Trash Talk: Your Top Questions Answered about Clear Bags

Starting on January 1, 2022, garbage put at the curb in St. John’s must be in clear, colourless bags - except for one 'privacy' bag per week that can be an opaque, non-transparent (i.e. black, white, etc.) bag.

To help you understand the details about the new Clear Bag garbage collection, we have answered your top questions below.

Where can I buy clear garbage bags including clear kitchen bags?
Most grocery and home supply stores carry a selection of waste bags, including clear bags for garbage. Kitchen-sized clear bags can be more difficult to find, however some retailers in St. John’s are carrying them. Local retailers and suppliers have been in contact with us recently to let us know they have ordered kitchen-sized clear bags for their store shelves.

To help with the transition to using clear bags for garbage, the City has worked with the makers of Billy Boot bags to provide sample clear bags to residents through:

• Winter 2022 City Guide (wrapped in plastic for this edition to hold the sample clear bags)
• City Community Centres and Access St. John’s Service Centre

Winter 2022 City Guide wrapped in plastic with sample clear bags

How many clear bags of garbage am I allowed each week?

Each collection four regular-size bags (approximately 1 metre by 0.5 metre when empty) are permitted; that can be three clear bags (plus one privacy bag) per week or four clear bags (no privacy bag) per week. All garbage must be bagged, including if you have a garbage cart.

Three clear bags (plus one privacy bag)

Four clear bags (no privacy bag)

What is a privacy bag?

A privacy bag can be any colour and it is provided to allow you to put garbage that you don’t want others to see in it. For each garbage collection, you are permitted one privacy bag per week.

Putting non-transparent kitchen bags into a privacy bag

Do the smaller bags that are put inside a larger bag have to be clear?

Non-see-through bags inside a clear bag is only acceptable as your one privacy bag per week. For your clear bags, if smaller bags are put inside a larger bag, all the bags must be clear. This includes kitchen and bathroom waste bins: if you remove kitchen-sized bags or small bags from bathroom bins to put in a larger clear bag, the kitchen-catchers and small bags must be clear. Consider placing waste from small bins directly in the larger bag without removing the bag that lines the small bin.

Non-see-through bags inside a clear bag is only acceptable as your one privacy bag

Small clear bags inside a larger clear bag are acceptable

What if I just put one bag of garbage out per week, does it have to be clear?

If you only put one opaque coloured bag of garbage out per week – you can continue to do this as it is considered your one privacy bag. If on any given week you have extra garbage – one bag can be a privacy bag (i.e., your coloured bag) and additional bags must be clear.

Why not have more than one privacy bag per week for diapers or pet stool?

A maximum of one privacy bag is permitted each collection. The one privacy bag is meant for items you don’t want others to see. Diapers or pet waste are not required to be in a privacy bag.

A diaper in a privacy bag

Diapers in a clear bag

How will The City know if I am using clear bags?
Waste staff will conduct random checks in all areas to learn if clear bags are being used. Notification may be left to indicate the use of clear bags or not. Automated waste collection trucks are outfitted with a video monitor so that drivers can see what is being dumped in the truck. Notification may be sent to residences that do not use clear bags.

Do we still need to put recycling in blue bins?
Yes, residents will still need to put recycling in blue bags; one for paper recyclables and a separate one for container recyclables. With clear bags required for garbage, curbside recycling becomes mandatory in St. John’s. Learn more about curbside recycling at http://curbitstjohns.ca/recycle/curbside-recycling/

Recycling in blue bags

Using clear bags for garbage will help increase curbside recycling, remove hazardous waste from garbage and heighten safety for collection staff. For more details about using clear bags for garbage, please visit the Curbit website.