How You’re Going To Cope With The Strike

From sending their trash on a trip out of town to composting, everyone has an idea about how they’re going to make it through the CUPE strike. Most people centered in on what they plan to do with their garbage (video below). No one commented on their plans for alternate daycare. As big a problem as that will be, it’s clear the trash gnash is the real concern.

Here are some of your suggestions about surviving the Strike of 2009.

“I’ll dump our trash, recycling and green bin waste at my girlfriend’s house in Etobicoke while I’m over as the garbage service is contracted out there.

“I’m not waiting three hours to dump at a transfer station. I have also cleaned out the garage a few days ago in anticipation of a strike so I have plenty of room for waste.”

JS

“Leave all packaging at the retailer’s when you purchase an item that has more than minimum wrapping. Use cloth bags for everything, even clothes and shoes shopping, hardware stores, etc.

“Take plastic bags with you to the grocery store for loose fruits and veg. Take no packaging home that you can do without. A lot of ‘green’ messages will be sent this way and your garbage will reduce by at least 50%.

“We had a strike in Mississauga and I got back to reusing and recycling and composting. It isn’t that difficult, just takes dire circumstances to motive us.”

Sylvia

“Start a composter.

“No junk mail sign on door.

“All that junk you get in your monthly bills – save them for a little while and send them back to the company. Let them get rid off all the paper.

“Leave the excess packaging in the grocery store.

“Only buy what you need for couple off days of groceries. You will not only save on waste but you get some exercise.”
Gail N.

“With garbage separated now it won’t be as messy or smelly as in 2002 at our place. Back then we took our garbage to the cottage dump on weekends. This time, to reduce the recycling: we’re buying things with less packaging, reusing jars and boxes.

“To deal with the food garbage, we’re buying less just more often, we’re freezing meat products and we’ve found people in the area that have big compost bins that will take our compostable waste (as long as it doesn’t go on too long.)

“I just hope that we don’t see the park garbage overflowing again.”
Sarah M.

“In 2002, that was a lifestyle changing summer for me mainly because of the garbage strike.  That summer I became aware of the amount of materials that I took in that weren’t re-usable or didn’t find its final place in a garbage can.  What seemed like small things turned out to be impactful lifestyle changes. 

“I used to eat out often and have my leftovers in a take-out bag constantly.  That just added to my garbage can.  I would always ask for a bag and end up just throwing them out.  Order take-out/fast food and then more to the garbage can.

“At the time, I lived in an apartment where we had to take care of our own garbage and recycling so we didn’t want to have a mountain of garbage our yard. Took a look at the garbage that was actually in there and it was like, “This bag wouldn’t be so full if ‘X’ wasn’t in here.”‘

“In my initial effort to not have so much garbage, I:

a)             Stopped ordering take-out, starting eating more at home.

b)      Stopped asking for bags where they weren’t needed.  Even with clothes I would buy, I would say ‘no’ to the bag.

c)      Started using my own water bottle, instead of constantly buying them from the stores.

d)      Starting buying groceries or household items that were recyclable packaging.

e)      When I did eat-out, order portions that I know I could finish in the sitting and not have leftovers for takeout.

“Again, they seem like minor things but retrospectively if it wasn’t for the garbage strike in ’02, I would still be doing those things.  I ended up saving money, gained better eating habits and became environmentally conscientious.

“A garbage strike wouldn’t be the best but it also isn’t the worst to cope with.”

Jack K.

“If you don’t already compost, this might be a way of getting rid of organic waste. Either dig a hole in your backyard and cover with more dirt or put into a plastic bucket and cover with dirt. I already have a backyard composter and will be using it more faithfully.

“With items such as meats or bones, I usually store in a container in the freezer to avoid problems with raccoons or maggots.”
J. Lam

And finally this bit of advice that’s short but not necessarily sweet:

“Move to the 905 area!”

Betty in Thornhill