Plastic Bag Ban For Yard Waste Under Consideration In Fairfax

FAIRAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City residents will have to find a new way to dispose of yard waste, if the City Council decides to adopt a proposal being introduced at its regular Tuesday night meeting.

City Manager Robert A. Stalzer is introducing the proposal, which seeks to amend City Code to ban the use of plastic bags for the disposal of yard waste.

The city does not have a composting facility within its limits. After collecting yard waste via curbside pickup, the city sends it to a commercial facility for composting, according to Stalzer. Much of the yard waste collected by the city is contained in plastic trash bags. Even a small amount of plastic reduces the overall quality of the compost. The plastic can also find its way into the environment.

"Plastic bags are not necessary for the storage or collection of yard waste," Stalzer said, in his proposal to the council. "Using reusable containers or paper bags are the optimal methods for the collection and management of yard waste while protecting the quality of compost. Because the paper bag becomes a part of the finished compost (they are designed to be compostable), the practice also reduces the quantity of process waste requiring disposal."

Under the proposal, the city would no longer collect yard waste in plastic bags, including that created by commercial contractors.

In addition, the following language would be added to City Code concerning approved containers:

"Paper bags, reusable containers, or bundles. Yard waste may be limited to individual pieces or bundles of no greater than 50 pounds in weight and 4 feet in length. Yard waste set out for collection shall not be placed in plastic bags."

In regard to leaf collection by the city in the fall, residents would be required to rake their leaves to the curb or street edge for pickup. The city would not collect leaves in bags or reusable containers during leaf season. For the rest of the year, residents would have to add leaves to the rest of their yard waste for disposal.

If the City Council decides to go forward with Stalzer's proposal and introduce the ordinance, a public hearing will be set for June 8.