Renee Recoskie, director of waste management and environmental services for the District of Muskoka, has addressed concerns residents have brought up about the district’s new clear bag policy.
During the July 17 Engineering and Public Works Committee meeting, the policy was approved with a tentative launch date of March 3, 2025. However, the decision needs to be confirmed during the Aug. 8 district council meeting.
At the committee meeting, Recoskie pointed out two plastic grocery bag sized, opaque bags will be included for items that someone may not want to put in a clear bag. She added that residents will be allowed to put clear bags in containers, like some already do with opaque bags.
Recoskie explained the change is safer for whoever is picking up the garbage, pointing out how hazards like broken glass or needles can be easily identified.
“Clear bags prompt people to reflect on their waste disposal habits and encourage them to consider waste diversion options,” added Recoskie. “Clear bags can assist with enforcing municipal material disposal bans by allowing waste collectors to monitor for compliance and reject any bags containing banned items.”
She added the many of the concerns that have been brought up have also been discussed by other municipalities who recently started clear bag programs.
Recoskie detailed how Orillia, Peterborough, Cornwall, and Markham have successfully implemented clear bag programs and saw their waste diversion rates improve. Notably, she pointed out how Peterborough’s rate jumped to 76 percent, an improvement of 26 percent from when the program started in Oct. 2023.
She added that over 40 other municipalities in Ontario are running some form of a clear bag policy.
Recoskie outlined how the hope is for the policy to go into effect in 2025, but the district will remind residents at least six months before the transition. “We’re trying to pick that sweet spot as best we can with the data we have,” said Recoskie.
She added the tentative launch date for the clear bag program is March 3, 2025.
Since many residents may have leftover opaque bags, she added they will continue to accept them until Jan. 1, 2026.
The switch to clear bags is part of a grander waste management plan, which includes 10 service level changes. The change in what type of bags will be accepted is part of the third stage with phases following it including the expansion of the district’s curbside organics program and hiring a collection and diversion specialist.
Recoskie told the MyMuskokaNow.com newsroom in April 2024 that the district’s waste diversion rate reached 37 percent by the end of 2023, adding around 15 percent of what residents throw out could be recycled or dropped in a green bin.
The district’s waste diversion target is 60 percent.
