By LISA BOWERS

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Monday marks a new era in solid waste disposal in Chocolay Township.

That’s when the current garbage-bag tag system will be replaced with a bag-and-cart system, similar to that used in the city of Marquette, with the cost per bag disposed of to increase from $2 to $2.85.

The changes come as the result of a new solid waste collection contract with Waste Management of Marquette.

The pact will allow residential garbage customers to choose how they dispose of their trash by either purchasing 32-gallon trash bags specifically designed for the township or by using 64-gallon carts.

The bags, which will be available in rolls of 10, will cost $28.50 per roll and will be available at the Chocolay Township Hall as well as Kassel’s Korner, Great Lakes Fresh Market, Snyder’s Drug Store and Ace Hardware Store, according to Chocolay Township Department of Public Works Supervisor Brad Johnson.

“These stores do not make any profit on these bags and are still willing to sell them for us to the residents; staff and township board members are very grateful for that,” Johnson said in an email Wednesday. “Bags will be available by Friday, and if for some unforeseen reason the shipment is delayed, residents will be able to place unmarked bags curbside for collection.”

Residents can also choose the cart option, which includes two 64-gallon receptacles — a solid green cart for garbage and a green cart with a yellow lid for recycling — at a cost of $13 per month for the first year of the contract, Johnson said.

Waste Management will bill customers directly for the carts.

“The garbage cart will not require (any) certain bags to be placed in it for collection. In fact, loose items may be placed in the cart,” he said. “The example I like to use is, if you are in your garage working on a project and when you are finished if you have left over scrap wood or whatever, that can be placed in the cart without it being bagged. Anything that fits in the cart will be collected.”

Residents who already ordered their carts should expect them to be delivered today or Sunday, he said.

Collection days are also changing, Johnson noted.

“Wednesday collection day(s) will move to Monday, and Thursday collection days will move to Tuesday,” Johnson said. “If a holiday falls on a Monday or Tuesday, it simply pushes every day affected by the holiday to the next day. All residents are asked to place trash at the curb by 6 a.m.”

Recycling practices stay the same as they are currently: one week fiber, the next week rigids, Johnson said.

“You do have the option to dedicate your recycle cart to either fiber or rigid and use a separate hard-walled container the opposite week for the other item, or you can alternate your recycling cart between fiber and rigid material,” he said.

Residents with unused garbage-bag tags can bring them to the township office for a refund.

“The township going in the direction of the cart/bag system — it makes it more fair for everyone disposing their trash making it much more difficult to cheat the system,” Johnson said.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.