Glad garbage bag donation worth $310K accepted by Halifax council

With only 10 weeks left until Halifax residents have to switch to clear garbage bags for curbside pickup, Halifax Regional Council has voted to accept $310,000 worth of free clear bags for residents.

As of Aug. 1, residents will only be allowed one black bag and five clear ones. For those who have yet to stock up on clear garbage bags, the company Glad wants to lend a hand.

Gladapproached the city with the offer to help educate the public about the switch.

The companywill also hand out coupons during the city's Natal Day festivitiesand put an ad on the HRM website.

Most councillors had no problems with the offer and hope it encourages other companies to provide other sponsorships. But a few councillors had concerns particularly about ads on HRM's website and how long they would be left up.

Coun. Steve Adams has already called it a win-win situation.

"I think it's a very bright move on their part," he said. "Residents need clear bags, the municipality's demanding clear bags, Glad's giving them out, I don't see the downside."

The Glad packages will have samples of clear or blue bags, plus a coupon to buy more.

"They do want some, airtime as it were, on the city's website which is perfectly fine, but HRM nor myself nor anyone else will endorse the product or the company, it just gives residents an option," Adams said.

Bedford residentChris MacLeod likes the idea, as long as it's in line with the city's push to reduce waste.

"You don't want to undermine the initiative by a company that doesn't necessarily endorse what the actual change is about, Glad makes both types of bags," he said.