Clear Bags for Garbage Increases Recycling by 30-40%
The City of St. John’s is pleased to announce that there is a 30 to 40% increase in recyclable material collected this January and February compared to the same months over the last five years. See table below for more information.
In January, a new Sanitation Regulation By-Law came into effect requiring garbage put at the curb be in clear, colourless bags - except for one 'privacy' bag per week. As a result of this regulation, recycling became mandatory. This dramatic increase in recycling is showing a positive benefit of the clear bag program.
| Time Period | Metric Tonnes of Recycling Collected | % Increase in 2022 |
| January-February 2022 | 579.39 | -- |
| January-February 2021 | 343.83 ** | 68.5% ** |
| January-February 2020 | 410.03 | 41.3% |
| January-February 2019 | 443.80 | 30.6% |
| January-February 2018 | 443.79 | 30.6% |
| January-February 2017 | 413.05 | 40.3% |
** Recycling collection was cancelled for two weeks in February 2021 due to COVID-19
“Seeing the success of this new regulation, I’d like to thank community members that are using clear bags and recycling appropriately. I encourage anyone who has not made the switch to clear bags to do so. This is also a great opportunity to become familiar with the City’s Curbit recycling program,” says Councillor Sandy Hickman, representative for Public Works.
Next steps
To give retailers and residents more time to get used to buying and supplying clear bags for garbage, The City will continue to take an educational approach towards this program. Local retailers and suppliers have notified The City that they anticipate a consistent supply of clear bag products in stores over the next month.
The next phase of the educational approach will begin in April when crews will spot check for the use of clear bags for garbage. During this phase, stickers will be left to remind or acknowledge residents for using clear bags for garbage. Waste & Recycling staff will continue to collect garbage that is not in clear bags, but our focus will shift more towards education and ensuring all residents transition to the clear bags.
“Our priority is to keep recyclable materials out of the landfill. Some of the goals of using clear bags for garbage was to remove hazardous waste from garbage and increase recycling in our city. Seeing more recyclables going in blue bags instead of garbage shows the new regulation is working towards us being a sustainable city,” says Councillor Maggie Burton, Council representative for Sustainability.
Are you new to recycling? To learn about the household items that go in blue bags at the curb go to CurbitStJohns.ca, the app St. John’s Waste & Recycling or call Access St. John’s at 311 or 754-CITY (2489).
The City of St. John’s is committed to be a city that is sustainable today and for future generations; economically, environmentally, and financially.