North Hempstead, NY –Indicating the administration’s commitment to preserving the environment, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board are proud to offer biodegradable paper leaf bags for all residents, available at a low cost of just $2 for five large bags and hold up to 30 gallons of waste.

“We are proud to be offering our residents an environmental friendly way of disposing of their yard waste,” Supervisor Bosworth. “Not only will these biodegradable bags will help reduce the use of plastic bags, but they will also help us contribute to creating a greener environment. This initiative will reduce the amount of garbage we send to landfills by making sure that yard waste is diverted to composting facilities.”

The biodegradable paper bags will be sold at a nominal cost of $2 for a bundle of 5 bags and are intended only for yard waste, specifically grass and leaves. They will be collected curbside on residents’ designated collection day.

“Using compostable paper bags is an important way to save manpower and to reduce plastic contamination of our compost,” Chief Sustainability Officer Erin Reilley said. “Plastic bags must be manually removed from compost piles, and if garbage haulers don’t know that plastic bags left curbside contain leaves, then they end up in a landfill instead of being turned into compost.”

Residents can purchase the bags at the Solid Waste Management Authority at 802 West Shore Rd., Port Washington, the Town’s Aquatic Activity Center at Michael J. Tully Park, 1801 Evergreen Ave., New Hyde Park and at the ‘Yes We Can’ Community Center, 141 Garden Street, Westbury.

For further information, please call 311 or 516-869-6311.

Supervisor Bosworth rakes up some leaves and places them in the new biodegradable paper bags with Solid Waste Management Authority Executive Director Igor Sikiric (left) and Chief Sustainability Officer Erin Reilley (center)