Looking for
somewhere to put your garbage or recycling? You may have to be a
little more conscientious while travelling on the TTC, as the
location and type of containers is changing. Travellers on both
GO Transit and TTC may soon have to put their unwanted items
into open bins or clear plastic bags attached to metal frames.
Even before security concerns prompted a reevaluation of
existing garbage bins, litter has been an issue for Metro
readers.
Earlier
this year, Taina Niemela of Richmond Hill wrote of seeing a
fellow passenger “gulping down his coffee and donut while riding
the subway. After he was done with his treats, he left the trash
on his seat when leaving the train. I wanted to remind him of
his behavior but instead decided to email you.
“Can you
please remind people that this kind of behavior is not civilized
and not acceptable? Not to mention the amount of money it costs
to TTC to keep the subway, buses and trams clean.”
Short of
having vehicles cleaned every hour, we might have to take it
unto ourselves to put litter in the proper place. In the near
future, that place might be a stand with three clear plastic
bags -- one for trash, one for bottles and one for newspaper.
The TTC has been testing just such a device in two downtown
subway stations, and there are now plans to extend this system
to other stations. Some may find the bags unsightly, but they
allow easier visual inspection of the contents.
Making
trash containers easy to see into is a trend on transit systems
around the world. Some cities have removed bins from all public
places, in response to terrorist attacks such as those in
London.
Other
jurisdictions have opted to strengthen the containers
themselves. The balance between security and safety can be
tricky. If you remove all garbage cans, some people may just
leave their leave junk lying on the floor of a transit vehicle
or subway platform. This can create a walking hazard, or
flammable items may fall to track level and come in contact with
the electrified third rail.
GO Transit
is modifying its bins along train platforms in Union Station.
The City of Toronto, which manages the public areas of the train
complex is also looking at better options for garbage
collection. The TTC is doing an inventory of its stations, and
during the transition to newer containers, it appears riders
will have to walk a little farther to find one.
The
three-bag stands would make it easier to separate garbage from
bottles, cans and newspapers, just as Torontonians have long
done at home. It might help if these different agencies got
together and coordinated their efforts.
You may not
feel like picking up after others, but education may convince
some litterbugs to mind their trash. Write me if you have a
catchy, positive slogan that reminds transit riders to properly
dispose of their garbage and recyclables.