Modesto drops its blue bag program

Modesto is trashing its blue bag recycling program. The City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday night to end the program Jan. 1.

City officials cited many reasons for tossing the 12-year-old program, which allows residents to collect recyclables in blue plastic shopping bags and put them out to be picked up with other trash.

The blue bags weren't collecting enough recyclables because many residents take glass bottles and aluminum cans to redemption centers to make extra cash, said Modesto Solid Waste Manager Jocelyn Reed.

The blue bags themselves aren't recyclable, so encouraging their use sends mixed messages about how to help the environment. And, the state cut funding for a $30,000 grant that Modesto used to pay for the program.

The council vote comes as other California cities are tightening recycling laws. San Francisco starts a mandatory composting program later this month. The San Jose City Council recently voted to ban plastic and paper shopping bags.

But the end of blue bags won't mean the end of green-friendly activity. Modesto recently expanded the list of stuff that can go into green yard waste cans. Once just for grass clippings, the yard waste toters now accept paper, cardboard, food scraps and anything else that's biodegradable. The city turns the material into compost and sells it.

Resident Carrie Rasmussen told the council she'd like to see Modesto offer a third garbage can for all recyclables. "Having the dedicated recycling bin is something that people are used to having in other cities," Rasmussen said.

City officials are less than enthusiastic about the third-can option. In a report to the council, Reed said the third can would cost residents an additional $3 to $5 a month.

Adding another can also would require more trucks, which could create more air pollution and wear and tear on city streets.

Marsha Bradford, a former recycling coordinator for the city, said the blue bag program failed in part because it didn't create enough "peer pressure." With the blue bags hidden inside garbage cans, residents can't see how much their neighbors are recycling, Bradford said.

She told the audience that recycling is only one part of eco- friendly living. Reducing what people put into the waste stream is the first step, Bradford said.

"You can vote at the cash register and look at what materials and packaging am I bringing into my home in the first place?" Bradford said. "Are they recyclable?"

Bee staff writer Leslie Albrecht can be reached at lalbrecht@modbee.com or 578-2378. Follow her at Twitter.com/BeeReporter.

This story was originally published October 7, 2009 at 12:07 AM with the headline "Modesto drops its blue bag program."