Clear Bag Garbage Program for the

Municipality of Centre Hastings and Madoc Township

 

Start Date: January 7, 2008 (Enforcement Date June 2, 2008)

As of January 7, 2008, all garbage must be placed in clear bags. There will be a one month grace period, so that residents will have time to adjust to the change.

What is a clear bag? It is a plastic bag, which is completely transparent or see-through. It does not include tinted, opaque, or solid coloured bags.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the clear bag requirement start?

The clear bag requirement starts January 7, 2008.

 

When will the clear garbage bags be enforced?

Enforcement of the clear bag requirement will commence June 2, 2008.

Once the program is enforced, what will happen if I don’t cooperate?

Non-compliant bags will be left at curbside and will not be accepted at the landfill. This includes clear bags that contain recyclables and non-clear bags.

Why do we have to use clear bags for garbage?

We are using clear bags to increase recycling and decrease the material ending up in landfill. The research conducted by Quinte Waste Solutions on clear bags across North America, clearly indicates that this is a successful method for boosting recycling. Every effort must be made to extend the life of the Centre Hastings landfill.

What are clear bags?

Clear bags are completely transparent or see-through and do NOT include tinted or solid coloured bags including white bags.

 Where can I buy clear bags?

All of the retailers have been informed of the new requirements and have agreed to stock clear bag supplies. The main retailers of clear bags include:

Homeland IGA

Madoc Co-op

Madoc Home Hardware

V&S

Madoc Tim-Br Mart

What do I do if I use grocery bags or white kitchen catcher bags for garbage?

These smaller non-clear bags should be emptied and placed loose into the clear bag. Any size of an opaque bag full of garbage, is not permitted to be placed inside the clear bag because this defeats the purpose of the initiative. The only exception is the ‘privacy bag’ noted below.

What is a ‘Privacy Bag’?

Out of consideration for people’s privacy, one opaque or solid coloured ‘privacy bag’ full of garbage, is allowed to be placed in the clear bag. The maximum size of this ‘privacy bag’ is 20 by 22 inches.

Points to remember:

• The size of the clear plastic bag should be approximately 91cm (26 inches by 36 inches).
• The maximum weight for curbside garbage (including the container or clear plastic bag) is 18 kg (40 pounds).
• Plastic polyethylene bags (ex. grocery bags) can be placed in recycling if they are clean and not soiled