The District is moving to clear garbage bags effective today (March 3) to maximize diversion from Muskoka’s only operating landfill.
District of Muskoka chair Jeff Lehman recently told Huntsville council that diverting waste from the landfill is not only environmentally sound (by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions) but also financially beneficial for Muskoka, as it prolongs the life of its only landfill and looks to waste disposal into the future.
Clear bags also increase worker safety by enabling them to see what’s inside the bags and avoid dangerous items like sharp glass and needles. The use of clear bags also helps keep hazardous items like lithium-ion batteries, paint, medicines, oil, and gasoline out of the regular waste stream.
The program aims to encourage everyone to work diligently and make conscious decisions about what belongs in the trash, what is recyclable, and what is compostable.
The program begins at curbside collection on March 3, 2025, and at waste facilities in 2026.
“Resident privacy and safety is very important to us. With a clear bag collection program, you are able to have up to two (2) privacy bags inside each larger clear bag. Privacy bags are classified as smaller opaque bags that let you hide items you don’t want others to see,” according to the District.
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I still don’t like it. 1) If people are throwing out batteries, needles, or broken glass etc, they certainly are going to wrap them up to hide them now. So that argument doesn’t make sense. 2) It’s an invasion of privacy. 100%. 3) It’s one thing to go for a walk and see 100’s of green/black garbage bags on garbage day, but to actually SEE what’s in these bags, is ugly. 4) You’re going to get (and I’m sure this is the main reason for doing this) people/neighbors squealing on other people about what they’re doing wrong. Causing tensions. “OMG, I saw a pop can in my neighbors household garbage”. You’ll probably even see people deliberately looking for infractions. No, this is a bad idea.
We live in a very rural,area. First,y I have about 300 green bags waiting to be used. I put out 1 bag. Per week so that will take awhile to use up. We always have bears about so it is not wise to have. Compost pile either. I think this is ill thought out with not much consideration to rural folks .
Ridiculous. Garbage is private.
All in favour of mass non-compliance say aye.
I can’t believe that this was not discussed with the ppl of Muskoka. So what are ppl supposed to do with there 200 black bags that they just bought?