Shedding some light on waste “The sad saga of the unwanted garbage” story Exploring the Toronto garbage strike week 1 & 2 What about us? “The sad saga of the unwanted garbage” story Exploring the Toronto garbage strike week 1 & 2 What about us?

“The sad saga of the unwanted garbage”  Long island, New York had a landfill crisis in the spring of 1987 (no more room).  A barge called the “ Morbo ” was loaded with over 3,100 tons of Long Island garbage and searched around America looking for a state that would take the waste.  North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana all banned the barge from unloading. So the search went global. After trying its luck in Cuba, Mexico and Belize and being rejected at each stop, the Morbo eventually turned around and made its way back up the coast.  Long island, New York had a landfill crisis in the spring of 1987 (no more room).  A barge called the “ Morbo ” was loaded with over 3,100 tons of Long Island garbage and searched around America looking for a state that would take the waste.  North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana all banned the barge from unloading. So the search went global. After trying its luck in Cuba, Mexico and Belize and being rejected at each stop, the Morbo eventually turned around and made its way back up the coast.

 After 74 days at sea, the Morbo finally came slinking back home... full of waste, but out of dignity.  After 90 days of sitting in the harbor, the garbage was finally incinerated. The ashes were buried in the landfill originally designated to receive them!  This 164 day journey cost about $5000 per day and was highly publicized. It was even at the laughing end of many late night T.v jokes.  It is also widely credited with focusing public attention on the shrinking space available in landfills, and setting the mood for the modern age of recycling as we know today.  After 74 days at sea, the Morbo finally came slinking back home... full of waste, but out of dignity.  After 90 days of sitting in the harbor, the garbage was finally incinerated. The ashes were buried in the landfill originally designated to receive them!  This 164 day journey cost about $5000 per day and was highly publicized. It was even at the laughing end of many late night T.v jokes.  It is also widely credited with focusing public attention on the shrinking space available in landfills, and setting the mood for the modern age of recycling as we know today.

Toronto Garbage Strike Toronto garbage strike: week 1 Toronto garbage strike: week 2 Toronto Garbage Strike Toronto garbage strike: week 1 Toronto garbage strike: week 2

A Local family with 1 years worth of their waste

So….. just how much waste do we make? Lets find out! So….. just how much waste do we make? Lets find out!