Direction cloudy for clear garbage bag use

BY CHRISTY MARSTERS

The Town of Hantsport and Valley Waste Resource Management is exploring the possibility of using clear bags for garbage as supportive recycling rates in other communities provide a transparent direction.

Valley Waste General Manager Ross Maybee says the topic of switching solid green bags for clear ones is a hot issue and is a change in direction Valley Waste should have been onboard with a long time ago.

Recycling percentages from areas using the clear bags are astonishing and people are enthused by these results, Maybee said. “The only thing changing is the colour of the bag, but it gives more of an incentive to people to do what they should’ve done all along.”

Valley Waste Resource Management services municipalities in the Annapolis, Kings, Berwick, Bridgetown, Middleton, Kentville, Wolfville and Hantsport areas. The plan to replace the green garbage bags isn’t solid, but a targeted date for making the change in all areas is projected for next April 1.

Councillor Martin Gillis, the Hantsport representative on the Valley Waste board of directors, says each town would have to approve a bylaw before the decision to adjust to the clear bags would be finalized.

Hantsport is talking with other municipalities at the present time to determine success rates in making the clear bag change, Gillis said. “Findings are proving areas switching to the clear bags are having much higher diversion rates.”

Sixty per cent increase in West Hants

The Municipality of West Hants is one area having great successes with the clear bags and reported a 60 per cent increase in recycling rates since the switch was made in 2005.

“The bags keep everybody honest,” Waste Reduction Coordinator Christine McClare said. “The change has been amazing despite initial concerns about public privacy.”

To resolve those concerns, the municipality suggested residents keep their clear bags in free curbside garbage cans and allowed for one smaller opaque bag to be placed inside the clear bags for concealment of unmentionable wastes.

Another concern was cost. To battle this issue the Municipality of West Hants bought thousands of clear bags and organized a swapping event to residents who wanted to convert from green bags to clear ones with ease when the new bylaw was first introduced.

“The clear bags are a little more expensive, but we’re talking pennies a bag to have nearly everyone doing the right thing,” McClare said. “We’re doing the best thing for the environment and I would recommend making the switch to any other area.”

No reason to change: Beatty

However, the Town of Windsor remains reluctant to adopt this strategy for sorting waste.

Public Works Director Don Beatty says Windsor has an excellent diversion rate and a long history of sorting wastes. “At this time there appears to be no reason to change to clear bags,” he said.

Few communities have gone the clear bag route as it’s just one tool for sorting waste, Beatty said. “Windsor has an organic bin program not offered in West Hants.”

The Municipality of West Hants uses a backyard composing technique to dispose of organic wastes. “An option appropriate to a more rural area with larger lot sizes,” McClare said.

The Town of Hantsport has an organic bin program, but is still considering the clear bag approach to up percentages on recycled items.

“Having one more step to improve the recycling percentages is positive thing,” Hantsport Mayor Wayne Folker said.