This document summarizes a study that examined the relationship between household income levels and access to public space recycling services in 47 neighborhoods in the Greater Toronto Area over five months. The study found a statistically significant correlation between lower household income levels and fewer opportunities to recycle in public spaces. It also found higher levels of litter and bin contamination in poorer communities. The conclusions discuss whether limited access to recycling in lower-income areas is due to a lack of demand from residents or lack of supply from municipalities, and debates if access to recycling should be considered a right or a privilege.

1. Something Stinks: Issues Surrounding Socio-Economic
Inequality and Access to Public Space Recycling Services
Resources Conservation and Recycling (Revising)
By: Dr. Calvin Lakhan
http://wastewiki.info.yorku.ca/
lakhanc@yorku.ca

2. Overview
• Study undertook an examination of the relationship
between household income levels and access to public
space recycling services
• Data collected over a five month period from 47
neighborhoods in the GTA
• Is there a link between household income levels and
access to public space recycling, litter, and bin
contamination

3. Methods
• Three municipalities in the GTA (Toronto, Peel
and York Region)
• Regression model developed to see link between
# of bins per sq km, household income, and
population density
• High traffic public space areas sampled (transit
shelters, parks etc)
• Anecdotal observations surrounding littering and
bin contamination levels

4. Results
• Statistically significant correlation between household income and
neighborhood income levels
• Higher incidences of litter and bin contamination in poorer communities
• Fewer opportunities to recycle in public spaces in lower income
neighborhoods

5. Conclusions
• Access to recycling linked to socio economic factors
• Is the issue demand (do households in poorer income
communities not prioritize access to recycling) or supply
(municipalities do not put bins in lower income
neighborhoods) side
• Likely both
• How do we address these issues? Is access to recycling
a “right” or a “privilege”?

6. Conclusions
• Access to recycling linked to socio economic factors
• Is the issue demand (do households in poorer income
communities not prioritize access to recycling) or supply
(municipalities do not put bins in lower income
neighborhoods) side
• Likely both
• How do we address these issues? Is access to recycling
a “right” or a “privilege”?