Lots of great tips in this article about how to deal with litter. But also some troubling comments by Edmonton Police, assuming that people with low incomes are the reason for litter in our neighbourhoods. Telling people to "avoid putting things out in your alley for free or bagging bottles on your property as they encourage unwanted traffic" is promoting stereotypes and fear. People walking down alleys aren't unwanted intruders, they're our neighbours. Bagging up bottles so our neighbours can easily find the returnable recyclables means people don't need to sift through recycling materials to pull out what is useful. Why would we not support making it easier on people to find what is useable?
We might feel frustrated at times at having to pick up litter. But for most of us, that's a very minor inconvenience. Thirty years ago, I survived poverty by going through people's garbage and pulling out food and other useful items. It's sad that we're more concerned about having to occasionally clean up, than that we live in a society where some people have to pick garbage to survive, and that there's so much waste and disposability -- of goods and people.
I agree personally and I had originally brought up the idea that we could put bottles that people recycle in a different bag than a garbage. This was met with the comments outlined in the article.
In some areas that I've lived in they have people going through alleys all the time whether you put a bag out there or not.
Maybe consult your personal group of neighbors whether or not your goodwill is impacting the safety of the alley.
Also I was doing this when living in an apartment and I think it may still be a good idea there because there is a good likelihood that people will still go through a communal garbage can. On the street I am living now I do not put recyclable bottles out on the street at all anymore at the request of the person I am renting from. So I think the situation may vary depending on circumstance.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments! That's a tough situation that your landlord doesn't want you to put bottles out.
I'm sad to hear that people at the event (2 blocks from where I live, so I know the neighbourhood well) were scared putting recyclables in a different bag might lead to safety problems. Or did that comment come from police? The Alberta Ave neighbourhood is an awesome mix of people. I'm so happy that there's a shelter a block away from us and that people sitting or resting where they need to is not a big deal. That it's a mixed neighbourhood is what drew us to want to live here.
Tough too if there are neighbours who feel strongly about someone putting out bottles. Nobody loves conflict with neighbours. Having hard conversations can be uncomfortable. But I hope we can also gently challenge each other to do better rather than being worried to do what we know is ethical, just so it won't make other people feel uncomfortable.
It's really tricky with any kind of unconscious stereotype or bias, it can make us feel so antagonistic and we don't even know why. I don't have the answers for how to help shift those dynamics, but I hope we keep trying.
Lots of great tips in this article about how to deal with litter. But also some troubling comments by Edmonton Police, assuming that people with low incomes are the reason for litter in our neighbourhoods. Telling people to "avoid putting things out in your alley for free or bagging bottles on your property as they encourage unwanted traffic" is promoting stereotypes and fear. People walking down alleys aren't unwanted intruders, they're our neighbours. Bagging up bottles so our neighbours can easily find the returnable recyclables means people don't need to sift through recycling materials to pull out what is useful. Why would we not support making it easier on people to find what is useable?
We might feel frustrated at times at having to pick up litter. But for most of us, that's a very minor inconvenience. Thirty years ago, I survived poverty by going through people's garbage and pulling out food and other useful items. It's sad that we're more concerned about having to occasionally clean up, than that we live in a society where some people have to pick garbage to survive, and that there's so much waste and disposability -- of goods and people.
I agree personally and I had originally brought up the idea that we could put bottles that people recycle in a different bag than a garbage. This was met with the comments outlined in the article.
In some areas that I've lived in they have people going through alleys all the time whether you put a bag out there or not.
Maybe consult your personal group of neighbors whether or not your goodwill is impacting the safety of the alley.
Also I was doing this when living in an apartment and I think it may still be a good idea there because there is a good likelihood that people will still go through a communal garbage can. On the street I am living now I do not put recyclable bottles out on the street at all anymore at the request of the person I am renting from. So I think the situation may vary depending on circumstance.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments! That's a tough situation that your landlord doesn't want you to put bottles out.
I'm sad to hear that people at the event (2 blocks from where I live, so I know the neighbourhood well) were scared putting recyclables in a different bag might lead to safety problems. Or did that comment come from police? The Alberta Ave neighbourhood is an awesome mix of people. I'm so happy that there's a shelter a block away from us and that people sitting or resting where they need to is not a big deal. That it's a mixed neighbourhood is what drew us to want to live here.
Tough too if there are neighbours who feel strongly about someone putting out bottles. Nobody loves conflict with neighbours. Having hard conversations can be uncomfortable. But I hope we can also gently challenge each other to do better rather than being worried to do what we know is ethical, just so it won't make other people feel uncomfortable.
It's really tricky with any kind of unconscious stereotype or bias, it can make us feel so antagonistic and we don't even know why. I don't have the answers for how to help shift those dynamics, but I hope we keep trying.