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Toronto man demanding answers after garbage truck caught mixing organics, waste

Click to play video: 'Private garbage collector caught mixing waste with compost'
Private garbage collector caught mixing waste with compost
WATCH ABOVE: Waste collection company GFL is being questioned after a condo owner catches a truck mixing garbage. Mark McAllister finds out there is no legislation to govern what private contractors do with what they collect – May 9, 2016

Paul DeGasperis has been living in the Qube condominium on the Queensway for about a year and in recent months, he says he’s noticed a Green For Life waste truck collecting both garbage and compost at the same time.

“I came across these guys doing the garbage and they just started putting both together,” DeGasperis said.

“They lined [the bins] up and he did one and the other one. And I’m thinking, ‘What’s going on here?’”
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READ MORE: Toronto aims to get more condo and apartment dwellers recycling

DeGasperis said he was discouraged by what he saw and went to the city looking for answers, but had no luck getting through.

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“I called the city and didn’t hear anything back and I talked to a few people,” he said.

“I was furious. You just got to do your part. You’re not going to save the world or anything but you want to try and do your bit and when you see stuff like that. It pissed me off.”

DeGasperis took video of the garbage collector disposing of the compostable material and garbage and posted the video online. The video has since been viewed more than 2,000 times.

The City of Toronto has a contract with GFL for garbage collection west of Yonge Street.

READ MORE: How to compost if you live in an apartment or condo

Global News contacted GFL and CEO Patrick Dovigi said in an email the truck picking up the condo’s garbage was not a truck contracted by the city.

“City of Toronto contracted trucks are rear packers and side loaders that have blue signs on them that say contracted to City of Toronto,” Dovigi said in an email, adding that the truck in DeGasperis’ video did not show the blue branding.

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“This is a commercial truck, that gets sorted at our single stream Material Recovery Facility.”

Global News requested a formal interview with GFL to address Degasperis’ concerns, however, Dovigi declined.

DeGasperis says he is left wondering if his contribution to the environment is being respected by the company handling the city’s waste.

WATCH: A Toronto man has video showing a Green For Life truck collecting organics and garbage at his condo and as Erica Vella reports, he’s looking for answers.

Click to play video: 'Toronto man wants answers after seeing GFL truck collecting organics, garbage'
Toronto man wants answers after seeing GFL truck collecting organics, garbage

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