Region says it's okay to use grocery bags for garbage

Peel Regional council recently passed an amendment to its waste collection bylaw, stating that the minimum size of plastic bags allowed at the curb for garbage collection is one foot by one foot.

Staff put forth a proposal to general committee of council Jan. 17 to amend the waste collection bylaw by setting a minimum size of bag allowed at the curb for garbage collection. The proposed size was 22 by 24 inches, because smaller bags can sometimes be missed by waste collectors and on windy days can be blown away from the set out location, creating litter issues.

At the Jan. 24 meeting, council deliberated the proposed amendment and decided that the minimum size of plastic bags allowed at the curb for garbage collection is one foot by one foot. This allows standard sized grocery bags to be placed at the curb for garbage collection.

"Some residents are doing such a great job of blue box and organics recycling that they only have one grocery bag of garbage to set out at the curb each week, and we don't want to discourage their efforts," commented Brampton Councillor Elaine Moore, chair of the environment, transportation and planning services committee of Regional council.

"Residents are reminded that each grocery bag counts as a garbage bag under the two bag standard," remarked Andrew Pollock, director of waste management for the Region. "Households may place a combined total of two garbage containers or bags at the curb for collection each week at no charge. Each additional item requires a Region of Peel garbage tag attached to it."

Residents are asked to not place their grocery bag of garbage next to their blue box on collection day, so that it is not mistaken as a bag of recyclable plastic bags. Instead, garbage containers and bags should be placed on the opposite side of the driveway from recyclable material (blue box, green bin and yard waste), where possible.

Recycling

plastic bags

Empty plastic bags are accepted in the Region's Blue Box recycling program. To recycle plastic bags, residents should place all plastic bags in one tied plastic bag before putting them in the recycling box for collection and processing at the Region's recycling facility in Brampton.

"The Region has a stable market for recycled plastic bags," Pollock said. "However, it is very important that plastic bags are placed in one tied plastic bag for recycling. Loose bags are a problem in the facility because they cannot be captured by the sorters, and they can jam the sorting equipment and contaminate other recyclable products."