Blind faith

Dear editor:
Re: “Education key to making ‘bag tags’ work”
It seems to me that council members are operating on the premise that residents will abide by the bylaw regarding garbage collection, which council is in the early stages of preparing.
It is assumed people will go willingly to the designated locations and, for $1 each, will purchase a supply of tags.
It is assumed they then will ensure they are in compliance with a Type ‘A’ or Type ‘B’ container, and that they then will make sure that each Type ‘A’ container and “. . . garbage content combined weighs no more than 40 pounds, . . . has no more than 120-litre capacity, and is securely tied in such a way to allow a garbage collector to carry it with one hand.”
I am sure there will be a percentage of people—those law-abiding citizens—who will do their best to “comply with the new regulations.” But what about those who always think that laws are only for other people?
Many of us are aware that another bylaw, which was to have been enforced, does not stop many dog owners from letting their pets run at large. Nor do these same people worry about picking up after their dogs.
The riverwalk area’s disgusting state is witness to this lack of regard for the bylaw and for other people. The area around the Lookout Tower and the Hallett have become so filthy and smelly over the winter and spring that walking there no longer is an option to consider.
Some (not all) dog owners are like some (not all) smokers; they have no consideration for other people’s welfare. These same people make all dog owners and all smokers look bad. It is probably these very same people who will refuse to abide by the soon-to-be-passed bylaw regarding garbage collection.
They will disregard the fact that the bylaw may be of benefit to everyone, and we will find garbage left untagged and uncollected. Then, scavenger birds and marauding animals will rip open bags and the contents will be strewn about in back lanes—and wherever else the wind blows them.
For a number of years, Walter Horban and his high school helpers put a three-day blitz of the town’s back lanes, and the lanes had taken on the appearance of a caring community.
It would be an insult to Walter and his helpers, and the work they voluntarily undertook, if we were to return to the garbage-littered lanes of the past.
It is very easy to impose a fine of $500 or even “under Section 77 of the Municipal Act, a maximum fine of $10,000,” but what will be the cost involved in allocating responsibility and collecting the money from the fines?
We all know that fines are imposed, by the province, for speeding violations as well as other driving infractions, but those fines do not prevent some (not all) drivers from speeding, passing where there is a double line, or not wearing seatbelts.
It’s not only the well-being of the violator that is put at risk, but it very often involves the innocent, as well.
As a final negative note: There is nothing that will encourage rodents and disease-carrying insects as will unattended garbage, of which, I suggest there will be an abundance.
Neither rodents nor disease-carrying insects are selective when they attack; the innocent as well as the guilty become fair game as unsuspecting hosts.
Please consider including the cost of garbage collection as some part of the monthly utility assessment—either as part of the metered-water cost or as an item by itself.
Surely, garbage collection is one of the most important parts of making our town safe, healthy, and beautiful; it’s not just about having hanging baskets and planters overflowing with lovely summer flowers in full bloom.
As a member of WHO and aspiring toward membership in Beautiful Towns, surely the easy, efficient, and sure collection of garbage is a vital first step for our town.
Your blind faith in the goodness of the town’s population and their wholehearted compliance to this particular user-fee projects is misplaced, and I suggest we will be heading for an expensive disaster if we embrace the “bag tag” system as outlined.
Signed,
Malcolm R. O’Neill-Fischer
Fort Frances, Ont.