With an information brochure distributed to Fort Frances residents with Monday’s Daily Bulletin, and the town aiming to have the system up and running by May 31, most people likely have some thoughts on “bag tags” by now.
But Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown stressed Monday that the new waste management bylaw hasn’t been passed yet, and citizens with concerns should speak up as some of the details of the “bag tag” system still are being hammered out.
“Get it all out in the open now,” he remarked. “Write to the town, talk to your councillors.”
Brown, who gets phone calls hourly regarding “bag tags,” said he’s heard feedback on several aspects of the proposed waste management bylaw and that these still may change prior to its final reading May 25.
One detail is the definition of multi-residential residences when it comes to garbage pickup.
Currently, the bylaw would see multi-residential residences as those with three or more units having all tenants placing their garbage in a shed or bin.
This would be picked up after a collective service agreement is signed with the town, and all fees for service would be paid in advance.
But Brown said this may be redefined to allow for those in multi-residential buildings with more than three units (and possibly up to eight) have the tenants put out their own garbage cans on the curb with “bag tags” like everyone else.
Another possible change is whether or not receptacles (regular-sized garbage bags) will be acceptable for curbside pickup if they’re not inside a Type ‘A’ or Type ‘B’ container.
As the proposed waste management bylaw now stands, all collected waste must be in one of those two containers.
Type ‘A’ containers are common, store-purchased garbage cans, where the can and garbage content combined can’t weigh more than 40 pounds. These cans must be equipped with a tight-fitting lid and lifting handles.
Brown clarified each such garbage can would need a “bag tag,” but within each container could be as many bags of garbage as the resident can fit in it—as long as it remains within the weight restriction.
These need not be regular-sized garbage bags, either—they could be small plastic bags like those groceries are packed in at Safeway.
The single “bag tag” per can should be attached to the garbage in a manner so it is clearly visible to the garbage collector at time of pickup.
Type ‘B’ containers are homemade bins that some residents have in their alleys.
But unlike now, where some of the users of these Type ‘B’ containers fill them with numerous small bags of garbage, they’ll be required to put all refuse into large garbage bags, which, in turn, are to be individually tagged and put into the homemade bin.
There’s no limit on how many plastic garbage bags the resident can put into the homemade bin—as long as each bag is tagged, weighs no more than 40 pounds, has no more than a 120-litre capacity, and is securely tied in such a way to allow a garbage collector to carry it in one hand.
But Brown noted during a brief tour of the northeast part of town Monday that a fair share of residents do not use containers and simply put out bags.
While concerned that garbage bags without a container are fair game for birds and other animals, and thus pose a potential mess to clean up, Brown said if enough people speak up about not having to use containers for their receptacles before the bylaw is passed, they could get their way.
Brown added he’s also heard concerns from small businesses about having to put their garbage in a commercial bin as well as have service agreements to see it picked up.
But he suggested if small businesses find it too costly, they should get a communal bin and share it along with the cost.
Brown noted two public meetings—one at 2 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m.—will be held May 18 at the Civic Centre.
At these meetings, the public will receive first-hand knowledge on the new user fees and waste management system, as well as have an opportunity to provide feedback on “bag tags” and the new waste management system in general.
Then on May 25, a special meeting of council will be scheduled for a reading of the new waste management bylaw, at which time any adjustments will be made (if deemed necessary) as a result of public feedback from the two meetings.
Once any adjustments are made, a third and final reading will be made. The “bag tag” system then will take effect May 31.
Starting next week, five introductory “bag tags” will be mailed to property owners (the property owner will be responsible to distribute them to any tenants).
After that, “bag tags” will be sold for $1 each. They’ll be available at the Fort Frances Public Library, Memorial Sports Centre, and Civic Centre at first, with other locations possibly to follow.
Local businesses will be asked if they’d be willing to sell tags in the future, said Brown. Safeway already has expressed interest in doing so at no cost to the town.
If the “bag tag” system goes ahead as detailed above (five introductory tags and $1/bag thereafter), it is expected to bring in $120,140 in revenue in 2004.
The total cost to operate the waste management system in Fort Frances in 2004 is expected to be $203,761 (which includes operation of the landfill site, collection of waste, and recycling services).
The balance of $83,044 is subsidized through taxes.
In 2005 and beyond, however, the “bag tag” system is expected to generate about $252,000 in revenue, which not only should fund garbage pickup and other aspects of the waste management system, but leave some funds to expand what the town can do with waste, such as a community compost site.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
