Three bags full?

Aurora council is contemplating bringing in a garbage bag tag program, allowing residents to put out more garbage, but for a fee.

The town allows a maximum of three bags per household every other week.

Before the green bin and recycling were added, houses had a three bag limit each week.

Before introducing a bag tag program, staff should investigate if three bags is enough, Councillor Evelina MacEachern said.

“Are people generating four bags? Speak to Turtle Island so we can implement a fair policy,” she said in a phone interview yesterday.

Turtle Island is Aurora’s garbage pick-up contractor.

People have been calling the town saying they want a bag tag program similar to other municipalities.

During peak cleaning periods such as spring, residents have asked the town for exceptions to the current policy.

The proposed program would sell bag tags to residents at $2 each or eleven for $20.

The program recommends a 13 bag limit every other week, including the three free bags.

A report on the  garbage bag tag program will come back to council in spring 2009, giving people a chance to get used to the introduction of green bins, Ms MacEachern said.