There are about to be some notable changes when it comes to waste management in the city.
Council voted in favour of the recommended Waste Management Master Plan Update at Monday night’s meeting.
New directions will include:
-Requiring the use of clear garbage bags for waste collection
-Moving to every-other-week residential garbage collection starting October 31, 2023 at the same time as the introduction of weekly Green Bin (household organic waste) collection service that will reduce the bulk of current garbage material
-Preparing for the provincially-directed switch to producer-responsible recycling program delivery, instead of it being a municipal service, starting January 1, 2024
-Bringing a report to Council in the future to amend the Waste Collection Enforcement By-law to include new definitions of the waste stream, collection requirements, and penalties for non-compliance as an option if public education efforts are not effective in changing disposal behaviours
Staff say together with the introduction of weekly organic waste collection, the waste management changes are expected to increase diversion from 52% currently to 76%-83% by 2030. An increase to 75% diversion will add another five to six years of life to the landfill.
A ‘clear bag’ program refers to the use of a garbage bag that is transparent or see-through. Use of clear bags for garbage encourages waste diversion in several ways:
-Clear bag Programs improves worker safety and allows Transfer Station attendants the ability to conduct a quick assessment of the contents within the clear bag(s) to ensure that no recyclable or hazardous items are in the bag.
-Clear bags can serve as a reminder if people forget to separate out these materials from their garbage, as the clear bag allows residents to see what is being thrown out.
-Clear bags prompt people to reflect on their waste disposal habits and encourage them to consider waste diversion options.
-Clear bags can assist in with the enforcing of municipal material disposal bans by allowing waste collectors to monitor for compliance and reject any bags containing banned items.
All eight townships within the County of Peterborough have implemented clear bag garbage programs.
