District councillors will get a closer look at the proposed transition to clear garbage bags during tomorrow’s Engineering and Public Works Committee meeting.
Staff prepared an information package for Council, and they will vote on whether to proceed with the clear bag program.
The staff report goes over some of the basics of what the transition will look like and why they feel it’s necessary.
According to the report, compiled by Renee Recoskie, the Director of Waste Management and Environmental Services for the District of Muskoka, the transition is being proposed for a number of reasons.
One is worker health and safety, as clear bags help the collector identify potential hazards like broken glass needles or other sharp or combustible items.
Clear bags also serve as a reminder for people if they forget to separate materials that don’t belong in the garbage like recyclables, organics or hazardous waste.
Clear bags can also help with enforcing municipal material disposal bans by allowing waste collectors to monitor for compliance and reject any bags that contain those banned items, says Recoskie.
The biggest concern from the public appears to be surrounding the issue of privacy, she says.
“These concerns have been raised in most transitioning municipalities, where residents may be concerned with others being able to see what is in their garbage,” reads the report. “The most effective way to resolve and address these concerns is to allow for a small number of opaque privacy bags within the clear garbage bag and to allow residents to place their clear bag within a garbage can/bear bin.”
The initial approach for the District will be to allow two small opaque privacy bags (similar size to plastic grocery bags) and remain consistent with current collection practices (i.e., bag within garbage can, bear bin, etc.). It is also proposed that black bags continue to be accepted at District waste drop-off facilities in 2025, with a full transition to clear bags starting January 1, 2026.
In response to concerns over cost, Recoskie indicated both clear plastic and opaque plastic garbage bags are manufactured from the same type of plastic resin and dyes are added to colour bags. The suggested retail price between the two is similar.
She also indicated that waste diversion rates can increase by as much as 10% when the clear garbage bag program is initiated.
Some 40 Ontario municipalities have successfully implemented the clear bag program.
The initial launch of the clear bag program is proposed for the collection week starting March 3, 2025.
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