Ban on use of plastic bags to dispose of yard waste in Asheville set to begin - Citizen Times

Use of plastic bags to dispose of yard waste banned in Asheville

Ban on use of plastic bags to dispose of yard waste in Asheville set to begin
Iris Seaton

The city of Asheville will enact a ban on the use of plastic bags to dispose of brush and leaf waste effective Aug. 1 as part of a phased plan searching for ways to reduce single-use plastics citywide.

The city’s long-term commitment to promoting environmental sustainability and reducing plastic waste was among the reasons for this new rule.

“The council in fall 2022 directed the Sustainability Department to take a phased approach to reduce single use plastic consumption,” Waste Reduction Program Manager Alex Miller said.

Miller said that residents can use paper yard waste bags provided by the city at several locations. Currently, a limited amount of free samples are being distributed at these locations:

- Burton Street Community Center.
- Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center.
- Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center.
- Stephens-Lee Community Center.
- Tempie Avery Montford Community Center.
- Fire Station 4 – 9 Miller Road.
- Fire Station 6 – 970 Haywood Road.
- Fire Station 7 – 37 East Larchmont.
- Fire Station 8 – 904 Tunnel Road.
- Fire Station 9 – 749 Fairview Road.
- Fire Station 10 – 1903 Old Haywood Road.
- Fire Station 11 – 7 Rocky Ridge Road.

Another option is reusable containers, which must be approved by the sanitation office.

“You can use a trash can that you can get at a home improvement store and just mark it ‘yard waste,’" Miller said. “They have woven polypropylene yard waste bags. That's a very sturdy plastic that is reusable. We've also approved the Leaf Burrito, which is a Charlotte based company.”

The Leaf Burritos Miller mentioned are heavy-duty 5-foot or 7-foot yard waste bags that can be unzipped to lay flat for easy loading of vegetation. The city's website provides a graphic with guidelines around the options residents will have.

Another concern that led to the change was the negative effects single-use plastic containers have on Asheville’s sanitation workers.

“It's more efficient and safer for our sanitation workers,” Miller said. “Because previously, if residents used plastic bags, the workers would have to cut open the bags to get the leaves out because with our vendor, plastic is contamination in the brush loads.”

Beyond alternative methods of containing yard waste for collection, a news release from the city also suggested composting the waste, which would eliminate the need for collection entirely. The release suggested either raking leaves into a compost pile that can be used for gardening as it decomposes, or using a mulching mower to compost them directly into the lawn.

The second phase of the single-use plastic reduction plan coming this fall will compile data and analysis to provide a recommendation for further reduction strategies. Miller said that the city is currently analyzing results of the recent Plastic Reduction Community survey, which received over 6,700 responses. Now, City Council is seeking responses to a survey for business owners who distribute single-use plastic bags or plastic foam products to customers.

To get more information, including approval of yard waste disposal receptacles, email sanitation@ashevillenc.gov or visit its website.

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Iris Seaton is a news intern for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.