Garbage nazis

[Red Squirrel]

My city just came up with a bunch of ridiculous bylaws pertaining to garbage. Some of these are absurd. Meanwhile crime is at an all time high, there are needles everywhere, people get their stuff stolen nightly, and this is the kind of crap they are worried about? Some of these already existed but were not really enforced, like not being allowed to scavenge from the landfill or curbside, but these fines are just insane. Especially for doing it from people's yards... lot of people get rid of stuff that way instead of letting it go to waste.

This is the kind of crap that makes me want to live in an unorganized township. About the only places where you have half decent freedom these days.

Be in the landfill other than during the posted hours, $500;

• Scavenge or remove an article from landfill, $500;

• Use landfill for a purpose other than for the disposal of waste, $500;

• Deposit solid waste at the landfill without first having paid the tipping fee, $300;

• Use landfill, disposal site, or transfer station for a purpose other than those set out in the bylaw, $300;

• Deposit waste at landfill which may contain an unacceptable substance or material, $500;

• Deposit or cause to be deposited transient waste at the landfill, transfer station, or disposal site, $300;

• Leave or deposit at the landfill any appliance which contains or is intended to contain a refrigerant substance, $500;

• Deposit material at the landfill, transfer station, or disposal site outside of the indicated and marked areas on site, $300;

• Utilize private commercial collection containers in a way contrary to the bylaw, $300;

• Place a container other than an approved manual collection container roadside for scheduled waste collection in an area designated for manual waste, $150;

• Place a container other than an approved automated collection container roadside for scheduled waste collection in an area designated for automated collection, $150;

• Place a collection container roadside incorrectly, $150;

• Place waste or recycle containers except at the nearest adjoining roadside for collection, $150;

• Place garbage so as to impede or obstruct pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic or maintenance operations, $150;

• Pick over, disturb, or scavenge materials placed at the roadside for removal, $300;

• Cause undue damage to solid waste or recycling container which has been placed at the roadside for collection, $300;

• Place waste in a container not belonging to the residence which they reside, $150;

• Place waste not in an automated collection container or manual collection container out for collection prior to 8 p.m. on the evening before collection, $150;

• Place waste not in an automated collection container or manual collection container out for collection later than 7:30 a.m. on the designated day of collection, $150;

• Store garbage on privately owned property which is intended for collection in a location other than in a secure, clean, dry, sanitary and properly ventilated area, $150;

• Place the carcass of an animal or fowl in a collection container roadside, $150;

• Place an unreasonable amount or un-bagged amount of animal waste in a collection container roadside, $150;

• Overfill a waste container so that the waste falls to the ground, $150;

• Place waste on top of a waste container, $150;

• Place waste on the ground near a waste container, $150;

• Remove or convey, or cause or permit to be removed or conveyed, any garbage, refuse, uncollectible material, or liquid material upon or along any public street or any other public place within the city without being covered with tarpaulins or canvas, $300.

 

[highland145]

Lol. Can't fix a problem so fix something that doesn't really matter in the grand pic.

 

[zinfamous]

Uh, it sounds like they are creating a fining system, thus an economic incentive--which tends to work. it's why we have tickets--to try and address the very things you are bitching about.

Start complaining if the enforcement becomes untenable. It doesn't really mean anything unless there s enforcement (and the means to)

 

[Red Squirrel]

Lol. Can't fix a problem so fix something that doesn't really matter in the grand pic.

Pretty much. They want to look like they are doing something I guess. I see so many ways these can easily be broken without realizing too. Some of this is out of people's control.

 

[Gardener]

Are there staff at this landfill? I haul waste for my gardening service, facility staff keep an eye out for folks dumping hazardous waste, dumping in the wrong spot, scavenging, uncovered loads. Fines make me think there aren't staff, so all they have is the threat of a ticket if you get caught.

 

[snoopy7548]

Dang. There go my Saturday nights of being able to scavenge the landfill at 2a.m. in peace and quiet.

 

[sdifox]

Are there staff at this landfill? I haul waste for my gardening service, facility staff keep an eye out for folks dumping hazardous waste, dumping in the wrong spot, scavenging, uncovered loads. Fines make me think there aren't staff, so all they have is the threat of a ticket if you get caught.

The city of Timmins only has the mayor and red squirrel as residents. It went down hill fast when Shania Twain left.

 

[MrSquished]

Dang. There go my Saturday nights of being able to scavenge the landfill at 2a.m. in peace and quiet.

And no more dumping hazardous waste after you've finished the scavenging part. The bastards!

 

[Scarpozzi]

Can $300-500 of Canadian money even buy anything of value that wasn't already in a landfill?

 

[sdifox]

Can $300-500 of Canadian money even buy anything of value that wasn't already in a landfill?

City of Timmins welcomes its new owner Scarpozzi!

 

[Red Squirrel]

Are there staff at this landfill? I haul waste for my gardening service, facility staff keep an eye out for folks dumping hazardous waste, dumping in the wrong spot, scavenging, uncovered loads. Fines make me think there aren't staff, so all they have is the threat of a ticket if you get caught.

There is actually. Not a lot but they're there and I've been with my dad where he just said F it and said we can just dump everything in one spot and they'll tell you not to. So now they will hand a $500+ fine for it. Or if you are lingering and taking pictures of the bald eagles (we have them here now and they hang out at the dump) they can fine you for that too. A bit ridiculous really.

I can understand not dumping anything super hazardous, but they can be super petty about stuff that does not matter in the grand scheme of things. And reality is, lot of stuff that is toxic actually is allowed since they don't have a proper recycling program. Fluorescent tubes for example just go with regular garbage. They also have an oil recovery program but limit the amount you can put, it's less than what goes in a typical engine so anyone that changes their own oil is SOL. In fact I've heard stories of staff suggesting people to just go dump it in the woods, it's crazy. There's no rhyme or reason to some of this stuff.

I think scavenging should be allowed and encouraged, especially within people's curbside/yards - it's good for the environment if stuff can be reused. I get the whole liability BS stuff, but just make a bylaw that people can't be held liable. Instead of working around the ridiculous liability rules these days, change THOSE instead. Liability law as a whole needs a giant overhaul, and is the reason we can't have nice things 99% of the time. People like to sue for every little thing, and that needs to be changed. Lawsuits against people who were doing something out of good will should not be allowed.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Can $300-500 of Canadian money even buy anything of value that wasn't already in a landfill?

That will pay your tax bill, for about 3 weeks.

 

[Spacehead]

• Place a collection container roadside incorrectly, $150;

What does that even mean?

Are there staff at this landfill?

There is actually.

I thought that's what the bears are for?

I think scavenging should be allowed and encouraged, especially within people's curbside/yards - it's good for the environment if stuff can be reused.

Yeah, as long as they don't scatter everything in the process of picking thru it, it shouldn't be a problem. But opening bags of garbage at peoples houses could/would get messy. I mean, you'd almost have to dump out the bags to see what's in there to pick thru, along with all the food scraps & nasty stuff in there.

 

[Red Squirrel]

There's rules like the bins need to be 2 feet apart, and within a certain distance from the road - not too close, but not too far. These were just guidelines before now it looks like they'll actually fine people for it. Has to do with ease of access with the machine as they used to use a machine with an automated arm. But now they use contractors and they don't use it anymore... but guess they decided to enforce it anyway just because.

Looks like I need to hire a surveyor just to put the garbages out lmao.

As for scavenging it's typically for stuff like BBQs, lumber etc. I like to get rid of PT lumber that way. I rather someone find a use for it than to have it go in the landfill, you can't really burn it. I can almost guarantee the reasoning falls on liability, the edge of your yard is city property and they don't want people suing them if they get hurt scavenging.

 

[Gardener]

For a long period of time Seattle had an annual free neighborhood "junk" pickup, you could put anything out at the curb, any amount/size, except for hazardous. It cut down on illegal dumping, which was its stated goal. People actively scavenged it, drove in for miles, and probably recycled/reused a third of it before it was picked up. While no longer an organized city program, people still regularly put out good usable stuff by the curb for taking, more than in any other city I've lived in.

It seems counterproductive not to allow scavenging at the curbside, as long as they don't make a mess. I can understand not letting people roam the landfill.

 

[ch33zw1z]

The landfill rules look fine, the curbside ones seems a bit excessive. I dunno what the neighborhoods are like there, but my rural area no two driveways are the same

 

[mikeymikec]

In our county (in the UK), there's a rule saying how you can't dispose of stuff on someone else's behalf. The mind boggles.

 

[lxskllr]

I hate going to the dump. I watch people throw things out that makes my brain twitch. So much good stuff, just wasted, and people buy more Chinese shit that isn't as good as the stuff they threw out, and the cycles accelerates. Before we had curbside pickup, you had to drive your recyclables to a center, then sort them yourself in the appropriate bins. I used to go late at night, and pick through the stuff other people threw out. I got some decent stuff at the center.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Fining people $150 for not placing a garbage can correctly lol. Christ, I wouldn't want to live somewhere that retarded where nazi city employees can determine if you didn't place your trash bin at a perfect angle and didn't place it TOO CLOSE but NOT TOO FAR from the road.

 

[sdifox]

Fining people $150 for not placing a garbage can correctly lol. Christ, I wouldn't want to live somewhere that retarded where nazi city employees can determine if you didn't place your trash bin at a perfect angle and didn't place it TOO CLOSE but NOT TOO FAR from the road.

They use automated garbage pick up truck. The driver controls the grapple arm and well they have a defined operating area.

Chances are it is contracted out, so time window is an issue, thus the fines.

 

[Scarpozzi]

There's rules like the bins need to be 2 feet apart, and within a certain distance from the road - not too close, but not too far. These were just guidelines before now it looks like they'll actually fine people for it. Has to do with ease of access with the machine as they used to use a machine with an automated arm. But now they use contractors and they don't use it anymore... but guess they decided to enforce it anyway just because.

Looks like I need to hire a surveyor just to put the garbages out lmao.

As for scavenging it's typically for stuff like BBQs, lumber etc. I like to get rid of PT lumber that way. I rather someone find a use for it than to have it go in the landfill, you can't really burn it. I can almost guarantee the reasoning falls on liability, the edge of your yard is city property and they don't want people suing them if they get hurt scavenging.

Curbside rules where I live are similar for the robotic arm trucks....but if the bins aren't where they need to be, your trash doesn't get collected. Fines for where you place a bin on your own property in 'Merica wouldn't fly.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

They use automated garbage pick up truck. The driver controls the grapple arm and well they have a defined operating area.

Chances are it is contracted out, so time window is an issue, thus the fines.

Then just don't fucking pick up the trash if it's not placed correctly. Is that really such a cardinal sin?

We have the same thing here.

 

[sdifox]

Then just don't fucking pick up the trash if it's not placed correctly. Is that really such a cardinal sin?

We have the same thing here.

depends on contract terms. Pretty sure city doesn't want to deal with Karens.

 

[kage69]

Can $300-500 of Canadian money even buy anything of value that wasn't already in a landfill?

Now that's harsh. Tears are hitting poutine somewhere right now, I hope you're happy. haha

 

[VirtualLarry]

Then just don't fucking pick up the trash if it's not placed correctly. Is that really such a cardinal sin?

Canadian Sooshalism.

I like this one:

• Remove or convey, or cause or permit to be removed or conveyed, any garbage, refuse, uncollectible material, or liquid material upon or along any public street or any other public place within the city without being covered with tarpaulins or canvas, $300.

Does that mean, you're going for a walk along the road, and you spot a piece of trash on the side of the road, and that you want to pick it up (to "keep TImmins beautiful"), but now you can't, because you'll be fined $300?

Edit: Serious question, do the residents of this fine town (not sure what you would refer to it as in Canada), have the ability to somehow vote this person out of office?