and area residents.

“I am forced to clean the area in and around my home daily, including parts of the laneway that borders my home, due to the pedestrian traffic. I accept that fact.

“The City, however, has never cleaned the laneway in the two years I’ve lived here. During the short summer months when an occasional street sweeper can be found along Lakeshore, the focus is only on the main roadway, never the side streets nor the laneway.  

“It wouldn’t hurt the store owners either to try and occasionally clean up their respective storefronts. If each store owner spent just 10 or 15 minutes per week sweeping the entrance ways and curbs in front of their stores, this eyesore would largely disappear.

“Really, is that too much to ask of each of us?”
Chris McGregor

“Three locations stand out:

“The cloverleaf at Yonge Street and the 401. It looks like a landfill. The City does not accept responsibility for it. Ministry of Transportation passes the buck to the Ministry of the Environment. Someone should take responsibility.

“Anywhere along Lakeshore Drive – it’s a mess.

“Anywhere in Regent Park. Does anyone there dispose of garbage properly? Try the intersections of Sherbourne and Dundas or River and Dundas for examples.”

Philip Smith

“Well off the top of my head, any exit off the 401. That is a start!  If there is a stop light there, and there usually is, it should be looked at. 

“I know that Kipling at Belfield, Islington Avenue as well as Martingrove, north of Dixon, have in the past been messy.”

Hilda Andrade

“I live in the Forest Hill Village area and there has been a big pile of garbage sitting in a parking lot behind the stores at 390 Spadina Rd.

Wendy

“Finch Ave. West. between Weston Rd. and Islington Ave. Lots of trash!”

Daniel Duclos

“A trash filled area in my neighbourhood is at Col. Sam Smith park right at the lake.  When we took our dog for a walk, there was what looked like a trash can tipped over without the trash can and there were used tampons and more along the shoreline.This was on the lakefront closest to the entrance from Lakeshore Drive just west of 13th St.”

Shannon Hibbit

“Kensington Market. The trash is everywhere.”

Chris De Vita