To the editor:
Re: "Are you a recycling champion," June 7.
I'm so happy to have my little green container so that I can diligently recycle my food scraps. All the accompanying information giving step by step directions on what to do with my unwanted stuff is also important. After all we do want Vancouver to be "the greenest city in the world."
Too bad it's all a load of nonsense. What I would like to know is how many houses are going to the landfill along with their gardens and trees? How many residential demolitions permits have been issued in the past year? How about in the past five years? How many tons of debris do these demolitions represent?
There was a time when a sizable, renovated older home that had been well cared for wouldn't be at risk of demolition. But then the allowable square footage on any given lot was significantly increased. This change combined with many wealthy buyers entering the market has doomed every older home - certainly on Vancouver's West Side. Incentives to retain and renovate would be much "greener" and much smarter than simply handing out demolition permits.
My own recently sold and much loved home has been staked and is doomed, along with the garden I've worked on for 21 years. I try not to think about it as I sort my belongings to pack or recycle but it's a very sad end for a house and garden that should have value in a city that talks so much about being green.
Deanna Giles, Vancouver
