WELLINGTON COUNTY - The solid waste services committee is considering transitioning plastic garbage bags to paper garbage bags as a means of reducing the amount of plastic going into landfills.
At Tuesday’s solid waste services committee meeting, Coun. Steve O’Neill opened the discussion of paper garbage bags after the committee reviewed the leaf and yard waste update report, noting the durability of the leaf and yard waste paper bags.
“Councillor O’Neill commented that those bags are quite durable, and perhaps they can replace the plastic garbage bags that the county sells as part of its user pay garbage program,” explained Das Soligo, county manager of solid waste services.
“At the risk of speaking for the council, it seemed to me that the desire was to reduce the amount of plastic that’s going to landfill with a more natural and organic product. There were a couple other councillors who thought it was an intriguing idea.”
County staff were directed to research about paper garbage bags, its effect on the environment, and how much it will cost.
Soligo explained that he has never heard of other jurisdictions that have moved to paper-based garbage bags, nor any paper-based garbage bags.
“I’m not even sure if such a product exists, so staff definitely have to research. If other municipalities have done so, we’d have to reach out to them and find out the effects of it,” he said.
The Tuesday meeting was only an initial conversation, and staff are expected to report back to the committee at a later date.
