Old bag tags get extension

City officials have decided to grant a grace period to local residents hoping to continue to use the $2 tags past the July 1 deadline.

City staff have opted to allow people to use the old tags two weeks after the deadline. City hall is also no longer the only place where people can exchange their old bag tags for the newly priced ones.
City council approved increasing the garbage bag tags by half a dollar during this year's budget deliberations.

Following numerous calls from Belleville residents, the city has now established three locations where the public can exchange the old bag tags for the new $2.50 ones, said Brad Wilson, the city's director of environmental and operational services.

The locations include city hall, the Belleville water building at 195 College Street and the recreation complex on Cannifton Road.

Wilson said that all 30 vendors that sell bag tags have been informed of the increase and are prepared for the price change. Retailers will not be exchanging the $2 tags.

"All 30 vendors now have the new bag tags," he said.
The city contractor collecting the garbage has been advised to collect all garbage with old tags during the two week grace period. Wilson is urging residents to make the transition to the new tags before or within that timeframe.