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Will there be an exemption to using clear bags? (ie. medical reasons)
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There is no exemption in place or planned for the use of clear bags for garbage.
Can I put my white kitchen catchers inside a clear bag?
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Non-see through bags inside a clear bag is only acceptable as your one privacy bag per week.
For clear bags, if smaller bags are put inside a larger bag, all the bags must be clear.
This includes kitchen and bathroom waste bins: if you remove kitchen catchers or small bags from bathroom bins to put it in a larger clear bag, the kitchen-catchers and small bags must also be clear – unless it is your one privacy bag per week.
If you do not use clear bags in kitchen or bathroom bins, those can be combined as your one privacy bag per week or you can dump the contents of the small bins into a clear bag.
If I don’t use – or can’t find – clear bags for garbage, will you collect my waste?
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We anticipate some residents may need a period of adjustment to get used to buying and using clear bags for garbage.
We aim to take a ‘soft’ approach to give everyone time to purchase and start using clear bags for garbage.
At some point, the City will transition to a ‘hard’ launch where your garbage will not be collected if we identify clear bags are not being used. The City will give notice as to when the hard launch will start.
I have clear bags but the package says they are recycling (or yard waste) bags – can I use them for garbage?
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The colour of the bag is important, not what the package the bags came in says.
Beginning in January 2022 waste put at the curb each week in St. John’s must be in:
Clear bags (colourless, see-through) for garbage: up to 4 regular size bags (3 with privacy bag)
Opaque bag (not see-through) for privacy garbage: maximum 1 regular size bag
Blue bags (blue see-through) for recycling: unlimited number
Paper yard waste bags for yard waste: unlimited number
I have lots of black (white, green, etc) garbage bags as I buy in bulk – what do I do with these bags now?
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When clear bags for garbage begins in January 2022, up to one ‘privacy’ bag per week is allowed at the curb (or in the garbage cart).
You can continue to use your black (white, green, not see through) bags as your one privacy bag per week.
What do I do with bottle caps?
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Bottle caps can be left on the container and placed in your blue bag. Recycling technologies have improved and keeping the lid on is no longer an issue. Essentially, the two components are separated naturally in a process referred to as a water bath. The bottles float and the caps sink, making it easy to separate the two materials.
On the other hand, removing the caps can cause them to be improperly sorted early on in the recycling process. Because of their small size, individual caps are often sorted into piles of landfill-bound waste.
What is the cost for a replacement cart?
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- The cart replacement cost is $65.00.
- If cart delivery is required, there is an addtional delivery fee of $25.00.
What do I do if someone else’s cart is on my property?
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- If the address is on the cart you can return it to the property it belongs to.
- If there is no address on the cart you can write down the serial number (it begins with “2SG”) of the cart and call 311 to report it. A staff member will get in touch with you.
Why do I need to write my address on the cart?
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- All the carts look the same, having the address on the cart will make it easy for you, your neighbour and city staff to find and/or return the cart to the owner.
- Don’t forget to periodically update your address on your cart because it can wear away in the weather.
Will I receive a cart for my recyclables?
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- You will not receive a cart for your recycling.
- Your blue bags of recyclables will continue to be collected manually.
- Your blue bags must be placed to the curb by your cart spaced a minimum of 1 metre from the cart.
- If you already have a bin and want to use your current bin for recycling, we will provide a decal to place on the bin. To request a decal email curbit@stjohns.ca or call 311.