Going Green

Going Green & Recycling are just a few of the new buzzwords of our time. We are recognizing that we must be more conscious of our footprint and less wasteful with our resources and yet living in the city and especially in a high-rise or townhome development dealing with the garbage is sometimes confusing.

Just what goes where and how much and when doesn’t seem clear. What I’ve been able to glean from various sources is that the recycling methods are not what they used to be. It began with being asked to separate plastics, metal, glass & paper products but no longer. Mixing the recycling is just fine – the new confusion lies in just what can be recycled and what is still considered garbage! For example – clear plastic egg cartons are NOT recyclable while the paper ones are – who knew!

Organic composting hasn’t come to the multi-unit buildings yet as testing is still being done in a few areas to understand just what’s entailed in the collection & storage of it. Recycling information can be found on the web at www.toronto.ca/garbage/multi and it clearly states what is and isn’t recyclable.

Have an old computer that you’re not using anymore? Did you know that you can drop it off as a donation to the Salvation Army? Before doing ensure you’ve properly removed all identification from the memory. There are other locations for drop offs – just check out the website for the City of Toronto under Garbage & Recycling. You’ll also find ideas about where to donate furniture & appliances that you no longer need.

Be green and take the time to understand how, so at the very least you are participating in keeping your garbage disposal to a minimum. Every little bit of effort by us can make a huge difference and as we become accustomed to this new way of living it gets easier and more natural each time.