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eedback FE Since Focus on Scugog handed out a “Thumbs Down” regard- ‘Scugog’s locally owned and operated ing Biosak Compostable Brown Bags last month, we've received General Insurance Broker” a lot of feedback from our readers. = For those who may have missed the ‘jab’, the issue was brought to our attention by a number of readers who sited pre- mature breakdown of the bags, resulting in bags breaking and leaking before they could be transferred to the larger com- post ters. But as with all issues, there are two sides to the story and since last month L@=___ we've received a number of good sug- gestions. One of the first came from Dianne Heathcote of Blackstock who wrote to Focus on Scugog with the following suggestions: “I have a solution to the problem of the brown bags breaking With over 130 years of Broker experience, Emmerson Insurance Brokers Ltd. have been < , ‘ down before garbage day. serving Scugog Township and surrounding First, place a piece of paper towel in the bottom of your kitchen areas with Competitive, Comprehensive green bin to absorb moisture. Store your Biosaks in the fridge. and Personalized service since 1817. I find if you do this, the bags last long enough to make it to the bigger green bin for garbage day, without totally breaking down. Hope this helps to keep everyone composting.” Another came from our good friend Barbara Karthein who says she doesn’t find the bags a serious problem. Barb says she simply lines her kitchen bin with a typical “grocery store-style” plastic bag and then opens the Biosak inside it. © When filled, she lifts both bags out, ties the top of the Biosak bag and dumps it into her large green bin. She then takes the ‘grocery’ bag back and re-uses it to line her kitchen bin again. This she suggests eliminates any spillage in the bin and al- lows her to re-use the heavier plastic bag numerous times. We also heard from Charles Matthews who said he’s been using the Biosak bags since they first came out and he uses on average three to four bags a week. “I have yet to have one break down or leak on me,” he wrote. . . Peter Watson, a former waste management manager with Gratific ation the Region of Durham came into the Focus office with a carton of wwe Ecosafe compostable bags, which he’s helping market. Peter had Drop one size instantly! gone to the extent of giving a “Thumbs Up’ to the new Ecosafe Our exclusive tiddemeriss-cross mini kitchen bags - a direct reference to the Focus “Thumbs” fea- l® will... ture. Flatten your tummy Ecosafe are approved by the Region of Durham, but like Lift your butt many other approved compostable bags, they are not easily Allow you to wear one size smaller found on the shelves of all retailers. Make you young Durham has posted a list of 11 retailers within the Region who EAE | ccitth P fbiodegrad. able bags, but remind consumers to look carefully for the correct logo (illustrated above) as these retailers may also sell bags that are not acceptable in the Durham’s Green Bin program. Following is a list of the Region approved biodegradable bags: Al-Pack Compost Bags, Bag-To Nature Compost, Bio-Life Compost Bags, BioBag Compost Bags, Biosak Compost Bags, Compost-A-Bag, EcoSafe Compost Bags, Glad Compost Bags, Great Value Compost Bags, Tuff Guy Compost Bags. Coming for fall: * Black & Brown Denim ¢ Trouser Jeans ¢ Cords IN 1) 168-178 Queen St., Port Perry 905-985-2521 * www.brocks.ca Score esseezne* 2 FOCUS - AUGUST 2008 focus@observerpub.ca AUGUST.FOCUS.40 Pgsindd 2 @ 7128108 8:45:96 AM |