Dear Editor:
Re: “Garbage takes effect,” Letters, June 4.
I agree with Sabine Eiche; I too applaud the City for the reduction in frequency and other changes to the waste collection programme. However, I was totally sideswiped recently, when, after enjoying coffee with a friend in Steveston, I took the paper cups and plastic lids back into the coffee shop (one of the large franchise ones) to dispose of the items. Seeing only a garbage bin, I asked the barista where the recycling bin was located. I was told they don’t have a recycle bin; everything goes in the garbage bin.
Being totally gobsmacked, I spoke to someone in the recycling department at Richmond City Hall and was told that the City does not collect garbage or recyclable materials from commercial establishments; they have to contract with a private garbage collection company and the City can’t force them to contract for a separate recycle collection.
The fact commercial establishments must take care of their own waste makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is that the City doesn’t have a bylaw, making it mandatory for all commercial establishments to recycle materials.
It would be interesting if someone, with time on their hands were to estimate the number of coffee cups, coffee cup lids, stir-sticks, napkins, and those cardboard ring thingies one puts on coffee cups to keep fingers from getting burned, get thrown into the landfill, in one year, from Richmond alone.
Given the preponderance of coffee shops in this city, it must be in the millions, which equates to thousands of tons of potentially recyclable waste going into landfills.
The other issue is the inequity. Why is it commercial establishments get away with this flagrant pollution when Jane and Joe Public will be fined by the City for the very same behaviour. Is it that money rules, or just a lax City administration?
Yvonne Harwood
Richmond
