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Why is it important to participate in the City's yard waste collection program?

The City has set the challenging goal of 70% waste diversion from landfill. Each of us must do our part and make the most of our city programs. The more yard waste you deal with at home or put out for city collection and composting, the closer we'll be to achieving this target. Every little bit helps. Why fill up landfill space with such valuable resources? That would truly be a waste!

Did you know that much of the compost the City produces from our leaves and yard waste is offered back to you for free each year at various locations around the city from May to October? You can also get free compost at your local Environment Day (held yearly from April to September)

What kind of containers can I use for my leaf and yard waste material?

You can use either rigid, open-topped containers (a reusable container, without a lid, such as an extra garbage can, bushel baskets, one of the City's previously issued green plastic yard waste containers or kraft paper bags to put your yard waste out for curbside collection.

Please remember, to put out only your left-overs for curbside collection and City composting. You can benefit your lawn and garden by backyard composting or using these materials as mulch in your garden and around the base of trees and shrubs. More information is available in the publications section of our web site.

What are the benefits of using kraft paper bags?

Kraft bags hold a sizeable amount of material - the same amount as the premium-priced clear plastic leaf and yard waste bags you may have used in the past. Here's another plus: kraft bags won't puncture from twigs easily. Another benefit is that kraft bags are easy to use because they stay open when you're filling them with leaves/yard waste (they stand up and open without collapsing). Remember, kraft paper bags break down and become compost too!

Will kraft bags "stand up" up to rainy wet weather conditions?

Yes, prior to making the switch city-wide, kraft bags were tested and found to be fine during rainy conditions thanks to the bags' protective wet-strength coating that resists water absorption (and they're still compostable along with your yard waste).

How well do the bags stand up during wet snowy weather conditions?

While kraft paper bags can be used in the winter, we ask you to not leave your full bags out by the street for periods of time during wet snowy conditions because the bags stick to the ground and are liable to rip apart when crews try moving them to the collection trucks. Better to not overpack each bag, keep them in a dry place, and set them out early on the morning of your collection day.

During the winter, the City prefers you do not use rigid, open-top containers (i.e., an old garbage can) because the yard waste tends to freeze inside the container. Collection crews can't empty the container without resorting to banging the can to loosen the material. This could potentially damage your container, something we'd like to avoid. Your cooperation is very much appreciated.

Where can I purchase kraft bags?

The City does not produce kraft paper bags; they are manufactured by private industry just as plastic bags are. To help introduce Toronto residents to these bags, the City did arrange for a manufacturer to supply a specified number of kraft paper bags for free distribution at Councillor hosted Community Environment Days held April to September 2001. Otherwise, residents wishing to use kraft bags instead of reusable containers, can purchase them just as they did the clear plastic bags.

Most major hardware store chains, garden centres and some grocery stores carry the type of kraft bags suitable for leaf and yard waste collection. To the best of our knowledge at this time, such retail outlets include: Home Depot, Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, We all and Cullen, National Grocers affiliates, and Loblaws. It is the individual store managers who are responsible for stocking their products, kraft bags may not always be available at all locations.

How much do the bags cost?

To the best of our knowledge, the regular retail price for these kraft bags is five bags for approximately $2.99 or about 60 cents each. However, just like any other product, bags are sometimes for sale at lower prices.

Are kraft bags reliable? Has anyone tested them?

Yes, kraft bags have been proven to work well. Other Ontario municipalities, such as Ottawa, Peterborough and Kitchener-Waterloo also collect leaves and yard waste in kraft paper bags.

Some years prior to the switch from clear plastic bags to kraft paper yard waste bags, the City of Toronto conducted research to evaluate the feasibility of collecting leaf and yard waste in kraft paper bags. Two pilot projects were conducted to test the collection of leaf and yard waste in kraft bags -- one pilot, done in 1996, involved 1,500 households in selected Etobicoke neighbourhoods, the other, done in 1998, involved 3,000 households in certain sections of the Toronto community. Both pilots produced successful results. Residents were pleased with the bags, as were the collection crews. The bags also responded well to wet weather conditions.

Why did the City of Toronto change its policy in March 2001?

The City made this policy change because of operational problems caused by plastic bags at the composting stage of the process. Effective March 1, 2001, the City of Toronto decided to no longer collect leaf and yard waste material in clear plastic bags. This material will only be collected in kraft paper bags specifically designed for leaf and yard waste, or in rigid open-top containers. This policy applies across the City of Toronto, comprised of the communities of North York, York, Etobicoke, Scarborough, East York and Toronto.

What kind of problems did the plastic bags cause?

The City determined that eliminating plastic bags improves the quality of Toronto's compost and reduces the amount of waste requiring landfill disposal. Kraft bags decompose with the compost, whereas plastic bags don't break down and must be landfilled. The City had tried various ways to separate the plastic bag from its yard waste contents, with little or no success. This means that pieces of plastic bags joined the material going through the composting process and contaminated the end product. Currently, no technology exists that is capable of screening out all plastic from the compost. The switch to kraft paper yard waste bags or rigid, open-top containers allows the City to provide you with a much better quality of compost.

Plastic litter from the plastic leaf and yard waste bags was also a problem. On windy days, pieces of shredded plastic from the leaf and yard waste bags were blown around the City's then owned and operated composting site, requiring manual collection by staff. This resulted in additional costs to the City. Kraft paper bags are heavier than plastic and do not have the same airborne tendencies as plastic. The removal of the plastic bags from the composting program reduced operational costs.

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