July 1st, 2009, 11 e-mails

M. W. wrote:

A city worker pointed out to me that all of "their" parking lots are empty, that would be an ideal place to put the garbage.

B. S. wrote:

(From the Christie Pits dump site.)

Here is a photo of a water sample I just took from the ice rink, where the water is currently about 5-7 cm high for the most part. I will put it in the freezer, for reference.

CUPE has prevented access for the sewage truck that was supposed to take away some of the toxic "leachate", to facilitate getting more garbage in. They've told me they will continue to do so, even if the site should get full. We had actually expected that it would be full by noon today, but that does not seem to be the case yet. The garbage from today was mostly stacked on the bags that are already there.

We have heard that the garbage will be piled higher throughout to keep the site open for as long as possible. This means it can't just be dumped from the tuck but needs to be handled, bag for bag, by the men and women who are staffing the site.

Meanwhile, Toronto has a new cottage industry: private entrepreneurs are picking up commercial waste from restaurants etc. (the going rate that was mentioned is $3.50 a bag) and then carting it to the temporary dump sites. There it becomes "my neighbour's", "my tenant's", "my elderly grandmother's" ... our friends from Customer Service have told me of an instance where they turned back a trailer that was bigger than their own truck.

Kc wrote:

It doesn't sound like the DG soccer field is a good choice for a dump site, but I don't understand the connection here. How could this destroy your theatre? Surely there are other places in the city where you can gather to rehearse??

B. K. wrote:

It's a performance and rehearsal space. Both are costly in this city.

Kc wrote:

There are many other parks nearby. Dovercourt, Trinity Bellwoods, Bickford etc. While moving may be unappealing, do consider these for rehearsal space should DG be used for garbage. I'm not suggesting that people do not fight against the dumping, just don't ruin your theatre over it.

D. A. wrote:

Yes indeed B.

It not just moving actors to another place. Its the problem of transporting props and set pieces to another place and finding storage and ... and ... and a whole host of physical tactical issues. Also we've been in Dufferin Grove Park for fifteen years and to move the venue at this point (posters are printed, press releases sent out, etc., etc.) is quite overwhelming. We're stumped right now about just what to do, but will keep you all informed. Thanks.

For me the bigger issue is about the use of public space, which, as our city becomes more densely populated, is more and more under threat of being used for various alternate activities or development. Do we let "the common" disappear or be used in this way? Parks are a place of refuge and beauty for people, but when push comes to shove refuge and beauty get short shrift. What effect does this have on our long term vision of being in a community?

This is not the first garbage strike. Why are public parks the default solution to the immediate problem of garbage? In most of the animal kingdom not fouling your own nest is a primary directive. Surely, with thoughtful planning, some other solution could have been ready to implement.

B. L. wrote:

D. said "Why are public parks the default solution to the immediate problem of garbage?"

The obvious answer is that they are owned by the City, and it is the City's responsibility to provide for garbage removal, etc. Some have suggested that the Dufferin Mall be used, but that is private space and would result in massive CUPE picketing (if they would agree to it in the first place, which they would not).

Like it or not, "the common" is the place we own in common, and as such is the place available to solve a common problem: garbage removal. Wishing will not change that. Much as we all dislike it, our parks are the easiest and most expedient solution to the problem.

E. G. wrote:

One thing I don't understand is why we don't use the spaces where salting trucks are kept or some parking garages where Metro Works keeps their garbage trucks. There has to be a better place than the parks. It really seems so silly to consider.

In Canada we have so few warm weather days when the parks are an option. We all need these green spaces. There are lots of condo and apartment dwellers that depend on these fields and don't have the option of cottages.

Our park gets used a lot for a variety of activities. There has to be a better spot than this for garbage storage.

People are complaining about the stench of the garbage bags? What is being put in the garbage if we're recycling and composting responsibly?

Personally, I don't get it.

M. W. wrote:

Yes, but as my friend and city worker pointed out, there are many empty city buildings throughout T.O., WITH empty parking lots due to the strike. Why have they not been slated to hold garbage during this time?

What are the other ‘benefits’ to dumping in parks?

Creating public urgency to end the strike?

More time to clean up after strike is settled?

There are other options on city property that could be explored. Choosing parks seems to be the least appropriate from a public (and child) safety perspective.

A. wrote:

I suppose it depends upon whether you live across from the park, or across from the actual paved parking lot! We have had rats in our basement previously, being close to Bloor, and would never welcome more!

My grandmother (who was born in our house) told me that in the early 1900's, the site on the southwest corner of Havelock and Dewson St. was originally home to the Havelock street dump! That is the vacated apartment lot which is scheduled for demolition. I for one, can't wait to have a sift through the site upon the removal of the existing apartments to look for relics from that time period!

Perhaps the property could be used as a dump once again!....why single out homeowners who live north of Hepbourne to receive the stinking loads of garbage?!

H. wrote:

My household has committed that we are holding onto our own garbage for the duration of the strike. Anything we throw out we make sure it is clean so there isn't a smell, we are making good use of our backyard composter. The biggest problem has been dog poo which we just realized that we can flush down the toilet.

Hopefully we can stop the dumping from happening in Dufferin Grove. I love the idea of an all-day "play in" and all-night dog walking!