TAMPA, Fla. — The city of Sarasota is following Tampa’s footsteps in banning plastic bags for removing yard waste.

What You Need To Know

  • The Sarasota City Commission approved an ordinance banning plastic bags for yard waste removal

  • Tampa, back on February 1st, enacted the same kind of ban, and says people have been able to adjust to the change

  • Despite losing some yard waste tonnage at the initial launch of the program in Tampa, officials say more tonnage is being brought directly to disposal sites

It’s an initiative that was put in place in Tampa on February 1, and officials say it’s been a positive change for removing excess tree branches and palm fronds.

Even if the smell isn’t the greatest, the passion Edgar Castro Tello has for trash and recycling is surprising.

“Every day is different,” Castro Tello said. He is a recycling specialist with Tampa’s department of solid waste and environmental program management.

“So, there are some days where I’m out teaching composting, and then there’s other days where I’m in the office all day long, just making sure I’m handling some of the details of the programs that we oversee,” he said.

He’s been in this position for a few years now and loves getting the chance to talk about more sustainable ways to throw out trash, including things like yard waste.

“Sometimes in the industry we think of waste as wasted opportunity because there is energy, there are nutrients in this material,” he said.

That’s why he is excited to hear Sarasota is banning plastic bags to get rid of yard waste.

It’s something Tampa decided to do this past February and despite early confusion from customers, people have been able to adjust.

“We’re able to eliminate up to 17,000 tons of carbon dioxide being emitted from this yard waste either being landfilled or taken somewhere else where it’s not going to get repurposed,” he said.

However, Tello mentioned the amount of yard waste picked up at the curb dropped when the ban began from 1,400 tons a month to about 500.

It wasn’t a concern though, he said, because landscapers ended up taking that waste straight to city facilities, so what was originally 200 tons a month going directly to collection sites rose to a thousand a month.

“It’s been fantastic to see it,” he said.

So, with more areas, like Sarasota, reconsidering their policy, Castro Tello is optimistic this trend will continue to spread throughout Florida.

“We depend a lot on each other as municipalities to see what have they done in the past, what are some lessons that we can share and what didn’t work and what did work?” said Tello.

Which, he hopes, will create a passion as strong as his for his line of work.

A spokesperson with the city of Sarasota says the change was necessary because their contracted collector was no longer accepting plastic bags.

In Tampa, people now use thicker paper bags, twine or other purchased bins to properly dispose of their yard trimmings.