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Sep 18, 2009 5:47 pm US/Central
Before You Rake: Metro Bans Non-Compostable Bags
(WCCO)
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If you don't have bio-degradable bags there is another option; you can bring the old bags to yard waste sites, but after you dump out the yard waste, you must take the bags with you.
CBS
Fall is almost here, which means raking and getting rid of leaves will be on to-do lists of many people. But if you live in the metro, the usual fall chore of bagging up yard waste will be different soon.
Starting Jan. 1, 2010, the old black plastic bags are banned at yard waste sites and for pick-up. Minnesota passed a new law banning non-compostable bags for yard waste.
"The black plastic bags are a nuisance at yard waste sites. Someone has to take the bags away from the compost, the yard waste, the leaves and grass -- so it's very labor intensive on that end," said Dan Ruiz, Recycling Manager of Brooklyn Park.
Everyone in the metro area, except those living in Minneapolis, will be required to "go green" with bio-degradable bags. You can find them at most lawn and garden centers, but they do cost about 50 to 75 percent more.
Not all white bags are OK to use. They should have a U.S. composting council seal. If you don't have bio-degradable bags there is another option; you can bring the old bags to yard waste sites, but after you dump out the yard waste, you must take the bags with you.
That's just what Chris Whiteside has been doing since his garbage hauler required the compostable bags.
"For the cost of it, it's just as cheap to come up here and dump them myself," he said.
City governments are trying to get the word out, since they don't want people literally left holding the bag.
"After Jan. 1, 2010, haulers will not pick up the black plastic bags and then you're stuck with the bags at your curb and you have to re-bag and it's a burden," said Ruiz.
The old non-compostable bags will still be allowed in the city of Minneapolis until 2013.
The city is working on a bagless cart system for yard waste.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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