This
is the last time we will see piles of garbage such as this along the
roadside in The City of Greater Sudbury. Beginning May 1, each household
will be limited to a maximum of four (4) waste containers or bags per
week. The move has been initiated in an attempt to save valuable
landfill space by promoting recycling and waste diversion in our
community.
Your four container limit can be four garbage pails which weigh up to
25 kg each (50 pound containers) or four large garbage bags no higher
than 125 cm and once again within the 25 kg limit, or any combination of
bags and containers. But, the City workers will only pick up four at any
one stop. Put out five and you will still have one left at the end of
the day. Remember that eight "small" bags will not equal four
"large" bags. Four containers is all you are allowed.
The City has decided not to issue charges to residents who leave out
more than four bags. Instead, they decided to just leave them by the
roadside. You will then have to store the bag until the following week
or bring it to the landfill site yourself.
The region will also be picking up leaf and yard waste for two weeks
in the Spring and two weeks in the Fall. The Valley East pick up will be
done the week of May 21 and again the week of June 11. So if you are
working out in your yard, be sure to make note of those two weeks. The
City will be picking up leaves, grass clippings, twigs, branches, garden
clippings, hedge and brush trimmings and other plant materials. You are
asked to have your material placed at the roadside by 6:00 a.m. on
Monday May 21 or Monday June 11. The collection crews will begin their
routes on Monday morning and will complete our area by the end of the
collection week. The actual collection may or may not take place on your
regular garbage day. You are also reminded to bundle up your material so
that each bundle is tied securely, no longer than 1.2 metres in length
and no more than 25 kg in weight. Place your material in clear plastic
bags or compostable paper bags. There is no limit to the amount of
material that will be picked up.
Valley East residents will also note a change in the "Clean Up
Week" policy. There won’t be one this year! Instead, you will be
able to have your bulky items picked up all year long. When you have
completed your annual cleaning up around the house, call 673-BLUE or
673-2583 to advise the collection crews for pickup. You will be asked to
identify the items you wish to have picked up and informed which of the
items qualify. Bulky items include such things as stoves, washers,
dryers, furniture, etc. Some of the items which do not qualify for
pickup can then be taken to the landfill site on Gravel drive. When you
call about the bulky items pickup, you will be told which day to leave
the items by the roadside.
The key word today is "waste reduction". It is something
that we must all be aware of if we are going to live in harmony with our
environment in the future. To accomplish this goal, we must all change
our lifestyle and make recycling and reduction a part of everything we
do. Avoid disposable items, buy in bulk, opt for minimal packaging in
products and use reusable bags and containers for a start. The four-bag
limit will perhaps get people thinking about recycling. It is estimated
that a large percentage of household waste can be recycled. If you need
more than one blue box, call 673-2583 and you will receive a second one.
The time for waste reduction is now. Let’s all get on board!
