New 3-bag garbage sorting starts today in Moncton and southeast

Moncton and southeast New Brunswick residents start sorting their garbage into three bags instead of just two on Monday as Southeast eco360 launches a new system.

People are being asked to put recyclables into a blue bag, compost into a green bag and garbage into a newly added clear bag.

One of the reasons for adding a third clear bag, which will go directly to the landfill, is to make more room in the sorting facility to accept blue and green bags from apartments and businesses, who hadn't been sorting their trash.

The most confusing part of the new system for many will be the change in the pick-up schedule.

Both green and blue bags used to be collected on a weekly basis, but now green will be collected weekly, while blue and clear bags will be collected every second week.

Gena Alderson, waste diversion co-ordinator for Southeast eco360, says that's necessary because garbage trucks are split in half and can only collect two different types of waste at a time.

"Now we have three types of waste to collect in a truck that's built for two, so that's why we're doing the alternating collection schedule. It's basically how we can collect three different bags with the system that we have now, without adding trucks and adding cost," said Alderson.

Residents can find a collection schedule on the eco360 website.

"We prefer diapers and pet waste in the clear garbage bag," the guide explains.

"However, in weeks with no clear garbage bag pickup, these can be placed in the green organics bag."

Trash-sorting tips

Some residents have expressed concern about the difficulty of finding space for three garbage cans, especially those who live in apartments.​​​

Roland LeBlanc, director of solid waste for Southeast eco360, said sorting remains optional for people who live in apartments and suggested some may want to try just separating their recyclables to start with.

"If you can just get the blue material, the recyclables, in a bin, that would be great," said LeBlanc.

Home organizer Kim Eagles said going from two bags to three may be a challenge for some.

She's been sorting her household garbage using the three bag system for a couple of weeks and said with the introduction of a clear garbage bag her green compost has shrunk.

Eagles expects many people will be able to go to a smaller green bin for their kitchen waste.

"What some people are doing is just getting a bucket you put on top of your counter... put your daily stuff in it and store it somewhere so you can have the bag somewhere else," said Eagles.

With blue bags only collected every two weeks, Eagles says the amount of recyclables has grown substantially. She suggests homeowners move their blue bags to a garage or a laundry room.

"One of the ideas that I saw that I really liked was using a peg board in your garage with a couple of containers ... one for newspapers, one for bottles, so you can throw things as you go," said Eagles.

"Use your vertical space instead of your floor space."

Finally Eagles said her clear garbage bag has found a home under her sink next to her green bag.