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Information Regarding the Possible Elimination of Plastic Bags as an
 Approved Recycling Container
 

Current program:

  • Plastic bags may be used to contain recyclables, but are discouraged

  • Plastic bags include reused retail bags, and clear or blue large bags sold by retailers for containing recyclables

  • The larger Blue Box was distributed for the 'containers' stream for a greater Blue Box capacity with the hopes of heavily decreasing plastic bag use for recyclables

Potential Program:

  • No plastic bags allowed

  • All recyclables to be placed in Blue Boxes

  • Plastic bags may be used to contain shredded paper only

Set-out with bags

Set-out without bags

Reasons to keep plastic bags:

  • Greater choice & convenience

 

Reasons to eliminate plastic bags:

  • Saves money

  • Operation benefits

  • Promotes Zero Waste

More information

The following information is from the Report: Potential Changes to the Blue Box Recycling Program, presented to the May 3, 2011 meeting of the Community and Neighbourhoods Committee.

Eliminating Plastic Bags as an Approved Recycling Container

Background
Residents are allowed a number of options for containing their Blue Box recyclables at the curb. They can use Blue Boxes, grocery bags (newspapers only), clear bags and translucent Blue Bags. Curbside audits were conducted in 2007 and 2010 and determined that over 85% of London households are using their Blue Boxes.

The Blue Box is the most popular container but a significant portion of Londoners use a grocery bag or Program Bag for containing recyclables. A summary of advantages of either eliminating (except for shredded paper) or keeping the use of plastic bags is listed in Table 1.
 

TABLE 1: Advantages of Eliminating Plastic Bags as a Collection Container


Advantages of Eliminating Plastic Bags as a Collection Container (except for shredded paper)
 
Saves money ($250,000 to $400,000 per year) Miller Waste Systems submitted processing costs based on different program options including with and without plastic bags being permitted in the Blue Box recycling program. If plastic bags are removed, there will be a cost reduction of approximately $6 to $8 per tonne associated the elimination of opening plastic bags at the MRF.
Collection operators are unable to remove contamination or sort recyclables into two streams when residents using plastic bags make a mistake. This increases contamination and results in increased processing costs. . If plastic bags are removed, it is estimated there will be a further cost reduction of approximately $4 to $8 per tonne associated with less contamination and cross-contamination in the material needing to be processed.
Overall, there will be a $10 to $16 per tonne ($250,000 to $400,000) reduction in processing costs.
Provides operational benefits at the new Regional MRF Plastic bags can cause operational problems at MRFs including damage to recycling equipment and contamination of other materials. Damage is caused by the plastic bags wrapping around moving pieces in the conveyors, screens and processing equipment.
More consistent with other municipalities Many municipalities have phased out the use of plastic bags as curbside containers in recycling systems or restrict the use:
  • 3 of 6 municipalities with a population of over 200,000 and using a two-stream MRF do not allow any type of plastic bag
  • 5 of 8 municipalities in southwestern Ontario and potential customers of the regional MRF do not allow any type of plastic bag
Promotes zero waste Reducing the use of plastic bags is consistent with London's Zero Waste initiatives and with the larger goal to reduce plastic bag use.


Summary
There are significant advantages for eliminating the use of plastic bags to collect recyclables except for shredded paper. Advantages of no plastic bags are: annual cost savings, improved sorting and quality of recyclables, reduced waste by reduced plastic use and consistency with the majority of comparable municipalities.

There are also very important advantages to keeping the program as is which include choice and convenience for residents and litter control. For some households, plastic bags are an important part of the recycling system.

The full report may be found at the link below (report presented to the Community and Neighbourhoods Committee on May 3, 2011, pages 45- 60 of 208):

http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/meetings/CNC%20Agendas/2011-05-03%20Agenda/MeetingPackages.htm