Halifax homeowners getting rejection stickers on leaf bags

Non-compliance stickers are being issued this week in the Halifax area to homeowners putting their leaves in the wrong kind of bag.

Those people were unaware of changes made to the municipality's leaf collection program. As of Aug. 1, leaves are no longer being accepted at the curb in clear plastic bags.

"In the past it's been clear bags or the big orange bags they accepted for the leaves," said resident Amy Purdy.

"That was unbeknownst to me because I didn't read all the guidelines for waste disposal so my clear bags were rejected."

The municipality is asking the public to put their leaves in heavy paper bags.

Purdy had a green sticker placed on her eight bags of leaves.

"Usually we follow the guidelines to the best of our abilities," said Purdy. "That's the first time I've ever had anything rejected."

Purdy is now one of many residents trying to find the heavy paper bags. But all the stores in her Halifax neighbourhood that sell them are sold out.

That includes Canadian Tire, Rona, Sobey's and Superstore.

"It is peak season for leaves so I guess I'm not surprised," said Purdy. "It is an inconvenience for sure and I guess the leaves are going to sit there until I found some bags."