Buried in Garbage? City Announces New Overflow Trash Bag Program

While the city’s automated trash program rolled out this past year has brought some great improvements, such as an increased recycling rate and lower costs, not everyone has been totally happy.

Some families have struggled to cram their weekly trash in the automated rolling trash carts supplied by Waste Management as part of the new automated waste pickup program. Even after recycling, many residents have continued to struggle with the problem of generating too much trash for the bins.

Others are usually OK each week but birthdays, the holidays, a cookout or other one-time events can produce a large amount of trash in one week, overflowing the bin.

While the transfer station on Halsey Street is available, and residents can drop off trash twice each year, it’s not exactly convenient, nor is toting bags of garbage in the car very enjoyable.

In an effort to respond to concerns, the Newport Clean City program is getting the word out about a new program that should solve the overflow trash problem for many families -- for a price.

New 33 gallon plastic bags are being sold at retailers across the city that will be picked up by Waste Management alongside the rolling bins.

The cost is $12 for a roll of five bags and they’re the only bags that Waste Management will pick up.

The program begins on Aug. 1 and bags can be bought at the 7-Eleven and Cumberland Farms on Broadway, One Stop Building Supply at 236 Connell Highway and the Stop & Shops on Bellevue Avenue and Connell Highway.

Residents are asked to compost and recycle as much as possible. It turns out that many folks struggle with overflowing trash when they could more aggressively recycle or start composting food scraps.

Overflow bags are only to be used when the regular bin is full. They are also not for bulky items, hazardous materials, e-waste, yard waste or anything that could be recycled.

The bags must be placed on top of the trash cart, too.

Call ahead before heading to the store as availability might be limited.

The issues with the automated trash program in Newport are virtually identical to the adjustment pains experienced in Cranston, which had a similar, relaxed trash policy before the new program.

The one exception in the overflow programs is that Cranston is also offering a free bulky pickup to all residents twice a year.