Friday, November 10, 2006

Leaf bags

Does anyone else live in the city? And is it the same in the county? Apparenlty, there has been an ordinance passed that requires you to use biodegradable bags for your leaves. Seems like a decent enough idea. Same the environment and all that. But, why is it that we are restricted to one brand of bag? I mean who voted on this? Is the company that makes these clear green biodegradable bags owned by the brother-in-law of someone in local government? These things cost $4.00 for 10 - 40 cents per bag and they're not very sturdy, so you can't stuff too many leaves in. And ther is no competition, so I can can't see prices going down or quality improving any time soon. What's behind this monopoly? Did the city sell the rights like they would a cable franchise?

I guess you have the option of using a fleet of trash cans instead, which is nice, but I have to admit the whole thing caught me kind of out of left field. One year, I've got a system down with the clear bags, and even have some saved from last year, and the next thing I'm hit with these new rules. I guess it's maybe listed on the recycling guide I got at the beginning of the year, but who reads these that closely? Did any of the local news outlets cover this? Leaf bags might not seem like a big story, but we've got some big ass trees around town, and I know plenty of people who fill 30-40 bags per year - and that was with sturdier, clear ones. We could be talking 100 of these biodegradable things. That $40 on leaf bags.

Anyway, I need to do some research on the company that makes these biodegradable bags and find out how they got legislated into my life.

Out.

Ralph

5 comments:

Ron said...

I have no idea why people bag up leaves. Do you know what I did this year? I let the leaves lay on the grass, and last night I mowed the lawn with my mulching lawn mower. Why bag up free food for your lawn so the city can turn it into compost?

Dr. Downing said...

People spend hundreds of dollars for chemical fertilizers that eventually run off into the bay, yet they gift-wrap their leaves for the garbage dump. Huh?

Chop 'em up! Dead leaves are necessary for soil health.

The Green Man

DIReditor said...

Okay, do you need some sort of special mower, or do I just shut the opening on the side and plough right ahead?

Dr. Downing said...

First, you need a dry day.

Second, you can either block the chute and mulch or you can leave the chute open and let the chippings fly.

I usually practice the second option.

DD

Anonymous said...

Sounds like fun