Yard Wastes: Paper, Not Plastic Please
It’s time to switch from plastic to paper, city official say.
By ordinance, all yard wastes left for pickup in Commerce must now be placed in biogradable bags. No more black leaf bags.
Public Works Director Rick Lewis said the ordinance became effective May 1, but the city is offering a grace period until copies of the ordinance are mailed out with each utility bill.
“Then everybody will be on the same page. We will continue to pick up the plastic until then,” he said.
The Environmental Protection Division mandated the change because Commerce grinds its yard wastes – bags and all — into mulch, and the plastic bags never broke down.
“The EPD is requiring all cities and counties to go to biodegradable stuff,” Lewis explained. “It makes better sense.
Both McDonald Hardware and Commerce Hardware stock the bags. Lewis said he’s asked both Quality Foods and Ingles to carry them, but has received no commitment so far.
