The Yellow Bag Program

The Yellow Bag Program is a new waste management initiative that encourages Toronto's commercial customers to decrease garbage while increasing recycling and organics collection. It also harmonizes commercial waste collection services across the City.

Starting September 3, 2002, commercial customers in the City of Toronto will place garbage in special yellow bags for pick-up. The bags, available at all Home Hardware, Home Building Centre and Home Hardware Building Centre Stores across Toronto, cost $3.10 each, covering the cost of collection and disposal of garbage. Businesses will be able to reduce their costs through recycling and organic collection, both of which will be provided by the City at no charge.

Click here to locate the Home Hardware store nearest you and for store hours.

The bags and tags will be in stores August 28th, 2002.

HH stock item number-9809-825 City of Toronto Yellow bags
Size 30” wide x 36” tall, with a drawstring
Retail Price - $62.00 for a pouch of 20 bags
                     - $620. 00 Case qty. - 10 pouches (200 bags)
 


HH stock item number 9809-834 City of Toronto Waste Disposal Tags

The Yellow Tags should be used for waste that cannot be placed in the yellow bags
 (e.g. flattened waxed cardboard, wooden crates, etc.).
Items must not exceed 20 kg or 120cm x 80 cm x 80 cm as per City bylaws.
 
Size: 1.6” x 3.5”, yellow, self adhesive Tag
Retail Price: $15.50 per sheet, sold in sheets of 5
$155.00 per envelope of 10 sheets

Why is the city starting the Yellow Bag Program?

The Yellow Bag Program has three goals:
    - to reduce garbage and to increase recycling and organic collection
    - to create a harmonized, fair service for businesses across the city, and
    - to recover the costs of garbage collection and disposal.

The City-owned Keele Valley landfill site will close in December 2002. After that, all garbage will be sent to private landfills in Michigan. Not only will disposal costs for garbage increase by over 400% (from $13 to $52 for every tonne), the City is vulnerable to service interruption if, for example, the borders are closed.

Most importantly, the City has an obligation to send as little of its waste to other cities and towns as possible. This can be accomplished by diverting as much recyclable material and organics from the garbage as possible. Businesses can minimize garbage collection costs by diverting recyclable materials and/or organics from the garbage stream.

There is a wide disparity in the demand on the City's services. Some businesses cost the City up to $100,000 / year due to the amount of waste they generate, while others cost the City a few hundred dollars per year. Also, with the amalgamation of the six former municipalities that provided different services according to different criteria, the access to City service varies greatly across the City. The program is designed to harmonize the commercial waste services and make them fair.

Next Steps

Over the next several months, the City will send businesses additional information, which will outline:
    - how to purchase carts for organics and recyclables;
    - pricing updates;
    - collection schedules; and,
    - how to maximize recycling and organic collection to significantly reduce your garbage collection fees.

History

On March 7, 2002, City Council approved The Yellow Bag program. The City developed this new policy incorporating feedback from current customers and Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) -- received through public meetings, discussion groups and more than 1,500 completed surveys about service areas, collection frequency and service fees. Based on public input, the City is offering collection of both recycling and organics at no charge, providing the opportunity to significantly reduce your collection fees while increasing diversion.

Service areas, collection frequency and service fees

Eligible businesses will receive twice per week recycling collection, organics collection and garbage collection if:

  • Located in areas currently receiving collection at nights;
  • Located on Yonge Street, Bloor St. and Danforth Ave. (along subway lines);
  • Located on Streets fronting on Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Areas - Lake Shore Blvd. West of the Humber River and Kingston Rd.; and
  • Part of Approved Business Improvement Areas (BIAs).

All other eligible businesses will receive once per week recycling collection, organics collection and garbage collection. The city will notify you of your new collection schedule.

Comments

Got a question about the new Yellow Bag Program? Want to make a comment about the program? Want to request an application form? Need more information? Just give us a call or email:
 

Yellow Bag Program Hotline: 416-338-3400
email: yellowbag@city.toronto.on.ca