Halifax garbage overhaul gets public airing at City Hall

The first round of proposed changes to the Halifax Regional Municipality's garbage rules are part of a public hearing Tuesday evening.

• On mobile? See the live blog of the public hearing here

The recommendations include:

• Eliminating boxboard from the compost bin and recycling it with paper products.
• Reducing the maximum number of garbage bags allowed at the curb every two weeks from six to four.
• Requiring three out of four garbage bags to be clear. Only one black privacy bag would be allowed.
• No longer picking up leaves if they are in orange plastic bags. They must be in the compost bins or in large, paper bags.

If Halifax regional council approves the changes, the new rules will take effect in early April.

Several other controversial proposals for the Otter Lake Landfill are not yet ready for a public hearing. Staff and a community monitoring committee have been discussing the ideas for several months.

A report was originally supposed to be ready in October but an extension was granted. The results are expected to go to regional council on Dec. 9.