A Letter for Regina

The following is a letter I plan to send to the City of Regina. You should all do the same, even if you don't live here. I give you permission to copy it (though you may want to re-phrase some of it, as I likely will).
Mayor's Office
City of Regina
PO Box 1790
Regina, SK S4P 3C8
email: service_regina@regina.ca
Mayor's Speak Out Line
306-777-7301

Dear Mayor Pat Fiaco,

Lately I have been hearing news of the city contemplating banning selling bottled water in public facilities, in an effort to reduce the amount of waste going into our landfill. I think this is a fine idea, even though I feel the water here, safe though it may be, is still rather unpalatable. I've come from Saskatoon recently, and there I was able to drink water from the tap, where here I find it still has an unpleasant taste.

Preferences aside, I think there is another initiative you should seriously consider, whether or not you follow through with the bottled-water ban. This idea comes from what I've seen the city of Saskatoon do in it's downtown and Broadway area. They have replaced all of their garbage cans with recycling stations, where you can deposit garbage, paper waste, and cans and bottles. This gives people the option of how to deal with their waste.

You say that plastic water bottles are used once and then tossed, but the same holds true for any number of beverage containers. Why not ban selling canned pop too? Or newspapers? I am sure the cost of these stations, and having to have specialized pick-up services would be at least partially offset by the revenue from recycling cans and the ad revenue. Or maybe you can offer contracts to at-risk youth to collect the cans for you?

Just an idea, but I think its a darn good one. I've attached a picture for you to look at.

Sincerely,

namethanx to Caroline for sending me the photo