They Might Want To Find Ways Of Dealing With This Problem At City Hall.....

......then they can deal with dog poop in our parks. At least taxpayers are trying to deal with the problem in the parks which is not something that is happening with Comrade Miller and the majority of councilors.

T.O. defers decision on dog waste disposal plan

toronto.ctv.ca

Toronto's parks and environment committee sat down Tuesday to review three pilot projects aimed at eliminating dog waste from park waste bins, but deferred a decision on which strategy to implement until further research could be done.

The pilot projects were put in place after a Parks Waste Audit found that dog waste made up about 25 per cent of material in garbage cans. The purpose of the audit was to help the city find ways to reach their 60 per cent diversion goal.

Dog walkers had three options last year of ways to dispose of their pet's waste:

• Green bin pilot
• Carry-in, carry-out pilot
• Septic waste pilot

A staff report reviewed by the committee showed the most effective strategy was placing green bins in parks to collect organic waste.

The green bins were placed in parks with large picnic areas and off-leash sections for dogs including Trinity Bellwoods Park, Withrow Park and Earl Bales Park.

An audit during the summer showed the green bin waste was "relatively uncontaminated -- usually just dog waste in plastic bags," according to the report.

"However, the audit was limited to green bin material and the overall recovery of dog waste via the green bins is unknown."

The report also said there are some complications with this strategy that might make it less feasible as a long-term initiative.

The city still needs to determine if the pet waste can be separated from the plastic bag at the processing plant. It also needs to find a way to improve collection and handling methods.

The carry-in, carry-out strategy was successful but less effective than the green bin initiative.

The public was told to take their waste home with them to dispose of in their own receptacles.

"The public response has been mixed," the report says. "In Humber Gate Park, although no complaints were originally registered, by mid-October, one of the signs was ripped out of the ground and a large quantity of dog waste in individual bags was piled next to the sign."

The septic waste strategy was the least effective of the three pilot projects. People were asked to use scoopers to dispose of their dog waste and not include plastic bags.

An audit found that people rarely bothered to separate their pet's waste.