To Mayor Basran & Kelowna City Council:
Kelowna City Council is in the process of passing changes to a bylaw that would prohibit residents from donating bottles and cans to binners near a local bottle depot. People who collect bottles and cans for a living, also known as binners on the west coast, positively contribute to our environment by diverting a considerable amount of waste from landfills. In Vancouver, a bottle depot that is frequented mostly by binners collects approximately 60,000 refundable containers per day. The vast majority of these bottles and cans are picked out of street trash cans or given to/left for binners by people who will not themselves recycle the containers. In Vancouver, although there is still a lot to be done for this city to be more inclusive, binners’ efforts to work alongside residents are booming. In the last two years, instead of criminalizing binners and the people who support them, City staff and council have worked with us, Binners’ Project, to support the development of binner-designed programs, such as the “Binners Hook”, which residents and business install in their alleyway to clearly indicate bottles and cans they have put aside for binners. We are also developing a fleet of purpose-built carts that will improve binners’ efficiency, earning potential, and safety on the job, while reducing reliance on discarded carts. People who bin are among the most marginalized in our communities, experiencing a range of issues that lock in marginalization, poverty, housing insecurity, and political invisibility. They are hard-working people making a sincere effort to contribute to their communities and earn a living legally and safely. Their efforts should be commended not criminalized. Anna Godefroy, Director of Binners’ Project
3 Comments
Pia Kuni
6/4/2018 07:52:32 pm
Support the Binners in their effort to make a living and a life. Don't be so small minded as to put obstacles in their way. In fact, the less the Binners have to travel to reach the recycling depot the better!
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Linda
9/4/2018 04:44:37 am
Perhaps city councillors should try binning full. time for a week (then donae their proceeds back to binners) to find out what a truly physically hard job it is ... and soul-challenging as prejudicial remarks are hurled your way.
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29/6/2018 09:44:55 am
If there is no victim then how can there be a crime? Sometimes the regulations can cause a lot more damage than good. When the municipality makes rules to stop the efforts of people to make a living then they hurt prosperity for us all.
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