The new year has brought in changes to garbage day for residents of Landmark and Lorette.

“For 2020, both LUDs have implemented a three bag limit,” states Christine Hutlet, the Chief Administrative Officer for the RM of Taché. “Any additional garbage can be put at the curb only with the purchase of a two-dollar tag.”

According to Hutlet, the money acquired by these tags will simply recover the additional cost of hauling and processing additional garbage.

Hutlet notes the RM has made an agreement with the new hauling company that has been contracted this year: extra garbage that has not been properly identified with a tag will be left in its place. She says the reasoning behind this is twofold.

First, Hutlet says it is a way of encouraging residents to put more thought into composting and recycling.

“We have a lot of urban residents who throw their yard waste right into the garbage,” she comments. “To be environmentally sustainable, we are really trying to encourage people to look differently at the waste they are producing.”

Second, she says the municipality is trying to move in the same direction as many of their neighbors and plans on eventually distributing larger hardier garbage receptacles to homeowners.

“Three bags is roughly the amount that fits in a 70-litre garbage container so that is why we started off this way,” explains Hutlet. “In the next year or two, we are hoping to make the changeover.”

Furthermore, the new limit combats the rising prices of garbage collection across the province. By reducing community waste, the RM says they can keep garbage rates relatively stable. Hutlet indicates a similar jump has occurred in the recycling industry, however, in that case, residents will be forced to take the hit. The service cost will be going up from $32 annually to $67.

Meanwhile, as of January 1st, the weekly garbage day routine for either community has also changed. Going forward, Hutlet says, Lorette’s garbage will be picked up on Tuesdays meanwhile Landmark’s will be collected on Thursdays. To make this shift more accommodating, the RM of Taché says the very first pick up of the year will not have a limit.