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The plastic bag, a common sight on Houston curbs for decades, is so yesterday.
Starting Monday, the city will require residents to use biodegradable bags for leaves and yard trimmings as part of an effort to keep the reusable material out of landfills.
Houston is making the change because plastic bags, made from petroleum, can linger for decades in landfills. The compostable bags look and feel a lot like plastic ones, but they begin to decompose within six weeks.
City officials project that the change will result in the diversion of 60,000 tons of organic material from local landfills at an annual savings of at least $1.5 million in fees for waste disposal.
Officials said the city will use the savings to expand the curbside recycling program.
The biodegradable bags are more expensive, prompting protests from some residents who compare the mandate to a tax increase.
A box of 10 city-required bags, each holding up to 39 gallons, costs $5 to $8, while a box of 70 similar-size plastic bags sells for about $16.
Houston waste officials delayed the launch of the program twice because of a supply problem, but plenty of bags are now in stores, said Marina Joseph, a spokeswoman for the city's Solid Waste Management Department.
The bags, which must display the city's logo, can be found at grocery and hardware stores citywide. The department's Web site, www.houstonsolidwaste.org, has a complete list of retailers.
Under the ordinance, the city will not collect yard waste placed in plastic bags. It will fine residents up to $2,000 for putting leaves and clippings in garbage containers.
Joseph said the city will not fine anyone for the first few weeks of the program. Still, she said waste officials are hopeful that residents will not wait to follow the law.
“This is a win for the city,” Joseph said.
The city will continue to pick up and recycle bundled branches up to 4 feet in length.
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