Yard Waste Mandatory in Paper Yard Waste Bags
Beginning May 1 yard waste including grass, leaves, soil, sod, and small branches must be in paper yard waste bags, for curbside collection. Yard waste in plastic bags will be left at the curb from May 1 to November 30.
“Last fall we required that leaves be in paper yard waste bags for curbside collection. Participation was a great success with over 400 tonnes of leaves collected, resulting in a savings of approximately $25,000 in tipping fees,” explains Mayor Danny Breen. “Based on that success and given the high economic and environmental costs of landfilling this easily compostable material, Council has implemented the mandatory use of paper bags for yard waste from May 1 to November 30 each year.”
Yard material in paper yard waste bags will be collected on the same day as residents recycling days. One City vehicle will collect the yard waste bags, while two trucks will continue to collect garbage and recycling separately.
“With phase one of automated garbage collection beginning in June the garbage carts will hold four to five regular sized garbage bags,” says Councillor Ian Froude, lead of Public Works. “As there is no limit to the amount of paper yard bags that can be put at the curb outside the cart, it’s a great way to divert useable waste and to save space in the garbage cart for items that cannot be recycled or composted.”
Paper yard waste bags are available for purchase at most hardware stores and building supply centres.
RONA stores in the St. John’s metro area are supporting this initiative by offering a ‘Buy One, Get One’ coupon for paper yard waste bags in packages of 10 bags. Coupons are available in the summer City Guide arriving in residential mailboxes next week, on the Curb It website, and at RONA locations.
Paper yard waste bags can also be put in a yard waste bin at the Residential Drop Off at Robin Hood Bay Waste Management Facility, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays to Saturdays.
Most yard waste can be mulched or composted in a residential setting; learn more on the recently improved Curb It website at curbitstjohns.ca.
Media Contact:
Kelly Maguire
Media Relations
City of St. John's
709-576-8491
kmaguire@stjohns.ca