Nov 20, 2008 - 10:51 AM

By Reka Szekely

DURHAM -- Despite opposition from the mayor of Pickering, the Region is moving forward with a clear garbage bag pilot project in Pickering and Courtice.

A route of about 750 homes will be selected in each community and the program will start in January. Durham wants to see if the clear bags will increase the use of green bins and blue boxes by those people still tossing kitchen waste and recyclables into the garbage.

The pilot runs for three months and, in the last stage, bags with blue and green bin material in them will be left at the curb and not picked up.

Council approved the project in a 22-6 vote. Among those voting for it were the councillors representing the two wards where the project will be piloted, Pickering Councillor Bonnie Littley and Clarington Coun. Mary Novak.

The communities were picked because they're homogeneous with single-detached houses and no highrises, commercial or industrial properties, said Durham works commissioner Cliff Curtis.

Coun. Novak said she believes it makes the issue of sorting through waste more visible and some people learn that way.

"I also believe it worked in other communities and this is the opportunity to collect the data we need to find out if it works in our community," said Coun. Novak following the meeting.

If it does work, the program could be rolled out throughout Durham in 2010.

While supporting the project, Coun. Littley did question its timing. She doesn't think December is the best time to be conducting a public education campaign. As well, she wanted a tolerance level included in the project so that small amounts of recyclables or kitchen waste wouldn't mean the bag gets left behind.

"If someone accidentally scrapes a plate, do you have to chase the peas and corn to the bottom of the bag," she asked.

But, overall, Coun. Littley said she thinks people need to realize they're responsible for their own ecological footprint and the waste they create.

"You can't sit there and say you advocate for waste diversion and not be willing to try a pilot project."

However, Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan and Pickering Regional Coun. Bill McLean were among those who disagreed. Both said they supported recycling and reducing waste, but voted against the clear bag program. All of Clarington's councillors supported the pilot.

"Quite frankly I see the clear bag project as nothing more than a placebo project," said Mayor Ryan.

He said he wants the focus to be on expanding the blue box program, including plastic clam shell takeout containers and pickup for household hazardous waste.

"I wish we would put as much energy into diverting waste as we do into programs that look like they're diverting waste," said the mayor.

The Region's works commissioner, as he's repeatedly said in the past, told council he didn't want to add material to the blue box until he was sure there was a stable market for it and it wasn't ending up in landfill or shipped to China. Mr. Curtis said the Region would get more bang for its buck by getting materials it currently accepts out of the garbage and into the blue bin as opposed to adding new items.

At next week's works committee meeting, Mr. Curtis will present a plan to communicate with the public about the upcoming project. Councillors Novak and Littley said they'll join Region staff in educating their residents about the program.

"I ask everyone to be patient, the Region's going to go door to door and explain everything to you and we will provide the plastic bags," said Coun. Novak.