Want Toronto's trash? No one else does...

kappaloo · #1 09-09-2004, 06:14 PM

So, Toronto can't deal with its trash (typical...

).
They've been shipping it to Michigan via the 401 for a while now.
It seems everyone and their brother (Michiganians (?) or South-West Ontarians) is opposed to this. Some Canadian politicians have actually campaigned on ending the export of trash as an election promise. Even John Kerry said he would consider banning it. There has been some worry of health&safety, but most people opposed to the trash are opposed regardless of any safety concerns.

But the question is: Do you feel these trash exports should stop? I mean, as much as I dislike these trucks on the roads, if the trash is safe isn't it a free economy? Even for trash?

ETA: Some background for those who *really* want to know:
http://www.fims.uwo.ca/newmedia/garbage/garbagehome.htm It seems to be a student project (for the journalism school there) but is accurate enough.

ADPiAkron · #2 09-09-2004, 06:24 PM

Why the h*ll are we importing/exporting trash!??! What is this world coming to!!

Rudey · #3 09-09-2004, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kappaloo
So, Toronto can't deal with its trash (typical... ).
They've been shipping it to Michigan via the 401 for a while now.
It seems everyone and their brother (Michiganians (?) or South-West Ontarians) is opposed to this. Some Canadian politicians have actually campaigned on ending the export of trash as an election promise. Even John Kerry said he would consider banning it. There has been some worry of health&safety, but most people opposed to the trash are opposed regardless of any safety concerns.

But the question is: Do you feel these trash exports should stop? I mean, as much as I dislike these trucks on the roads, if the trash is safe isn't it a free economy? Even for trash?

In many places, trash is shipped out and stored elsewhere. It's a thriving business.

-Rudey

ADPiAkron · #4 09-09-2004, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
In many places, trash is shipped out and stored elsewhere. It's a thriving business.

-Rudey

But out of the country?!? Can't they find someplace in Canada to put it??

kappaloo · #5 09-09-2004, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ADPiAkron
But out of the country?!? Can't they find someplace in Canada to put it??

They couldn't find anyone willing to take it in Ontario. They tried to open a dump in Kirkland Lake, but there was so much lobbying on the part of the residents there that it never happened. Obviously there's someone in Michigan who has the land and the desire to get rich on Toronto's trash, so over the boarder it goes.

PS Know what's bad? Driving behind one of the Garbage trucks down the 401 in heavy traffic. Those things reek.

Rudey · #6 09-09-2004, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ADPiAkron
But out of the country?!? Can't they find someplace in Canada to put it??

A lot of places send it out of the country...

You would think that since Canada has so much unused land they would but I don't know why they don't...maybe it's cheaper to send out of.

-Rudey

ADPiAkron · #7 09-09-2004, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
maybe it's cheaper to send out of.

-Rudey

Good point.

PM_Mama00 · #8 09-09-2004, 07:58 PM

OPPOSED!!!!!!!

Growing up I lived near Mt. Trashmore..... real name the Riverview Highlands Ski Hill... aka where some of this trash has been dumped.... aka one of the places featured on NBC Dateline News years ago. The place smells like hell during the summer but it's gotten so much better. But the hill is already huge, and now it's been made into part of the city's golf course. With the surrounding communities trash, I doubt it needs anymore.

Optimist Prime · #9 09-09-2004, 10:17 PM

Move them to VA. Call Alan Diamondstein.

CanadianTeke · #10 09-09-2004, 11:11 PM

It should be pointed out that while Toronto exports it's residential garbage, Michigan imports to Canada alot of it's Hazardeous waste. This includes heavy metals used in auto manufatoring as well as nuclear waste. While the volume of this waste is less than that of the 150 trucks Toronto sends a day, I would wager that the HazMat is alot more dangerous.

One of the big problems that has come up after Kerry's comments (at least on some of the Canadian News magazines i watch) is that due to NAFTA, once trade begins on a product, a member nation can't impose duty or other trade embargos on said product (though that didn't exactly work when it comes to softwood lumber). So it is possible that if a ban was imposed by the government of Michigan or The United States it would be in violation of NAFTA, and would be overturned.

DeltAlum · #11 09-10-2004, 06:31 PM

Reminds me of the guy who stopped paying his garbage bill.

They wouldn't send him anymore garbage.

AGDee · #12 09-11-2004, 08:20 AM

Like PM_Mama, I live in the area that is subjected to the waste. They are trying to build more landfills in our area which are being opposed vehemently. It does seem to me that Canada has enough unused land to deal with their own trash and I think Michigan has enough trash of it's own that we don't need to add other people's trash to our list of problems. Toronto's trash was not supposed to include hazardous waste but it has been found that numerous times, there was medical waste (needles, etc) and other hazardous materials. This is an issue that I am basing my vote on in local elections.

NO MORE TRASH!

Dee

Rudey · #13 09-11-2004, 11:25 AM

No to naming stadiums after corporations, no to burying other people's trash...

I hope none of your towns become ghost towns.

-Rudey