This past holiday season I went home to Toronto to visit my family and friends. My mom, knowing that I have been studying environmental science was sure to let me know that "Toronto can now recycle plastic bags and styrofoam". I first thought, that is great! good for Toronto! Even here in Victoria we dont have regular curbside pickup of these items.
This got me thinking and comparing the two communities. So different, but both are doing different things in their own efforts to help the environment. A few differences I have noticed in plastic bags usage from Toronto and Victoria: In Toronto if you need a bag you buy one, in Victoria, if you don't need a bag you get a few cents subtracted from your bill. In Toronto, whatever you buy, no matter how big or small you are given a bag (with you can now in turn recycle when you are finished with it); while in Victoria many stores ask the consumer whether or not they need a bag. Without even thinking I took many more plastic bags when I was shopping in Toronto compared to what I would have shopping in Victoria.
I am not sure which city has it right. Probably neither, but it is still interesting to see the differences and similarities between two different communities. I think that both Toronto and Victoria can learn from eachother. Toronto should cut back on plastic bag usage, and Victoria should start a recycling program.
Not really that big of a deal I suppose :)
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