Can you have a significant or any impact on garbage production through household curbside controls such as clear garbage bags – a question worth some factual consideration.
The most widely cited reasons for clear bags are:
- Restriction of recyclables from the garbage stream,
- Restriction of organics from the garbage stream,
- Restriction of hazardous waste from the garbage stream
- Safety of collection and other staff in the handling of garbage.
American environmental activist Al Gore coined the phrase “An inconvenient truth” referring to the very real environmental threats we are facing on a global scale. Garbage is an inconvenient truth and we in Canada produce a staggering amount of waste per year. We are amongst the world’s highest garbage producers per capita. Producing 720 kg of garbage per capita per year. An average household of four produces more than three tonnes of garbage per year. There is no debate, we produce too much garbage.
But how much influence does that same household have over the garbage they produce? Did you know; according to Canadian Geographic that only about one third of the deposits into a typical Canadian landfill are household garbage. The vast majority of deposits to our landfills are from industrial and private contractor garbage collectors who have a track record of less than 13% diversion of recyclable, green or hazardous waste. We all know, (just google it) most recycling programs are barely successful in diverting recyclables from landfill. Again a quick google search reveals on Canada.ca – we recycle about 9% of what goes into our bluebox for a variety of reasons. Tracking of recyclables has demonstrated shipping to third world countries and China as well as to incineration sites across North America. It is widely accepted that recycling in our current system is green-washing in the highest form, that is well beyond the control of any householder.
It is commonly acknowledged that over packaging is the single most significant contributor to excess waste. Did you know forty percent of all plastic waste is from packaging. According to supplychain.edf.org, 91% of packaging ends up in landfill as not recyclable for a variety of reasons. Can an average householder reduce consumption to reduce environmental impact – yes but how reasonable is this strategy. I think – not very. Recently I purchased tomatoes on a styro-foam tray wrapped in plastic and I received an amazon delivery of a product in a box 10 times the size of the product shipped, surrounded by an inflated plastic bubble wrap sheet protectant; Both products I needed. Consumer behaviour is unlikely to impact the very real issue of over-packaging. It requires government regulation and control which the government has been slow to act on in Canada. I think the famous folk singer Pete Seeger had it right: “If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, re-designed or removed from production.” Only our governments can make that happen.
Green bins work! They work by diverting tonnage to a re-usable composting program and they prevent the production of methane and other off gas production that contributes to greenhouse impacts. There is no good reason to not compost or participate in green bin strategies. But do they significantly reduce the consumption of landfill capacity? This is an incredibly difficult question to answer as no auditing of material entering landfill is undertaken on any useful scale. We know only about 30% of total waste to a landfill is household, what percentage of that is green bin eligible? A study completed by the Government of Canada estimates about 28% of total household waste is food waste.But it is not known how the household deals with their compostable waste. Even at 100% participation in green bin programs it is only slightly more than one quarter of total household waste production Remember this is only 28% of the 30% of waste contributed to landfill by households and the remaining 70% enters landfill largely unfiltered. Green bin diversion is important but not significant when compared to other materials headed to landfill that are out of a householder’s control.
Some time ago I travelled to Bracebridge to drop off a collection of Hazardous waste. I arrived to find the site closed that day despite information on the website suggesting it was open. I brought the waste home where it sat in my garage until a neighbour took it south for me. The experience prompted me to write a letter to our Mayor Alcock asking why Hazardous waste collection is not available broadly across the district on an equal accessibility principle. I suggested it would reduce unwanted hazards entering the landfill and limit curbside exposure to staff. I expected the typical “Thanks for your letter, we will take it under advisement” response. Regrettably I received no answer, zero, nadda. The fact that the majority of the District has only periodic hazardous waste drop off available makes any position the District or the Town of Huntsville takes on reducing hazardous waste entering landfill seem hollow and disingenuous. I know household waste contains batteries, fluorescent bulbs and other easily disposable hazards. People have told me when I repeated my story and concerns with them. Until the District takes seriously the need for ease of use access to manage hazardous waste it will continue to be bagged at curbside neatly hidden in the opaque bags that will be permissible for privacy reasons, or worse, disposed of under secrecy in ways no one wants. Expecting people to store volatile chemicals, petroleum products, fluorescent tubes and the like for months on end is simply an unacceptable position.
Safety of all concerned is an important consideration in any waste management system. The implementation of clear bags is cited as a staff safety enhancement. But what about “client” safety. Yes “client” remember we have paid for the service of garbage collection through our taxes. What to do with a rejected bag for some infraction, is the client to root through the bag looking for the offending item? Sifting through garbage that has been sitting for up to two weeks waiting for collection. Earlier I mentioned the storage of hazardous materials in homes across the District. Many of these are volatile, flammable and pose dangerous respiratory threats. Yet this real safety concern remains unaddressed in the clear bag strategy.If the District is concerned about safety then present a safety enhancement strategy that considers everyone in the chain of control of our waste. A quick google search found the following:
To minimise risks, fire marshals typically recommend the following practices:
1. Minimise Storage
Limit Quantities: Keep only small amounts of necessary hazardous materials and avoid stockpiling.
Purchase as Needed: Buy only what you need for immediate use to avoid storing excess materials.
2. Proper Storage
Approved Containers: Store hazardous materials in their original containers or approved, clearly labeled containers designed for such substances.
Ventilation: Ensure that storage areas are well-ventilated to prevent the buildup of fumes.
Cool, Dry Place: Store materials in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources to prevent deterioration and spontaneous ignition.
3. Segregation
Separate Storage: Keep incompatible materials separate to prevent dangerous chemical reactions. For example, store acids and bases apart from each other.
Safety Cabinets: Use dedicated, fire-resistant safety cabinets for storing flammable and hazardous materials.
4. Disposal
Proper Disposal: Dispose of hazardous materials according to local regulations. Many communities offer hazardous waste collection services or designated drop-off points.
Avoid Drains and Trash: Never dispose of hazardous materials down the drain or in regular trash, as this can cause environmental damage and pose risks to waste management workers.
5. Emergency Preparedness
Fire Extinguishers: Keep appropriate fire extinguishers readily accessible in areas where hazardous materials are stored.
Safety Equipment: Have personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, and masks available when handling hazardous materials.
Emergency Plans: Develop and practise an emergency response plan in case of a spill, fire, or other incident involving hazardous materials.
I ask – how likely is the above in the average household? I say let the professional handle our hazardous waste promptly, safely and effectively.
It seems to me that what is missing in all of this is a comprehensive waste management plan with a long term vision addressing waste reduction and management across all producers and handlers of garbage. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we knew the plan for waste management 10, 15, or even 20 years out. We know zero waste creation is the holy grail but very unrealistic. Continued reliance on Landfill sites is a fool’s errand and alternatives such as incineration take investments often prohibitive and they take time to bring on line. I want to be a partner with our governments in addressing waste management, not the recipient of a blaming strategy aimed at the householder who has limited capacity to impact the quantity of waste they produce.
While consumers can play a crucial role in waste reduction, relying solely on them through curbside collection restrictions is unlikely to be effective in moving our community waste management strategies forward. Focusing on household waste through clear garbage bags distracts from larger, systemic issues related to waste generation, another form of greenwashing. Clear garbage bags, while intended to promote better waste management, place disproportionate blame on householders for waste production. They focus attention on individual behaviour without addressing broader systemic issues, such as product packaging and a failing waste management infrastructure. Let’s have a real genuine conversation about realistic strategies that will have lasting significant impact on our waste management.
Martin Rutledge,
Huntsville, ON.
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three questions?
1. How many civil servants have been hired in the last 9 years and what would they be doing?
2. That environmental fee Canadians are charged on every bill, for purchased products, where is that going and what was that for again?
3. In the analysis of ‘this clear garbage strategy’ motion, has it completed a ‘climate footprint evaluation’ incurred by individual household’s storage, packaging and transport of hazardous waste to a distant depot with restricted hours?
(Note: 104 municipalities do regular garbage bags of which this district is one)
I totally agree with the above. I think you may find garbage dumped on side roads if it won’t be picked up due to some offense. Everything is overpackaged, I thought we used 10% of recycle but I will agree with the 9%. Why are we recycling???? If nothing is being done with it. We need to build a big incinerator to dispose of our garbage. That would make the most sense not getting busy sanitation workers sorting through my garbage bags. Ridiculous.
Great discussion. On HHW I recently discovered Green battery bins for small disposable batteries located at Huntsville Town Hall, Savesca ride to Madill,