Why change from black bags to clear bags?
The Municipality of the County of Antigonish, along with several other municipalities in the area have decided to implement a clear bag program for regular garbage in order to maximize recycling and composting and minimize the disposal of waste in landfills. Since the release of the Province's Solid Waste Management Strategy in 1996, programs have developed to capture resources from what was previously seen as waste. Food cans, beverage containers, glass jars, plastics, used paint, old tires, newspapers and food waste are all examples of such items. By capturing these materials we are able to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills. The Province achieved the goal of diverting 50% of the material from landfills by 2000, however since then there has been little change in overall waste diversion and in many cases the percentage has decreased. As the December 31, 2005 deadline for the implementation of second generation landfills nears, the costs associated with the disposal of regular garbage will increase. In order to maximize recycling and composting and minimize waste and disposal fees for regular garbage, the county is implementing the clear bag program.

What are second generation landfills?
The new provincial disposal standards to be implemented on December 31st, 2005 require Nova Scotians to use second generation landfills for the disposal of solid waste. Second generation landfills will be required to have in place plastic and soil liners and a piping systems to collect leachate for proper disposal at treatment facilities. Leachate is a liquid containing toxins produced within solid waste facilities as a result of water seeping through various organic materials that improperly decomposed. Leachate collects contaminated particles from the landfill material and can pollute neighbouring soil and water resources if it escapes from the landfill site.

Does Antigonish County have a second generation landfill site?
No, as of December 31st, 2005, the Municipality of County of Antigonish will be shipping all of it's solid waste to the waste disposal facility in Guysborough. The regions only second generation landfill will receive waste from Municipal units in Northern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.

What are the costs associate with disposing of waste in second generation landfills?
Currently disposing of a tonne of waste at the Beech Hill facility is $40, as a result of the stricter environmental standards and increased technology, tipping fees and the costs associated with the disposal of regular waste will increase to roughly $65 dollars a tonne.

What is the Clear Bag Program?
As of September 2005 all items now disposed of in Green/Black/Orange bags will have to be placed in clear bags. The recycling program will continue under the same guidelines as the 2 blue bag recycling system (paper and containers) that is currently in place today, however garbage will be collected in clear garbage bags. The initial voluntary participation phase will allow residents to receive continual assistance and education based on their participation in the program. Haulers will leave notices indicating which items are properly being sorted and which ones are not. Residents are encourage to take advantage of the voluntary participation phase prior to the full compliance deadline in November, as it will help to clarify any questions or uncertainties that residents may have with the program.

What about my privacy?
Garbage collected in clear bags will allow for one solid color bag no larger than 20" by 22" (i.e. kitchen catcher size or grocery bag), that may contain bathroom waste and health related items that residents do not wish to be visible. All other waste must be visible within the clear bag.

What if I use solid colored bags under my sink (ie grocery bags), can I tie them up and throw them in?
No, residents can either use clear kitchen catcher bags and place them directly into the large clear bag when they are full or continue using solid colored bags as kitchen catcher and dump the material into clear bags before throwing the solid bag in afterward.

What happens if I don't participate?
On November 1st, 2005 solid color garbage bags will no longer be collected. Those who continue to use solid colored bags will have their bag (s) left at the curb to be emptied into a clear bag for the next collection. Clear garbage bags that contain recyclables, food waste that can be backyard composted or other provincially banned materials will also be left at the curb to be resorted for the next collection day. Bag(s) left at the curb will have a sticker indicating the reason why it has been left behind.