Garbage day is changing in Greater Sudbury on Oct. 10, when the city reduces the number of bags you can throw out each week from three to two.
Chantal Mathieu, the city's director of environmental services, said Thursday that with almost 90 per cent of residents already throwing out an average of two bags or less, she's hoping the transition will be smooth for most households.
"I'm not sure it will be all that big of a thing,” Mathieu said. "When council approved it back in July, we did receive a few emails, a few phone calls. But once people were told — especially families with young children — there would be a program set up for them, they were fine."
Most of the calls they have received are from people who are concerned they won't be able to get by throwing just two bags a week. But Mathieu said when residents are told that accommodations are being made for families with young children and others with special requirements, most people “are fine” with the change.
"I think once people understand that we're going to continue to collect unlimited recycling, unlimited green cart, unlimited leaf and yard, and set up a separate program for their children and diapers, they were OK with it," she said. "I'm assuming that once the information rolls out and people get used to it, we'll get calls. Some people may decide to make more of an effort in recycling and green cart and realize they don't even need assistance."
Besides being good for the environment, costs are a major factor in explaining why the city is going to a reduced limit. Not only is waste management expensive, but the city's three landfills will eventually have to be replaced at a cost of $40 million to $50 million each.
Diverting more waste to recycling and composting will push that day back as far as possible, Mathieu said. And under the new Waste Free Ontario Act, more funding will be available for cities to help with waste diversion programs such as recycling.
To help with the transition, the city's 311 operators have been trained on the changes and should be able to answer most questions.
The city has acquired the rights to the Waste Wizard app, which is available to use on the city's website. It gives residents information on what can be done with different types of waste – which can be recycled, composted, etc.
And if people still have concerns, she said a city worker can come over to help explain their options.
Residents with pets can get a rebate from the city to help them buy a special device to process the waste.
"If you have a dog and you need to deal with your dog poop, there's a rebate for a dog waste digester," she said, although not many people have taken advantage of that yet.
"We're just rolling things out now. More likely, you'll see more uptake on it as the bag limit decreases."
Free composting green carts are available, and the cost of the big blue recycling bins has been reduced from $20 to $10.
The bag limit reduction is just the first step in a four-year process, Mathieu said. In 2019, the bag limit will be reduced to one a week; two years later, collection will take place twice a month, rather than once a week.
"The significant savings won't be realized until we go to every other week in 2021," she said. "Costs keep increasing, so if we can save money on collection, or reduce the amount we have to collect, the better for all of us."
She said it's time for everyone to take another look at what they throw away and where.
"A pop can can be recycled over and over and over again — why would we want to throw that in the garbage?" Mathieu said. "Instead of putting everything in the black garbage bag, or in the hole at the landfill, put it in these (other) bins. We'll take care of it from there.
"If people are worried about not being able to meet the two-bag limit, give us a call. We'll help you out. We have the resources to make this an easy transition."
For more information, call 311 or visit the city website.
