All right, after the no plastic change, I figure it’s time to turn it down a notch and do something simple. Unfortunately, this one may strictly apply to someone living in Toronto, but hey, I can’t always be universal.
Here’s the sitch: Some years ago, the TTC decided to replace all the transfer machines in their subway stations — the new machines not only look fancier, they also produce fancier transfers that are printed on glossy coloured paper (see above, right) as opposed to plain old recycled paper (above, left). On the plus side, they only print out a transfer when you press the button — unlike the old ones, which are produced in bulk quantities — but they still seem to use more energy.
Either way, the TTC only implemented this in the train stations, not on buses and streetcars, so when I go to work (my route is streetcar-train-bus to get there, then bus-train-streetcar to get back), I get the old-school transfer in the morning, and on the return journey can choose to either get the old version on the bus or the slick new version at the York Mills subway stop (either will work when I board the Queen streetcar).
Often, I get the new transfer at the station simply because I forget to pick an old one up from the bus driver. However, as of today, I’m going to make sure I use the old transfers whenever possible.
I know, not much, but it’s 5:30 p.m. and I’m running low here. Also, if anyone thinks I’m wrong here and that the transfer-on-demand system outweighs the environmental cost of using recycled paper but printing in bulk, feel free to call me on it and I’ll do the reverse.
I’m a little confused. Does that mean that a whole bunch of transfers get thrown out each day because they’re printed out in bulk?
I mean, in my mind, what’s best depends on if a bunch of the old transfers get thrown out, and what percent post-consumer waste the recycled paper comes on.
I dunno. My vote would be use the on-demand transfers, and then use them for bookmarks, or use them in place of scratch paper or post its or what-have-you when you need to take a number down, or figure out a tip or something. At least the new glossy transfers look like you can write on the back. The old school transfers look like you can’t do anything with them.
Interesting. I like little questions like this.
It seems like if the old transfers are already printed and will be thrown away or recycled whether used or not, then that’s the lighter impact choice.
While the new transfers might be sturdier for possible reuse, I really have more scratch paper than I could ever imagine using.
I have a bus pass. Which is a plastic card that gets a new sticker every few months.
Hmmm – that’s a good question. On one hand, the subway transfers use power to run the machines, plus the resources to put them in in the first place and to repair them. On the other, the bus transfers result in a certain percentage waste each night and an (admittedly small) bit of extra time for the driver with the bus running. Not sure which paper is inherently greener, but I’d guess it’s the bus transfers (unless the subway ones are on post-consumer and the bus ones aren’t or something).
Arduous, I’d say both types of transfers are equally usable for jotting down quick notes like phone numbers. Given that transfers are customized to the day and route, any that are left at the end of the day can no longer be used.
So the greenest answer? What about grabbing the subway transfers that are invariably sitting around the machines instead of new ones. (There’s usually one that recent enough to use, especially at some stations.) Or is there a route you can take where you don’t need a transfer? The impact of that is probably negated by you traveling a longer route. What about walking from the subway station? (This option clearly depends on how far away you live.)
Actually Cecilia makes a good point that I didn’t think about. If the old-school transfers are already THERE and printed in bulk, by using one of them, you’re saving a little paper. So by using a new on-demand transfer, you are supporting the IDEA of on-demand, and on-demand is a good thing, but your one person protest against old-school transfers is not going to make much of an impact and prevent the city of Toronto from printing them. Since the old-school transfers are, like it or not, already printed, you might as well use that, and save the paper.
Did that make any sense? Anyway, yours and Cecilia and Anon’s instincts were right. Mine were wrong. Go with the old-school transfers.
So maybe use the paper bus transfers for now, but write an email to TTC encouraging their further implementation of the on-demand system. And throw in a suggestion about using recycled/recyable paper. Of course, not that I write all the emails I should.
Man, I finally made myself watch Who Killed the Electric Car? and now I’m so sad.
wait wait, i think the more important question is: do you not have a metropass?
Sorry this is off the subject, but did you ever find a friendly shampoo?
I remembered you having the same problems that I was….Dr. bronners was leaving a greasy film, most organics still had bad ingredients, vinegar was smelly, I tried baking soda and that left my hair with residue. So was just wondering. Thanks
Now I’m going to venture off-topic. Alexia, have you tried going to Lush? They’ve got a bunch of shampoos that are solids, so they don’t require any packaging or preservatives. I’ve never tried them myself but the reviews have been great.
http://ca.lush.com/cgi-bin/lushdb/catzoom.html?mv_arg=Solid%20Shampoos&expand=Haircare
Also Vanessa, I was also wondering why you haven’t purchased a metropass yet?
I just don’t get the reasoning behind the whole “transfers” systems when I see them in action. Why do the public transit companies not just sell you a bus ticket that has the time of purchase printed on it?? I’ve been in cities before where you buy single tickets like that (if you don’t want a week or month pass) and it’s good for 1.5 hrs after purchase–enough for a long one-way trip. Is the Toronto system the kind where you buy the ticket for your ride, and get a separate piece of paper for the transfer? Or do they keep it down to one piece of paper for your trip?
Wow- that seemed an awfully complicated dilemma (and explanation) for such a simple change. Though like you said, sometimes the small changes are the most difficult.
I agree with healthycookie – I don’t get it. However, I’m sure it’s a green change in some way.
in vancouver, all of the transfers are on demand. When you get on the bus, you put in your money, and it spits out a transfer with the time it was purchased digitally imprinted in it somehow, so that when you get on the next bus, you just pop your transfer in the slot at the front, and it either validates it or doesn’t.
I don’t know if this is greener or not, as there had to be a new machine installed in each and every bus, as well as new machines at every single skytrain station, and they ALL run on electricity. I suppose it means there’ll be no extra transfers thrown away at the end of the day though, so who knows which is better?
I always went with a bus pass myself, printed once and all you need is a new little sticker each month. Although, I’m not sure that would work out either for your no plastic rule.
Hey there,
OK, I don’t have a Metropass because I sometimes work from home (remember the telecommuting post?) and when the weather isn’t too bad I’ll ride my bike — so investing in a Metropass just isn’t worth it, at least from a cost standpoint.
And Emily — we use both tickets and tokens on our transit system, but I just don’t see how they could work it so that each individual ticket is stamped with a time. Most people just buy tickets or tokens 10 at a time and so can just slip the thing in the machine and walk through the turnstile without having to wait in line and make a separate transaction every single time they get on the subway. Definitely helps ease congestion.
I think the old-style transfers, despite getting printed in bulk, are still better. I don’t know, though, it’s just a gut instinct!
Oh, and P.S. I did find a couple good shampoos! Giovanni’s 50/50 and Nature’s Gate Verbena and Chamomile are both nice enough that I won’t be switching back to any brand name stuff when this challenge is over… Lush is OK, but bear in mind that they use a LOT of fragrance in their products, which according to EWG isn’t so great…
I agree with the old-style transfers. I’d also add that tokens are way better of a choice than paper tickets, since they’re reused ad infinitum. Paper tickets get dumped. My husband works for a transit system in the GTA and the wads of unused old-style transfers he winds up bringing home at the end of shift all end up as scratch pads and/or in recycling.