Chestermere seems to have its fair share of sensitive subjects recently that have residents outraged. One of the biggest that has been going on for well over a year now has been the implementation of the recycling and compost program by Chestermere Utilities Inc (CUI), who is no stranger to controversy lately. Maybe not so much those programs, but more so the new rules regarding garbage disposal that has residents feeling violated and disrespected.
In November 2014 it was announced by CUI that not only were Chestermere residents only going to be permitted to leave out one bag of garbage, but that one bag had to be a clear bag. This sparked a fire in many residents that went flocking to social media in outrage over having to display their personal trash in clear bags for the neighbourhood to see.
In an earlier article, CUI Operations Manager Donna McCallum stated, “In an effort to ensure that these new programs are being followed, garbage will only be accepted if in clear bags to ensure that paper and other recyclables are not going out in the regular garbage and there will be a decrease in the number of garage you can leave at the curb. Should the garbage collector notice that there is paper products in the garbage bags, they will be left at the curb”.
As the recycle and compost bins showed up on driveways in Chestermere in May 2015, the learning curve began for what products go in which bin, getting use to only leaving one bag at the curb and using up our black bags and finding the best places to purchase clear bags. October 5, 2015 brought into effect the one bag limit and customers that left more than one bag found that indeed, only one bag was being picked up with the rest being left behind – unless a yellow ‘extra bag tag’ had been purchased and was placed on additional bags.
But here we are with February fast approaching and with that comes the February 1st implementation date of clear bags only. Should residents leave out their garbage in any other type of bag besides a clear bag, it will be left behind with an information sticker as to why it was left…and when they say clear, they mean clear. “All waste set out for collection must be in a transparent, colorless bag”, says CUI Operations Manager Donna McCallum. It’s also important to know that even if residents leave out a non-clear garbage bag with one of the yellow extra bag tags – it still won’t be picked up. CLEAR ONLY.
McCallum continued, “If residents are concerned about their privacy we encourage them to place their clear bag of waste in a garbage can. They can also place an untied privacy bag inside the clear bag. The privacy bag can be a colored 20cm X 20cm bag”.
For many, the thought of leaving clear bags curbside seems completely foreign. However, it appears that Chestermere isn’t the only Canadian municipality forced into using clear bags for their garbage. Effective August 1, 2015, Halifax, NS residents had their clear garbage bag bylaw implemented for the same reasons that Chestermere residents are being told “to ensure that recyclables and compost materials are not going in the trash”. Halifax residents are too left with their trash sitting on the curb if they don’t comply and use a clear garbage bag and they are also permitted a ‘privacy bag’. Other municipalities that have implemented the clear bag regulations are Cape Bretton, Nova Scotia and Markham, Ontario.
Most of the local grocery stores have ensured that compost friendly bags and clear garbage bags have been stocked on their shelves to ensure that customers can continue to shop local under the new demands in waste removal. The extra garbage bag tags can be purchased at the CUI office and Centex for $3.85 each.
