Perhaps "June For" has something to do with 6/4? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of...
I bet she meant "From June" actually.
Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
31–40 of 46 posts
Re: Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
#32There are quite a few of these ladies in San Francisco too. They have enormous bags filled bottles and cans, which can sometimes stink with the remnants of old beer or soda. They ride public transport between locations with their huge bags taking up a seat next to them. Sometimes the bus driver or passengers object but mostly people just leave them alone. They represent a testament to hard work, even in later life, t…
There's one in Oakland around Lake Merritt. She's been around as long as I have (15+ years). I've always wondered where she goes at night.
I’m sure there is more than just one. :) I live in Lake Merritt too and one of them is always rooting through our trash and recycling bins, even when some residents have tried asking her not to.
I haven't read the article yet, but I would rather that my trash and recyclables were strictly between me and the processing plant. For one thing, we all throw out paper with loads of exploitable information. Secondly, I am fairly certain the Bay Area sorts its trash after collection, so extracting recyclables earlier in the process isn't really of consequence.
Re: Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
The nuisance factor for me when I lived in Boston (25 years ago; hopefully recycling has improved since then) was that homeless people would tear open the rubbish bags looking for containers that could be turned in for cash. If even a few people were lazy and threw deposit containers in the trash, the rest of us paid the price.
Where I've lived in boston none of the bottle collectors would do that for fear of getting the cops called. They did dig through the recycling bins, but everything would be back on the bin by the time they were done
And if it's anything like where I am, half the street is wide awake from the noise.
Re: Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
#34so many people like her live in China
I am not sure there are 'so many' especially in big cities, but quite a few comparing to the developed world.
Re: Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
#35Returning bottles for a deposit in Toronto is incredibly inconvenient.
Yet, the same phenomenon seems to exist in Berlin, where public drinking is tolerated if not encouraged and bottles can be returned to supermarkets.
In general, I wouldn't direct any condemnation upon individuals for scavenging... instead it's worth scrutinizing systems that encourage this waste.
"Keep America Beautiful" was founded by Philip Morris, Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola...
Re: Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
#36In China, we call these people as "the one who pick garbage" or "king of the garbage", the latter one comes from a TV show in 80s. None of these terms are meant to be an insult, just plain description for what they do, but they are. In China, since the low developed well-being system, the elder ones do it since it is the only way they can earn some income to feed themselves. And yes, some of them have lots of deposits, ye, but that comes from saving from low quality life. The Chinese always chase for something pragmatic, which in China, which they can earn some money from. In this news, I do believe some of them may do it since a boring life. But if there is no economy benefit, I don't believe they will do this kind of bottle collecting thing. And ye, it is not because they love money, just a self-protection habit from their motherland.
Re: Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
#37I have seen the same in Berlin, especially, on Friday evenings. Plenty of old or unemployed people in the city trains, UBahn. The deposits for a glass bottle is 10 euro cent and for PET is about 25 cent, IIRC.
Re: Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
#38"Scrounging through other people’s trash for useable stuff is common in many countries, a spontaneous form of recycling that long predates blue bins."
UK: Birmingham. No deposit on bottles here but some recycling companies will pay very small amounts for aluminium drink cans. We have a bit of a hierarchy going on
Scavengers: people going through wheelie bins and making a mess looking for cans &c. Often homeless.
Collectors: cans and metal objects. I often see a couple out with prams early in the morning collecting stuff. Not obviously homeless.
Rag and bone men: flat lorries going around collecting old fridges and washing machines and other kinds of stuff, usually metal
In Digbeth there is a day centre and residential block for older Chinese people. Always a hot meal at lunchtime, looks popular. Perhaps one of the Churches should start a day centre and organise voluntary activities?
Re: Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
Where I've lived in boston none of the bottle collectors would do that for fear of getting the cops called. They did dig through the recycling bins, but everything would be back on the bin by the time they were done
And if it's anything like where I am, half the street is wide awake from the noise.
No actually, they kept to daylight hours and we're generally friendly and open to conversation. I had more issues from the town's construction. They wouldn't necessarily start construction at 6 am but they would certainly show up to the site and start yelling back and forth while noisily getting their equipment out of their cars
Re: Toronto’s Chinese bottle ladies
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wouldn't the city be able to collect the bottle deposit too? I'm assuming 5-15 cents each is much more than they'd get by recycling the glass.
The whole point of bottle deposit laws is to motivate individuals to return the bottles, so the municipality doesn't have to deal with it.
To me it's so much better if some people can take care of this specialized and noble task. I'd hope the municipality would make it more convenient for recyclers to do their work and get more income from it.