Paid tags coming

Gatineau trashes special bags for extra garbage

Sophie Demers

 

Grey garbage bins that are too full can currently be supplemented with paid city waste bags. They will be replaced with paid tags that can go on any garbage bags. The tags would cost .50¢, the same amount as the bags. Grey garbage bins are to be used for anything not recyclable or compostable. Only compost pick-up is weekly; the other two are picked up on alternating weeks. Oversized or bulky waste is picked up on specific dates, about four times a year.
This paid tag system is currently used in Toronto, Calgary, Alfred and Plantagenet. According to the analysis done by Gatineau, the benefits of this new system are fast production, little assembly required, more cost effective shipping costs for online orders, more flexibility for the citizens when it comes to bags, and potential for multiple local suppliers.
The possible disadvantages to this system is the easy falsification of the tags, little control over how many extra bags citizens use, and the new system would require more communication about what bags are accepted and what is not permitted.
This system is projected to save $67,000, as the supplies, storage, shipping, and assembly costs are significantly reduced when manufacturing and shipping tags versus the bags.
Previously, in 2018, the grey 120-litre garbage bins were distributed. In September 2019, Gatineau introduced the tariff incentive system where the excess household garbage that did not fit into the grey bin would have to be placed in labelled bags that needed to be purchased from the city. The bags could be purchased online, at service centres, and ecocentres.
The tariff incentive system reduced curbside garbage generated per unit between 2018 and 2020 by 25%.
The results of a citizen survey show that 82% of survey participants did not purchase extra bags. The 18% who did only used one extra bag per garbage collection. Overall, participants were satisfied with the purchase of extra bags, whether in person or online, but were only 68% satisfied with shipping costs for online orders.
This proposal is announced as Gatineau begins reviewing the Plan de Gestion des Matières Résiduelles (PGMR) 2023-2029.
The next steps for this proposal include a public consultation that will be held this spring, a call for tenders for contracts in June 2022, and proposing an amendment to Policy 839-2018 regarding the management of waste materials. Information: 3-1-1.
Photo: Example of the tags used in Calgary. Photo: Courtesy Gatineau