Blue bag

A blue bag is a blue coloured, sometimes semi-transparent bag for waste, mandated for use in some localities for refuse or for certain specific types of refuse: the distinguishing color serves to assist in recycling programs. Typically, it would be used for glass, plastic or polyethylene content.

A "Bebbisagg", the official garbage bag of Basel, Switzerland
A roll a blue beg

Location-specific

Taiwan
Main article: Waste management in Taiwan

In Taipei, residents must use an official blue garbage bag to dispose of general waste, with the bags being collected from designated pickup spots.[1]

United States

The City of Chicago implemented a blue bag system in 1995. As it may be the case for all blue bag systems, it operates by requiring willing participants to purchase blue garbage bags (available at major grocery stores throughout the city) and depositing recyclable material in the bags. This may be paper-based (cardboard boxes, gift boxes, newspaper, etc.), plastic and glass, or yard/lawn refuse. A separate blue bag must be used for each of the three types of recyclable material.

The Chicago system has been criticized for its tediousness and inconvenience, as blue bags cost more to the homeowner than grocery bags and this system of recycling, compared to ones implemented in other cities and suburbs, requires additional effort. Chicago Sanitation management has claimed Chicago's Blue Bag system diverts approximately 25% of its waste to recycling facilities, which was its initial goal. However, most independent studies place the estimates at approximately 9% of the garbage picked up, resulting in continued criticism towards the program.[2]

On May 2, 2008, the Chicago SunTimes reported that Chicago is giving up on the program. By 2011 there will be a shift to curbside recycling in blue carts.[3]

United Kingdom
A blue bag used for recycling cardboard and paper, used by South Hams District Council, England

Blue bags are used to distinguish different types of recyclable materials at the point of collection. The content allowed differs from area to area, depending on decisions of the local council.

See also

References
  1. "Taiwan Has Found a Brilliant Way to Get People to Recycle More". Buzzworthy. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  2. Dumke, Mick. "Awful Truth About Recycling in Chicago". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  3. "City Hall to get rid of blue bag recycling program :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State". Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.