The new garbage bag tag era in the Municipality of Meaford begins next week.

Beginning on July 6 all residents putting out a bag of garbage will need to affix a municipal bag tag - that costs $2 - to the bag of garbage in order to have it picked up.

Meaford council adopted the new $2 per bag fee several months ago during the budget process/debate.

The municipality has spent the past few months preparing for the new system. The municipality expects to earn $200,000 in revenue once the new system is in place. Without the bag tags that revenue for the municipality would have been included in the tax increase contained in the 2009 budget.

"I hope the community will buy into this," Mayor Francis Richardson said at council's meeting on June 22.

Bag tags are available to purchase at the following locations:

Rockford Service Centre - Rockford

Steve and Kim's Food Basics - Owen Sound

Bays River Restaurant - Leith

Annan Post Office - Annan

Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library - Owen Sound

Bill's Valu-Mart - Meaford

Two Mac's Mile locations - Meaford

Foodland - Meaford

The Municipal Office - Meaford

Jet Variety - Meaford

Municipalities all over the province have wrestled with the rising costs of garbage and recycling pick-up. The massive increase in fuel costs over the past couple years have contributed to rising garbage collection contract prices. The Municipality of Grey Highlands experienced a tax increase last year due in large part to inflationary pressures from waste collection. The City of Owen Sound has implemented biweekly garbage pick-up as a means to save on waste management costs.

In addition, the limited landfill space in Ontario has driven up tipping fees. Meaford's garbage is currently being shipped to a landfill in Michigan.

Councillor Harley Greenfield said he is in favour of the bag tag policy, but would have preferred to wait to introduce the new system in early 2010.

"We could have used the months ahead to educate our residents to the idea of tags for all bags and also go on a very determined recycling re-education program - something we haven't been doing for years now," said Greenfield, who said he is concerned the timeframe to introduce the bag tags has been too short. "I personally have not seen or heard a lot of messaging about the switch. For those who have mentioned the situation to me, the negative comments (those opposed to every bag costing $2) have out weighed the positive by at least 5 to 1," he said.

Greenfield said his family recycles and composts extensively and is ready for the new bag tags system.

"Our household, now with only two adults and one cat can get along with one bag every two weeks," said Greenfield. He said every two weeks his family recycles a bag of paper material, a blue box of cans, bottles and plastic and a blue box full of cardboard. He also said they endeavour to reuse recyclable items around the house in every day use. "Many smallish metal cans are kept for storing nails, nuts, bolts, etc - much to my wife's chagrin. Old clothing is cut into rags for use around the home and equipment. We compost all of our kitchen scraps and have two composters in steady use. Likely, we reduce by weight, 75% of our waste. It takes a little time and effort and is much easier with no small children around," he said.

Councillor Lynda Stephens said she hopes the bag tags function as a means to get everybody thinking about reducing, reusing and recycling their waste.

"When both recycling and composting are used thoroughly, it is not necessary for a full bag of garbage each week," she said. "I hope that people love this community as much as I do and will not dispose of their trash illegally as some have alluded to at the two public (budget) meetings. I see so many people out for walks with bags collecting garbage while walking. I appreciate this and would like to take the time to thank them for their sense of responsibility and pride," she said.