Is your blue bin too big?

Two hundred Toronto households have been granted exemptions from using the new wheeled recycling bins because of space issues, says Robert Orpin, director of collection services. Because the households don’t have enough room to store the new bins, they’ll be permitted to use transparent recycling bags.

Storage is an issue in areas like Cabbagetown, with row houses and front doors opening onto the street. “For those people we have said, ‘Yeah, the bin clearly does not work here, and they are going to a bag system.’”

The city has delivered 310,000 recycling bins, with 190,000 left to go. It’s expected the deliveries will be complete by mid-June. “From the city’s perspective, we’ve invested a lot of money into this system and for the most part it’s very effective. But there are certain pockets of the city where it’s a bit of a challenge and we’re attempting to address those,” Orpin said. Only 200 exemptions out of 310,000 is a pretty positive response.

He acknowledged that a special hotline (416-392-BINS) set up for callers inquiring about the bins is “extremely busy.” He advised callers to keep trying if they get a busy signal or seek information at www.toronto.ca/target70.

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