Pet Waste Wrist Slap

by Alan Halberstadt

On Saturday, May 8, I was the central figure in a front-page Windsor Star story about a city ban on pet waste in garbage containers. I acknowledged to reporter Gary Rennie that I have been putting the kitty litter from the two family cats in garbage bags for several years.

After checking with the city’s environmental services division that a ban does indeed exist, and getting tips from the public, I purchased a big bag of Swheat Scoop at Pet Value. This natural wheat litter clumps and is flushable. I have been using it ever since, with one reservation. Swheat Scoop, at over $30 including tax a bag, is about seven times the cost of regular litter.

I have also buried a couple of regular litter bags outside, but that is not a sustainable solution, since too much of it will make digging in the garden quite unpleasant. I imagine it will also damage the fertility of the soil over time.

Another option will be to store the cheaper litter in a large double bag and drive it periodically to the E.C. Row drop-off centre. I have learned that pet litter is not banned from the landfill. It is banned from bags you put on the curb because of the threat of rotating garbage truck blades coming down on a “loaded” litter bag and spraying a collector.

Since the Star story, no-one has beaten up on me for not knowing the city bylaw. The reason for that, I suspect, is that the vast majority of citizens break the bylaw and have no intention of changing their habits. Like the sidewalk ban on cyclists, when there is no enforcement the behavior will continue.

The Environmental Services’ Waste Collection Calendar is also not 100-percent clear about pet waste. It does not come right out and say that animal waste and cat litter are banned, although it does make a suggestion that you “bury it in your own yard and/or place it in a container and bring it to the Drop-off Depot.”

With that said, I will still freely admit that ignorance of the law is no excuse for my own habits. As a City Councillor and co-chair of the Windsor-Essex Environment Committee I should be setting an example.

The Star story did provoke one humorous email from David Wonham, the irascible doc who ran for mayor in 2006, and continues to hold Council to account in its snail-like treatment of the Chimchuk bequest.

Here is Dr. Wonham’s email:

Alan, sorry to see in the Eddie Star today that you have admitted to being a Common Criminal.

Remember that "ignorantia legis neminem excusat" and, since you are dumping no less than TWO lots of Kitty Litter in the Municipal garbage system, you cannot hope to defend yourself on the principle of "de minimis not curat lex"

I will certainly come and visit you in Jail, and, if necessary, help you raise bail, if such is allowed in the major crime you have committed.

Am totally happy that our Authorities are finally clamping down on such henious and vicious criminal activity. You must be much relieved that the death penalty no longer exists in Canada.

Am glad that you are running again for Council, and since Criminals are now allowed to vote, there should be no reasons why Criminals should not be able to stand for elected office.

Am willing to bring you a cake (with a file in it) should you be incarcerated.

Please let me know how I can be of help.

David.