2017 will see a change to Airdrie's waste collection procedure.

Starting in April, residents will be required to use clear bags for trash pickup, and will be limited to one bag of garbage a week. At the same time, the city will launch a recycling bin program similar to the current organic bin program. The programs will become enforceable in January 2018, giving residents time to adjust to the change.

Susan Grimm, Team Leader for Waste and Recycling Services with the city of Airdrie, explains clear bag programs are a way to reduce waste in the city, and yield a number of benefits.

"There's three things that clear bag programs do. They increase the diversion impact on the residential waste. They allow residents to become more aware of what they're actually putting in the garbage, and then the third thing is the health and safety benefits for our collectors."

Grimm explains that residents will be able to put opaque "privacy bags" inside the clear bags for things like bathroom or pet waste.

Grimm says that there will be some monetary fines associated with failing to comply with the new program, but Grimm hopes residents will buy in to the program so the city doesn't need to penalize anyone.

The clear bag program was originally proposed to City Council on March 21, and the program was approved in May.

 

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