Litter Prevention Program
Phone: (416) 321-0633
  • Home
    • 2014 Annual Report
    • This Week in 'Litterland' >
      • Current Edition
      • Past Issues by Date
    • Guide
  • Media
    • Sheila's Shlog >
      • Dear Diary
    • About >
      • Press Release
      • Program Brochure >
        • Program Details
      • What People Say >
        • Visitor Feedback
  • Get Involved
    • Partnerships
    • Help Us >
      • Our Friends
    • Heroes
  • News Reel
    • Feb 2023
    • Jan 2023 >
      • Dec 2022
      • Nov 2022 >
        • Oct 2022
        • Sep 2022 >
          • Aug 2022
          • Jul 2022
          • Jun 2022
          • May 2022
          • Apr 2022 >
            • Mar 2022
            • Feb 2022
            • Jan 2022
            • Dec. 2021
            • Nov. 2021 >
              • Oct. 2021
              • Sep. 2021
              • Aug. 2021
              • Jul. 2021
              • Jun. 2021
              • May 2021
              • Apr. 2021 >
                • Mar. 2021
                • Feb. 2021
                • Jan. 2021
                • Dec. 2020 >
                  • Nov. 2020
                  • Oct. 2020
                  • Sep. 2020
                  • Aug. 2020
                  • Jul. 2020
                  • Jun. 2020 >
                    • May 2020
                    • Apr. 2020
                    • Mar. 2020
                    • Feb. 2020
                    • Jan. 2020 >
                      • Dec. 2019
                      • Nov. 2019
                      • Oct. 2019
                      • Sep. 2019
                      • Aug. 2019
                      • Jul. 2019
                      • Jun. 2019
                      • May 2019
                      • Apr. 2019
                      • Mar. 2019 >
                        • Feb. 2019
                        • Jan. 2019
                        • Dec. 2018
                        • Nov. 2018
                        • Oct. 2018
                        • Sep. 2018 >
                          • Aug. 2018
                          • Jul. 2018
                          • Jun. 2018
                          • May 2018
                          • Apr. 2018
                          • Mar. 2018
                          • Feb. 2018
                          • Jan. 2018
  • Photo Gallery
    • Video
    • Library
    • Butts and More Butts
    • Clean Up Days
    • Coffee Cups
    • Litter Photos
    • Poster
  • Prevent Litter
    • You Vote
    • Opinion Poll
    • Causes
    • Solutions
    • Benefits
    • Tips >
      • For Business
    • Tobacco litter >
      • Fact Sheet
      • Letter to Imperial Tobacco
    • Resources >
      • Marine Litter
      • Plastics
    • Why Prevent Litter?
    • Toronto
  • Contact
    • Corporate Brochures
    • WORDS Media & Communications Inc.

How to litter-talk a committee and get results

3/20/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
TORONTO -- Apart from losing my digital recorder and running out of time on the clock, my presentation to Toronto’s works committee (PWIC) was productive and satisfying.

There are never many surprises at a committee meeting. So when I pulled out my camera and snapped a photo for this blog it broke the ice. The fact that my presentation led to political action was yet another surprise.

I already knew I wouldn’t have time to share everything I wanted the city councillors to know. With five minutes to speak, it didn’t help that 24 seconds had elapsed before someone told me to begin. I had three pages of notes. I didn’t make it past Page One, was just ready to dive into my best content when the red numbers said 5:00. But right up top I had asked them to do something to keep the issue going, tossing out the idea of a sub-committee or working group.

The thing about a committee is that after you speak you can answer questions, if any. Then you’re done. There were good questions for me, not as many as I had hoped. How I wished I could have helped the departmental manager with his answers and given him a briefing beforehand. On this side of the waste management equation, it was clear to me he’s not schooled in the research behind littering.

Two significant motions asking for more information about littering and tobacco litter control were introduced and approved. One, from Councillor Michael Layton, calls on staff to review a ban on butts - the kind you smoke - on beaches. He’s also toying with requiring bars and restaurants to install outdoor street ashtrays. (See my blog of 09/03/13, Little Restaurant Didn't Deserve This )

Councillor Shelley Carroll joined the discussion and spoke frankly about her former struggles as a littering smoker when habit and lack of an available ashtray dictated.

Councillor Janet Davis asked for a report on litter campaigns, education and awareness. This is something I can really get behind, obviously. It’s my field of expertise and it’s what I have wanted to see manifest for a long time.

My next goal is to have a hand in shaping whatever it is the City of Toronto officials decide to do because I know what works. They really don’t know. The tale will be told in the staff reports some months from now.
 
I can hardly wait.  In the meantime, I’m offering a $50 award to the 2,013th person who signs and returns the 2013 Litter Not Pledge found on this website.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Creative communications consultant Sheila White is founder of the Litter Prevention Program, and prior worked as a communications ace and PR strategist for some of Ontario's top political names.

    Archives

    September 2021
    May 2021
    July 2020
    January 2020
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    October 2017
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    Advertising
    Art
    Canada Post
    Education
    Entertainment
    Environment
    Litter
    Litter Prevention
    Psychology
    Recycling
    Religion
    Rob Ford
    Tobacco Litter
    Toronto
    Waste Management

    RSS Feed