http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/04/09/bay_area_citizen/news/4compostablebags8.txt
City officials say they’ll allow a grace period of “a few weeks’’ (they won’t be specific) before they start ticketing those who put grass clippings, leaves and other yard waste in regular bags and leave them for city pickup. Fines range from $50 to $2,000.
My city picks it up directly from the garbage can, so there are zero bags used at all. I just take the lawn mower bag and dump the grass in the trash can. On grass/leaves pickup day, I bring out the can and the workers take care of it.
Zero plastic bags used. Makes more economic sense than requiring the purchase of a bio-bag. Reeks of political/corporate favoritism.
the crappy thing is, i don’t know if the state will fine us for putting the lawn clippings int he trash bin…
and those bio bags are expensive…
what if a city councilman who voted this law in place has ties to a company that produces bio bags? Isn’t that illegal? Its not fraud…its something else…
Double scam. First: I am pretty sure there’s a well connected manufacturer benefiting for the compulsory use of bags. Second: yes, there’s a society paying the city to pick up the grass, 5 bucks a ton. But they surely own an industrial scale composting plant (or have a contract to supply one): have you checked how much is even low grade compost a bag.
Second thing, allow me to say a word about this present fad abut home-made compost (which is quoted in the original article). I was raised on a farm so I know what I am talking about. You cannot make good grade compost without poo. Out of curiosity I tried to make it using only garden clippings as recommended by many hippies and town councils and the results were dismal to say the very least. But throw in some poo as in the old Howard method and the situation changes radically. Problem is which town council will allow that? [;)]
Such a disappointment. I used to have great respect for the city of Houston. Democrats must be in charge now.