For your consideration, we'd like to present the 2010 edition of New Ideas for the New Year. This popular annual series highlights creative ideas for improving our lives and communities. We'll publish a new one starting today until Jan. 1.
In This Series
Idea #1: Tax Ads to Fund Public Art
How a billboard tax in Toronto is helping to stem the neon tide of illegal signs and give local artists a voice.
Idea #2: Loaner Bags by Deposit
It's hard to always remember to bring your own bags. Why not create a neighborhood-wide bag deposit system?
Idea #3: Embrace Uncertainty With Real Budgets
Budgets are always made partly of Fudge. Show us all the ingredients, so we know what to expect.
Idea #4: Let's Make It a Hypergreen World
Drastic times call for drastic measures. It's time to go hypergreen.
Idea #5: Living Christmas Trees
How two B.C. companies are giving trees a life after Christmas (and turning a profit, too) renting potted evergreens.
Idea #6: Vertical Agitation
Peer pressure does encourage others to adopt eco-conscious behaviour. But to make a real difference, you need to go straight to the top.
Idea #7: Drive Less, Pay Less
Why pay-as-you-drive auto insurance would help just about everyone -- and how the province keeps missing the boat.
Idea #8: Voting Beyond Borders
We live in a post-geographical world. It's time to ditch the riding system and bridge the rural-urban divide.
Idea #9: Love the Rain
Or, at least learn to appreciate it. As demand increases, municipalities across the province are looking for ways to conserve our clean water supply. A big part of that is making better use of what falls from the sky.
Idea #10: Tax Trash Before It Becomes Trash
Recycling fees are already used for e-waste. Why not expand it to the whole economy?