CHESTER - Come October 1, clear bag waste disposal will be the law in the Municipality of Chester.

 That's when a six-month transition period imposed by the municipality will end.

 The bylaw is in direct response to legislation introduced by the province this past year.

 "The province has set a goal to reduce waste to 300 kilograms per person per year," said municipal recycling co-ordinator Jennifer Veinotte. "It's left up to us how we plan to realize that goal."

 Choosing to make clear garbage bags mandatory is the key method the municipality has adopted.

 "The clear garbage bags alone could do it," Ms Veinotte said. "Right now the provincial average sits at 430 kilograms per person. The number for the municipality is 330 kilograms per person."

 Through the Environment Act and the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, the Nova Scotia government has committed to maintaining a goal of 50 per cent waste diversion and to reach a target for waste disposal of 300 kilograms per person, per year by the year 2015.

 The municipality's target to make that goal is a 10 per cent waste reduction.

 "The least expensive and most effective method for the municipality is to implement a program such as clear bags for garbage," Ms Veinotte added. "That means residential and commercial garbage is put in transparent [or clear] bags instead of opaque [black, green, brown, etc.] bags."

 Your traditional coloured garbage bags can still be used. For every two-week pick up, one opaque garbage bag is allowed. The remainder have to be clear. They cannot be blue bags or bags of any other colour or tint. They must be clear.

 "The clear bags get people thinking more about what they're putting in the garbage," Ms Veinotte said. "Hopefully it will make them more conscious about what is being thrown away as opposed to recycled."

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 Waste collectors will have the right, as they currently do, to reject any bags felt to contain inappropriate items, items that belong in the recycling or compost bin for instance.

 "We're already seeing some clear bags now," Ms Veinotte said. "And this may not effect everyone. It will only be those who create more than one large garbage bag of waste every two weeks. Some people may not have to adjust at all."

 In conjunction with this initiative, the municipality is also introducing changes to their bag limit. The new bag limits will be six for garbage (including one opaque bag) and 10 for recyclables.

 If this new goal is met prior to the 2015 deadline, and the municipality can remain at or under the target, the Resource Recovery Fund Board will provide an incentive that will assist the municipality in offsetting the cost of processing increased recyclables and compost that will come as a result of a clear bag program.

 For a more detailed description of the program call Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre at 275-2330 or the municipality at 275-5321.

 You can also send inquiries to publicworks@chester.ca.

posted on 07/20/10