But city officials worry they're being too optimistic

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Scarborough residents are either the most enthusiastically optimistic recyclers in Toronto - or they're woefully misinformed about the way recycling and waste collection will work once the city's new $70 million pay-as-you-throw system kicks in later this year.

Those are the two conclusions staring down city staff as they watch the selections that Scarborough residents and others are making between the four sizes of garbage can the city will be providing to all households over the next year.

The garbage cans come in four sizes. The smallest holds just one bag, and anyone who picks that will receive a $10 rebate on their water bill. The next largest, which holds a bag and a half, comes with a $39 fee each year and the cost goes up from there.

The garbage cans are rolling out first in Scarborough, and staff had been predicting that about 30 per cent would select the smallest bin.

In fact, it's been more like 40 per cent.

Geoff Rathbone, Toronto's manager of solid waste services, was initially surprised - but on reflection, admits there were some problems communicating exactly how big those bins are.

"Scarborough was the first to choose and was the earliest in the curve of the education program we have," he said.

"In Scarborough, we only had a two-dimensional mockup of the smallest bin because the actual bin hadn't been manufactured yet. So they did not have the example of the physical sample. One of the things we're toying with is potentially contacting Scarborough residents that selected the small, just to make sure they understand it only holds the single green bag of garbage."

If it turns out they don't want that bin, Rathbone said it will be easier to change the order than order an exchange later on in the year.

But he said he doesn't expect the same difficulties in other parts of the city.

"I think what's interesting is that as we look at the next districts that are ordering, they are more in line with our earlier estimates," said Rathbone.

Works committee chair and Ward 38 (Scarborough Centre) Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker said he thinks that most of the residents are being overly optimistic.

"If it holds true that 40 per cent want the small, that will be good - but I think that people have been a little optimistic," said De Baeremaeker, who said that on his way to city hall he notices very few homes putting out a single bag of garbage.

"Do 40 per cent have one garbage bag out? No. I'd say about 10 per cent."