The answer is clear

Nov 30, 2007

You could say the answer is clear.

A clear garbage bag, that is.

Powassan council is currently considering forcing its residents to toss their refuse into clear bags in an attempt to cut down on trash and increase recycling participation.

It isn’t the first time the issue has come up.

Clear garbage bags were trashed in 2004 after residents made it known — by dropping garbage bags on the municipal lawn — that see-through bags weren’t wanted.

But recyclables also aren’t wanted in the municipal landfill. The municipality likely doesn’t want to foot the estimated $5 million bill for a new landfill that’s partially filled with bottles, cans and other items that could find a better use than being dump-fillers.

And the environment certainly doesn’t want extra pollutants damaging it.

Residents up-in-arms about clear plastic bags are likely concerned about privacy.

Of course, everyone is entitled to privacy, but somehow, what’s showing in your clear garbage bags seems somewhat insubstantial compared to issues of environmental health and municipal dollars.

What do these clear bag opponents want to hide?

Of course, every household tosses personal items they’d rather not have displayed through clear bags.

Councillor Gerry Giesler presented a solution to this at Powassan’s Nov. 21 council meeting.

He suggested that one white kitchen bag or grocery bag be allowed in each larger clear bag to hide any personal items people don’t want the world — or more likely their garbage collector — to see.

And of course, there are personal documents like bills and banking information that should be hidden.

But they shouldn’t be in your trash, either.

Personal papers should be shredded, to prevent you from being the victim of identity theft. The shredded pieces should then be recycled.

Anything that can’t be can be added to that small white bag.

One small bag should more than suffice, in most cases, to hold these items.

One wonders whether those who are dead against clear bags are simply hiding their lack of willingness to comply with recycling programs.

The funny thing is, the lack of privacy clear garbage bags would force on residents is exactly the beauty of their solution.

Recycling is socially encouraged: no one wants to be the guy or gal down the street that’s tossing out a dozen pop bottles in a black bag while their recycling bin is sitting empty in the garage.

But obviously that’s happening because items like bottles are common at the landfill.

If your non-recycling habits are on full display, you might be a bit more inclined to take that extra second and sort those recyclables into your blue bin.

You could call clear bags a check on laziness.

Or just a check on what exactly you’re sending to the landfill.

Whether it be recyclables, things that could be reused or documents that could be disposed of in a more secure manner, seeing your rubbish is an instant reminder of being mindful of what you toss.

Hopefully Powassan doesn’t trash the idea again.

K.G.