Editor’s note: This letter was copied to Huntsville Doppler
Last Thursday our curbside garbage was inspected and the inspector left an “Oops” Notice regarding 2 things that didn’t belong: 1) organics, and 2) Privacy bag larger than allowed. I wanted to educate myself on how we had failed to comply, so I inspected the bag myself. Re 1) organics: there were 2 dead tree leaves in the bag. We live out in the country and are surrounded by 80′ tall trees. It’s ridiculous to expect no leaves in the garbage. What harm do 2 leaves do? I compost our green waste in our own composter, as has been my practice for 40+ years, long before it was mandated.
Re 2) Privacy bag larger: There was ONE “Glad Kitchen catcher” bag, 3/4s full. Since 2 privacy bags are allowed, do you want us to use two plastic bags, which would negate the whole purpose of restricting plastic? As far as the size being larger than allowed, both my husband & I checked the District of Muskoka Waste website and could find no dimensions specified. Is the basic white “Glad Kitchen catcher” bag, which we have been using for decades, too big? Do you require us to cut off the top and throw it in the garbage? Again, how would that reduce the plastic waste?
Could a healthy dose of common sense be applied here?
The “Oops” Notice stated we could consult: www.muskoka.on.ca/KnowWhereItGoes, — but it was unhelpful and stated: “Content Temporarily Unavailable”.
If the District is going to impose such extreme restrictions, please communicate exactly what you want.
Thank you,
The Nichols, Huntsville
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A response to Brian Tapley, the Nichols Family, and Michele A Crowder.
Very sad indeed about your observations regarding the District of Muskoka. In my opinion it was a very sad day back when the then Premier of Ontario Mr Bill Davis directed Mr Darcey Mckeow to impose regional government against the will of us taxpayers. All towns and townships within Muskoka became The District Municipality of Muskoka.
Since that time the bureaucracy of the District has ballooned to what we see today. In my opinion it has proven time and time again from day one to be inefficient and very wasteful in there unfortunate poor judgments and decisions made by very expensive bureaucrats at Pine Street in Bracebridge, and also unfortunately many times rubber stamped by many elected district councillors.
This again in my opinion isn’t going to change anytime soon unless there is a revolt led by good number of tax payers.
I have a fairly good knowledge of the way the District operates from day one. I was a District Councillor under the Chairmanship of former Premier Mr Frank Miller.
All I can say is , people keep the pressure on for change!
John R. Earl, Aspdin
Not quite on the same topic but can somebody at District please explain and maybe demonstrate the economics of the solar panel set up at the Dwight transfer station.
With some fanfare “solar” was installed along with the compactors at this site a few years back. I wondered at the time how this could work as they installed two panels, each of about 220 watt capacity.
A little before this time they put in an underground high voltage feeder to the site to run these compactors and the scale house.
Now this last summer they installed a fairly large generator, powered by two 420 gal propane tanks so that things could run as normal in a power failure.
Now, I have some solar panels and I know that two 220 watt panels will no way run a multi horsepower electric motor to operate three compactors. Even if the panels were pristine new and perfectly aimed on a perfectly sunny day they simply could not generate the amount of energy needed to run these compactors.
Currently one panel is “dead” lying on the ground by one of the compactors and the other has had pretty much it’s entire working surface smashed into cracked glass and hides for a good part of the day in the shade of one of the compactors. I can, without any further investigation state that the odds of this one lonely, damaged, poorly aimed panel being able to run a compactor are approximately zero.
It is a bit of a guess but running high voltage underground electricity via a pad mount transformer to this site would have had to have cost over $30,000.00 and the generator and propane and hook up would probably be at least $20,000 (these are simply my guesses)
What I’d like to know or see is the justification for the solar in the first place and the economics to show it actually saved any money. I think District at least owes the tax payers this much.
Thank-you for your letter Nichols Family. I’m thinking more letters like yours will be forthcoming. I’m discouraged by all these efforts because I believe only 30% of recycling ends up actually being recycled. Maybe this needs to be addressed first.
Echoes of a U.S. customs officer…..A bit Overzealous Methinks !