Cornwall’s upcoming waste management changes, set to begin January 1, 2025, bring both promise and controversy. With the launch of acurbside organics program and a mandate for clear garbage bags, the city is aiming to reduce landfill contributions by 50%. The green bin initiative is widely celebrated as an overdue and essential step towards a more sustainable Cornwall. But it’s the clear bag requirement that has stirred up vocal opposition, with residents questioning the need for these changes, particularly when a prior city survey reportedly showed significant opposition to clear bags.
The green bins are a practical and welcome addition, promising to divert organic waste and reduce methane emissions. Residents now have a straightforward way to dispose of food scraps, yard waste, andcompostable paper products—an effort that echoes a trend in neighbouring communities. Citizens see these bins as a natural progression, an essential tool to help Cornwall fulfill its responsibility to meet provincial waste diversion goals and extend the life of our landfill.
Clear bags, however, bring concerns. Many residents feel the policy disregards their privacy, raises costs, and burdens those who purchasedopaque bags in bulk, hedging against inflation. The city’s decision toimplement the clear bag mandate, despite a 74% majority opposition in a prior survey, raises questions about why feedback was solicited if it seemingly had no impact on the outcome. It is reasonable to ask: how much weight does public input carry when decisions appear predetermined?
It appears some members of Cornwall’s City Council hold the view that leadership entails making decisions they believe to be in the bestinterest of the community, even if it means moving forward against the tide of public opinion. Therefore, effective governance sometimes requires difficult choices to meet long-term goals, even if those choices are initially unpopular with residents.
Despite the criticisms, clear bags do offer benefits that address public and environmental safety. They provide collection staff with a way to monitor waste compliance without the costs associated with enforcingrecycling and composting guidelines through inspections. With clear bags, non-recyclable and hazardous items are more easily spotted, enhancing worker safety and accountability in sorting efforts. It’s an efficient, if not entirely popular, solution to a growing problem.
To address concerns about privacy, the city will allow each household one small opaque bag within the clear bag for personal items, andresidents can also place the clear bags in garbage bins. This middle ground respects personal privacy while maintaining the visibility that helps ensure waste reduction goals are met. Perhaps the city could consider going a step further, allowing citizens to trade in their opaque bags for clear bags – admittedly this would come at a cost.
In response to the strong public sentiment, the city might also consider distributing bins specifically for holding the clear bags – although, once again, this would come at a cost. This could offer an added layer of privacy and make compliance easier for households with concerns.Another potential step could be to allow a longer transition period, extending the soft launch to give residents time to use up existing opaque bags, a simple gesture to ease the financial strain of the shift.
Ultimately, it’s clear (pun intended) that residents want their voices tobe valued in decisions that impact their daily lives. The recent social media discussions about the waste management changes indicate that people are engaged and deeply invested in the city’s path toward sustainability. Cornwall’s future in waste management is undoubtedly evolving, and as these programs roll out, we can hope that the city continues to fine-tune its approach, listening closely to the concerns of those it serves.
