Litter really lit a rage among readers, so I guess it's not just me who's bothered by it, but then I knew that.
I wrote about the state of strewn garbage in Hamilton in a column a couple weeks ago, and the response was swift, furious and prolific.
Many of you emailed, phoned or wrote to tell me of your own experiences, most of them awful.
Here's a sampling.
"Hi, Jeff, you touched a nerve with me. Where to start. Garbage is everywhere. Ancaster, Meadowlands, over by the bus stop bench, Tim Hortons, one side of the soccer field to the other. Every time I drive the 403, QEW, Ancaster hill to Burlington, everything is in the (median). Old construction stuff, tires, car stuff, and so on that has not been cleaned up for years. Never touched."
One reader drew a comparison between Hamilton, with its one-bag limit, and Mississauga, where there's a two-container limit and bulk pickup on regular pickup days. Does the charge for more than one bag/container encourage dumping?
"So this curious reader of your column wonders if the residents of Mississauga litter less and dump less than residents of Hamilton and if so is it because Mississauga has waste management practices that encourage people to properly dispose of waste rather than toss it or dump it? Or are we … as my grandmother would have said … just a bunch of uncaring inconsiderate slobs?"
Someone spoke up and this is what happened.
"I actually said something to someone and you know what? They told me off. A mother and daughter. It was ... by Lime Ridge Mall. It was so bad. So we moved to Burlington and now I don't have to worry about it."
This, from another reader.
"Your story about the woman who was illegally dumping disgusts me. I'm appalled at this kind of behaviour and I agree with Phil Homerski (the city's Clean and Green Hamilton co-ordinator) that something needs to be done to alter the litterer's psychology. If we understand why they behave this way we can gain better insight in how to prevent this behaviour. Personally, I don't understand how anyone could want to live in a dump of a city, but that's what they're creating."
From a truck driver.
"I'm a trucker and while driving the length of the Linc last week, I couldn't get over the endless litter on the grassy areas along side the highway. Where are the city crews? Nobody else sees this? On the 403 also. Midnight dumping in rural areas of furniture."
From another reader, on the subtopic of cigarette butts.
"I was at St. Joe's hospital visiting a friend and as I walk outside there on the grass I couldn't believe my eyes as all you see is butts all over the place, you couldn't even see any grass."
Another side of the story.
"I think most Hamiltonians do a great job with recyclables and garbage. On garbage day walks with my dog in the Durand neighbourhood the recycle containers are full to overflowing.
"Lids on the containers would certainly prevent the amount of garbage that goes airborne on those days with strong wind gusts. Small retail plazas ... please put out garbage bins for your customers to use.
"Apartment property managers please ensure your property maintenance includes daily attention to this issue, it can cause a blight. Parents and teachers, continue to educate your children. I know they work hard on cleanup days but I've also walked through after recess and lunch to see garbage all over the playground.
"Let's be proud of our effort in Hamilton and strive to do better."
Remember the column on Karen Cumming, who applied to be on the 2024 Mars mission (Jan. 15, 2014)? She made the final 1,000 back in March.
Now she emails to tell me she's made the final 706. On to the next round.
Congratulations, Karen.
905-526-3306
Litter really lit a rage among readers, so I guess it's not just me who's bothered by it, but then I knew that.
I wrote about the state of strewn garbage in Hamilton in a column a couple weeks ago, and the response was swift, furious and prolific.
Many of you emailed, phoned or wrote to tell me of your own experiences, most of them awful.
Here's a sampling.
"Hi, Jeff, you touched a nerve with me. Where to start. Garbage is everywhere. Ancaster, Meadowlands, over by the bus stop bench, Tim Hortons, one side of the soccer field to the other. Every time I drive the 403, QEW, Ancaster hill to Burlington, everything is in the (median). Old construction stuff, tires, car stuff, and so on that has not been cleaned up for years. Never touched."
One reader drew a comparison between Hamilton, with its one-bag limit, and Mississauga, where there's a two-container limit and bulk pickup on regular pickup days. Does the charge for more than one bag/container encourage dumping?
"So this curious reader of your column wonders if the residents of Mississauga litter less and dump less than residents of Hamilton and if so is it because Mississauga has waste management practices that encourage people to properly dispose of waste rather than toss it or dump it? Or are we … as my grandmother would have said … just a bunch of uncaring inconsiderate slobs?"
Someone spoke up and this is what happened.
"I actually said something to someone and you know what? They told me off. A mother and daughter. It was ... by Lime Ridge Mall. It was so bad. So we moved to Burlington and now I don't have to worry about it."
This, from another reader.
"Your story about the woman who was illegally dumping disgusts me. I'm appalled at this kind of behaviour and I agree with Phil Homerski (the city's Clean and Green Hamilton co-ordinator) that something needs to be done to alter the litterer's psychology. If we understand why they behave this way we can gain better insight in how to prevent this behaviour. Personally, I don't understand how anyone could want to live in a dump of a city, but that's what they're creating."
From a truck driver.
"I'm a trucker and while driving the length of the Linc last week, I couldn't get over the endless litter on the grassy areas along side the highway. Where are the city crews? Nobody else sees this? On the 403 also. Midnight dumping in rural areas of furniture."
From another reader, on the subtopic of cigarette butts.
"I was at St. Joe's hospital visiting a friend and as I walk outside there on the grass I couldn't believe my eyes as all you see is butts all over the place, you couldn't even see any grass."
Another side of the story.
"I think most Hamiltonians do a great job with recyclables and garbage. On garbage day walks with my dog in the Durand neighbourhood the recycle containers are full to overflowing.
"Lids on the containers would certainly prevent the amount of garbage that goes airborne on those days with strong wind gusts. Small retail plazas ... please put out garbage bins for your customers to use.
"Apartment property managers please ensure your property maintenance includes daily attention to this issue, it can cause a blight. Parents and teachers, continue to educate your children. I know they work hard on cleanup days but I've also walked through after recess and lunch to see garbage all over the playground.
"Let's be proud of our effort in Hamilton and strive to do better."
Remember the column on Karen Cumming, who applied to be on the 2024 Mars mission (Jan. 15, 2014)? She made the final 1,000 back in March.
Now she emails to tell me she's made the final 706. On to the next round.
Congratulations, Karen.
905-526-3306
Litter really lit a rage among readers, so I guess it's not just me who's bothered by it, but then I knew that.
I wrote about the state of strewn garbage in Hamilton in a column a couple weeks ago, and the response was swift, furious and prolific.
Many of you emailed, phoned or wrote to tell me of your own experiences, most of them awful.
Here's a sampling.
"Hi, Jeff, you touched a nerve with me. Where to start. Garbage is everywhere. Ancaster, Meadowlands, over by the bus stop bench, Tim Hortons, one side of the soccer field to the other. Every time I drive the 403, QEW, Ancaster hill to Burlington, everything is in the (median). Old construction stuff, tires, car stuff, and so on that has not been cleaned up for years. Never touched."
One reader drew a comparison between Hamilton, with its one-bag limit, and Mississauga, where there's a two-container limit and bulk pickup on regular pickup days. Does the charge for more than one bag/container encourage dumping?
"So this curious reader of your column wonders if the residents of Mississauga litter less and dump less than residents of Hamilton and if so is it because Mississauga has waste management practices that encourage people to properly dispose of waste rather than toss it or dump it? Or are we … as my grandmother would have said … just a bunch of uncaring inconsiderate slobs?"
Someone spoke up and this is what happened.
"I actually said something to someone and you know what? They told me off. A mother and daughter. It was ... by Lime Ridge Mall. It was so bad. So we moved to Burlington and now I don't have to worry about it."
This, from another reader.
"Your story about the woman who was illegally dumping disgusts me. I'm appalled at this kind of behaviour and I agree with Phil Homerski (the city's Clean and Green Hamilton co-ordinator) that something needs to be done to alter the litterer's psychology. If we understand why they behave this way we can gain better insight in how to prevent this behaviour. Personally, I don't understand how anyone could want to live in a dump of a city, but that's what they're creating."
From a truck driver.
"I'm a trucker and while driving the length of the Linc last week, I couldn't get over the endless litter on the grassy areas along side the highway. Where are the city crews? Nobody else sees this? On the 403 also. Midnight dumping in rural areas of furniture."
From another reader, on the subtopic of cigarette butts.
"I was at St. Joe's hospital visiting a friend and as I walk outside there on the grass I couldn't believe my eyes as all you see is butts all over the place, you couldn't even see any grass."
Another side of the story.
"I think most Hamiltonians do a great job with recyclables and garbage. On garbage day walks with my dog in the Durand neighbourhood the recycle containers are full to overflowing.
"Lids on the containers would certainly prevent the amount of garbage that goes airborne on those days with strong wind gusts. Small retail plazas ... please put out garbage bins for your customers to use.
"Apartment property managers please ensure your property maintenance includes daily attention to this issue, it can cause a blight. Parents and teachers, continue to educate your children. I know they work hard on cleanup days but I've also walked through after recess and lunch to see garbage all over the playground.
"Let's be proud of our effort in Hamilton and strive to do better."
Remember the column on Karen Cumming, who applied to be on the 2024 Mars mission (Jan. 15, 2014)? She made the final 1,000 back in March.
Now she emails to tell me she's made the final 706. On to the next round.
Congratulations, Karen.
905-526-3306