East Van Garbage Watch: A new month brings new trash

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      East Vancouver smells like shit.

      Between West Coast Reduction's rendering plant on North Commercial, the vomit and urine streaking the sidewalks and alleyways after special events, and the epic piles of garbage, it's hard to argue that the east side of town smells like anything other than rancid death.

      To wit, I present the lastest installment of East Van Garbage Watch (patent pending): a semi-regular series of photos of disgustingness.

      Today's offender: A new month brings new trash.

      To begin, fireworks: they look pretty. And on Halloween, South Vancouver was lit up by explosions roughly every 2.5 seconds.

      They looked prettier in person, I swear.
      Miranda Nelson

      However, in the grim light of morning, all we're left with is sad soggy garbage.

      Miranda Nelson

      Obviously it is too hard to pick up the remains of your explosives and put them in the appropriate trash receptacle.

      Miranda Nelson

      Of course, the end of the month also brings other fun forms of garbage, like overflowing Dumpsters!

      Trash goes on top of Dumpster. Am I doing it right?
      Miranda Nelson

      And if you're particularly canny, you can outfit your whole home with alley trash!

      Miranda Nelson

      Sometimes I wonder... does anyone care about this neighbourhood at all?

      Previously on East Van Garbage Watch: We need to talk about Kingsway

      Have an East Van garbage photo you want to share? Tweet it to me at @charenton_ with the photo's location, date it was taken, and any other observations you may have.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Let's clarify something

      Nov 3, 2014 at 4:13pm

      If West Coast Reduction did not process the meat waste where do you think it should go? They recycle what no one wants to think about, more than enough to fill BC place stadium 1000 times. Some days the wind and process blows the wrong way, they are very concerned about the impact on the community and take it seriously by regularly updating systems. (no i do not work there, but am familiar with the business. I used to work right next door for years when I first came to Vancouver)

      People pissing in doorways and stairwells all over the city creates a disgusting stench. People leaving cigarette butts all over the city is equally gross.

      Comparing them to illegal dumping of crappy household waste is ridiculous.

      Common Sense

      Nov 3, 2014 at 4:21pm

      "Sometimes I wonder... does anyone care about this neighbourhood at all?"

      Sure, just not the locals. The gentrifiers will clean it it up, just give them 10 years.

      Russell Chambers

      Nov 3, 2014 at 5:14pm

      Would it not be nice if there was on site composting of organics. With a few composters placed in strategic places much of the smell would be reduced as well as cutting down the need to pick up garbage as frequently.
      They are doing this very successfully in Montreal. Not only are they reducing the cost of garbage collection they are finding neighbourhoods are congregating around the composters to talk.

      I would love to set up a few test sites in Vancouver.
      Www.joracanada.ca/en.
      Thanks

      Meatballs

      Nov 3, 2014 at 9:11pm

      Random garbage in a city... The horror! It's not like Vancouverites are known for recycling now is it? And I'm not one for hanging around piss-soaked alcoves so let's see some photo evidence, Miranda. But what's truly shocking is the city garbage cans around Commercial/Broadway station. They need to either quadruple the size of them or have it picked up 4 times a day. Yuck!